Brandeis Hall Cafeteria: An Architectural Barrier Assessment - PowerPoint Presentation

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Brandeis Hall Cafeteria: An Architectural Barrier Assessment

Tuesday, January 30, 2018Folatimi Akinrinade, Morgan Chapman, Shelby Surmeier, & Jianqiu XiaoSlide2

A.

Offstreet Parking/Passenger LoadingFindingsParking was not conveniently located in relation to building – had to park across street in parking garage There is a cul-de-sac drop off area located on same side of street as the building, but drop off areas aren’t clearly designated 

Parking garage:

4 levels – one is on top and the most handicap accessible

Approximately 150 parking spaces on top level

6 marked handicap accessible spaces (none designated for vans)Width of route: 36+ inches – sidewalks were all of adequate widthType of surface: pavement & bricks intermixed; bricks could be avoided depending on curb cut used to access sidewalk; multiple potholesFeatures that narrow path: landscaping did not narrow path, but made it so that sidewalks had curves to follow

Recommendations

Reconfigure to provide van accessible space(s)Patch/fix potholes and holes in brickwork for safety – especially potholes in crosswalk to other side of street Reconfigure cul-de-sac drop off area for safety Clearly mark curb cuts in cul-de-sac drop off area to ensure they are always available for useSlide3

B. Approach to Selected Entrance

FindingsSignage for inaccessible entrances: N/A as primary access point is accessible (other access points are currently not accessible to anyone due to construction)Distance from parking area to entering facility: Approximately 410 feet to handicap parking on top of ramp; Approximately 249 feet to cul-de-sac drop off areaSlope of loading zone

 door of building: No objective slope measurements available, but slope was low grade along entire route from door  drop off location then there is a steeper slow downhill to get access to drop-off area or crosswalk

Recommendations

Decrease slope of sidewalk in cul-de-sac drop off area and leading to/from crosswalk for crossing the street

If cannot decrease either of these recommend thorough and consistent maintenance in adverse weather (i.e. ice melt, adequate snow removal)Slide4

C. Entrance

FindingsThresholds/surfaces: Threshold met ADA standards and measured at 1/5 inch Open doorway measurement: compliant at 36 in for one doorway (only 1 opens if automatic button is used)Type of doors: Double doors but only 1 opens when automatic button is pressed; Accessible for w/c, walker, cane, etc. Technology to open doors: Automatic buttons to enter & exit door are at appropriate height & door handles were lever type and 36.5 in. from the ground so it is complaint with ADA standards

Recommendations

Potentially could have both doors open when automatic button is pressed for extra clearance or to allow for larger w/c or bariatric w/c Slide5

D. Access to Essential Areas

FindingsPublic services on accessible route: 90% of food service area was w/c accessible; “cash register” where students swipe card was out of ADA compliance measuring 47.5 in tall; elevators went to all floors of the building; Five foot T-space: More than adequate T-space for turning in w/c in all areas except for in certain dining areas with tables/chairs being too close together (in these areas aisles were < 36 in.)Accessibility of toilets/eating area: No spots indicated for w/c use, but all chairs at tables were removable; Sitting at end of table in w/c the tables were ADA compliant except for depth of knee space which was only 17.5 in; tables/countertops were ADA compliant measuring 33.5 in.; Some self service controls related to food (ice-cream machines, silverware, etc.) were > 54 in. & not ADA compliant; Restrooms were located down the hall from dining area & are discussed in greater detail on slide 6

Emergency Exits: None of the emergency exits were accessible – even back ones were closed for construction currently but had steps; emergency systems were present with both flashing & audible features

Floor plan: Refer to slide 11 for photo of floor plan

Recommendations

Rearrange chairs or tables to provide 36-inch aisles

Rearrange tables to allow room for wheelchairs in seating areas throughout the area without w/c user having to move chair on their own

Replace tables – increase knee depth Relocate controls/consider moving certain food items to make them more accessible from a w/c or to decrease the amount of stretch/reach necessary Lower cashier stand to make card swiping to pay for meal more accessibleSlide6

E. Public Restrooms

FindingsEntrance door: Signs on restroom entrance included Braille; doorway was compliant & measured 35 in.; door had to be pulled open to enter & pushed open to exit and was heavy; the door did not have lever-type handles but the handle was an appropriate heightSink: Sink was cut out & pipes were far enough back to avoid injury; Sink measured 33.5 in from floor; Faucet handles were levers; Paper towel dispenser & faucet required minimal force to use; Paper towel dispenser was > 33.5 in but still at appropriate height to operate from w/c; soap dispenser was out of reach; trash can narrowed aisle to access paper towel dispenser

Stall: Door wasn’t operable with closed fist on inside; w/c stall was in ADA compliance for length & width (> 5x5); Toilet seat was compliant at 19 in. tall 

Grab bars: 3 grab bars were present to the  left of toilet & were appropriate height 

Recommendations

Replace knobs or latches with lever or loop handles on w/c accessible stall

Replace handles on entrance to restroom with lever type handles

One of the following:Install lighter doors Install power-assisted doors Remove obstructions in aisles (i.e. trash can)Replace or provide additional accessible soap dispensers Slide7

F. Public Telephones and Water Fountains

FindingsTelephone: There was no public telephone in the area; only one is in the management officeWater fountain: There was one water fountain near the entrance; amount of clear floor space was ADA compliant; water spout was out of compliance and measured 38.5 in from the ground; controls were on front & sides and operable with one closed fist; not cane detectable 

Recommendations

Put in a telephone for public access in case of emergency that is no higher than 48 inches

Lower height of water fountain to make the water spout be 36 in or less from the ground

Place a planter or other cane-detectable barrier on each side of water fountain at floor level Slide8

G. Access for the Visually Impaired

FindingsBraille signage: Braille was noticed outside/inside the elevator and outside of the restroomVoice activated assistance: Only voice activated assistance was at crosswalk to get from parking garage to front door (it alerts you verbally when crosswalk signal is on); elevator dinged when door opened only

Recommendations

Decrease the volume of the auditory signal provided at crosswalk for safety (to hear traffic pattern)

Put Braille on any new signs (place on any existing if possible)

Implement more auditory assistance with elevator (voice/cues for open, closed, etc.)Slide9

H. Assistance & Physical Aids Available

FindingsThere was staff on the side when the cafeteria is open that could provide physical assistance if necessary Staff keeps the doors open during operating hours, which eliminates need for automatic doors Visually impaired assistance = Braille, auditory signals at crosswalk, auditory signals from emergency alarms, and beep with elevator openingHOH assistance = lights on elevator indicating moving up or down; emergency alarms flash

Power-assisted door openers to building main entrance & elevators were accessible

Recommendations

Could make doors to cafeteria area power-assisted to eliminate risk of them accidentally not being left propped open

Auditory signals with elevator

Braille food menus/signs

*Please refer to slides 2-8 for findings & recommendations related to specific areas that were assessed Slide10

I. Recommendations

See slides 2-9 for detailed recommendations relating to each area of assessment for Brandeis Hall Cafeteria on Creighton University’s campus Slide11

J. Brandeis

Hall Floor Plan