Ed Roberts Campus: A Case Study of Social Justice through ... · Centralized and various vertical connections (stairs, ramps, and elevators) ‐‐‐safety, comfort, and/or efficiency

Ed Roberts Campus: A Case Study of Social Justice through Universal Design

Kyuho Ahn, University of OregonLinda Zimmer, University of Oregon

Olivia Asuncion, Shah Kawasaki Architects

Ed Roberts Campus

Research Sponsored by : Mulvanny G2 Architecture Faculty Research Fellowship by Dept. Architecture & Faculty Research Award by Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

Ed Roberts Campus


Photo courtesy of MLS Architects

Problem statements

Interior design has profound impacts on human lives

• Interior Design protects and enhances the health, life safety and welfare of public through creating functional and aesthetically pleasing design solutions (NCIDQ, IIDA, ASID).

• The built environment has a particularly profound influence on the living qualities of people with disabilities due to their need for architectural accommodations.

• ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) published in 1991 ensures that public buildings must offer proper accessibility for people with disabilities.

• However, many public buildings including new buildings are far from supporting independent living of disabled individuals.

Ed Roberts Campus



Research Objective

Well we are not there yet, Why?• Within architectural education, ADA issues have been taught in

isolation as mandated regulations that require compliance (Ostroff and Hunter, 2003)

• Professionals and students, as a result, see accessibility issues as obstacles to creativity, and ADA issues are treated minimally and passively in architectural projects (Sherman and Sherman, 2012).

• Building code evaluations tend to be very last in design developments.

• Universal Design exceeds the ADA by conceptualizing that all products, services and environments should be designed for all people, regardless of ability.• Q: What constitutes Universal Design Successful in a built‐

environment?

Ed Roberts Campus suggests such directionsResearch Objectives: To examine universal design implications of ERC design.

Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley CA



Ed Roberts Campus

Why the ERC, a great example of universal design ?

• Non‐profit corporation to serve disability communities for the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement.

• One of the first international civic center designed based on Universal Design strategies at a civic scale.

• Long participatory design process (5 years +) involving intensive community engagements of the disabled community. • Strong integrations of public transits (BART, bus, taxi, bicycle, etc.) • Design addresses different types of disabilities.

• One of the design goals was to establish replicable design solutions that are supportive of various disability conditions for independency.

• It has been 5 years since the building was open in 2011 POE opportunity.


Research Methods

Research Methods

• Document/archival research• Universal Design Memo sent to the ERC Board (2005)• Design reports/publications done by LMSA• Architectural drawings

• Interviews (2016)• Project architects (LMSA) of the ERC• Four Key Board Members of the ERC

• On‐site Analysis (2016)• Visual impairment simulation (20/800)• Trace of use

Health, Safety, &Security

Functional efficiency

Psycho‐sociological aspects

Building Performance Criteria (BPC) (Presser, 1983)

Architectural MappingData compiling and analysis based on BPC


Architectural Mapping






Results

Several themes emerged that overarch three building performance criteria:

• Predictability

• Choice

• Sensory Equity/Dueling Disabilities

• Simplicity/Intuitivism.


Results

Predictability

• It seems to be the most important issue for people with disabilities in evaluating the quality of building performance and space.

Simple and repetitive circulation Consistent/Clear wayfinding (Graphic, tectonic, color, auditory) Clear visual access (open / transparency) Architectural (wall/column/floor) contrast

• It provides users confidence in navigating a space without compromising safety, comfort and goal attainment.

• It gains confidence of people with disabilities for independency. • It provokes willingness of socialize with strangers.


Results

Choice• Design should provides alternative ways of navigating/using

objects and/or spaces. Centralized and various vertical connections (stairs, ramps,

and elevators) ‐‐‐ safety, comfort, and/or efficiency Various type and movable seating – it supports social

interactions and comfort level Various architectural volumes with good acoustic quality

It provide an temporary immediate refuge space for temporary discomforts (e.g. small suppressed dark and quite space to neutralize sensory overload for autism)

It promote various social and private activities. Minimum of two accessible fire exits with various low/high

tech communication tools

• It increases confidence of independency and comfort of people with disability without fear of being stuck in certain locations (e.g. Broken the only elevator, only one accessible fire exit).

• It also provokes willingness of socialize with strangers.


Results

Sensory Equity/Dueling Disabilities• Design should provides multiple ways of accommodating

different disability conditions for services and wayfinding. • Design should address sensory conflicts that may exist among

different sensory accommodation (e.g. Smooth surface vs. tactile paving).

• It eliminates socio‐spatial barriers among users with various abilities.


Results

Simplicity/Intuitivism• Design should be simple and intuitive for all people.• Perceptible contrast to increase legibility regardless of disabilities.• Multi‐sensory integration should be simple and easy to

understand • Consistent/Clear wayfinding (Graphic, tectonic, color, auditory)• Integration of interior organization with building site and civic

infrastructure • Universal wayfinding for macro and micro setting.


Conclusion/Future Research

The ERC design demonstrates that Universal Design provokes perception of a welcoming environment among users and enhances building performance aesthetically and functionally.

Validations of design implications via POE

Thank you!!!

Documents

Ed Roberts Campus: A Case Study of Social Justice through ... · Centralized and various vertical connections (stairs, ramps, and elevators) ‐‐‐safety, comfort, and/or efficiency