Page 14 - CooperatorNews New Jersey Spring 2022
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14 COOPERATORNEWS NEW JERSEY   —SPRING 2022  NJ.COOPERATORNEWS.COM  DESIGN  Universal Design & the ADA  Design for Every Body  BY A. J. SIDRANSKY  The idea that ‘form follows function’   is one of the basic concepts underly-  ing  nearly  every design discipline—but   function for whom? For many people liv-  ing  with  disabilities, it  often seems  that   ‘function’ covers a very narrow range of   ability—rendering many forms clumsy   at best, and completely useless at worst.   While a cascading stairway might provide   drama to a public space, for example, it   may present an insurmountable obstacle   to anyone making use of a wheelchair or   other mobility aid.   While in the past accessibility for dis-  abled individuals may have been an after-  thought (if it was a thought at all), in re-  cent years, architects and designers have   begun to change their view of how to best   achieve form and function for everyone,   regardless of age or ability. Two key driv-  ers of that change were the adaptation of   the theory of Universal Design, and the   passage and implementation of the Amer-  icans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  How the Law Applies   According to David Ramsey, an at-  torney with Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith &   Davis, LLP in Woodbridge, “The law in   New Jersey does not require ADA com-  pliance for a non-public facility”—which   would include co-op and condo proper-  ties—“however, the state has adopted, as   part of the Uniform Construction Code   (UCC), regulations known as the Barrier   Free Subcode, which is applicable even   in  buildings  or associations constructed   before the adoption of the UCC, and the   Rehabilitation Subcode. Under those reg-  ulations, the Barrier Free Subcode is ap-  plicable to \[building\] alterations.” Ramsey   goes on to say that “the Barrier Free Sub-  code requires that all common use facili-  ties must comply with the requirements   of the subcode. Those requirements are   applicable through the Rehabilitation   Subcode. However, there is a provision in   the Rehabilitation Subcode that provides   that where complying with the accessibil-  ity requirements is infeasible then the re-  quirement must be met to the maximum   extent that is feasible.”  Universal Design  “Universal Design was developed in   1997,” says Eric Cohen, senior associate   principal at Ethelind Coblin Architect, an   architecture and design firm based in New   York with clients across the country. “It   was the brainchild of a working group of   architects, product designers, engineers,   and environmental design researchers led   by Ronald Mace at North Carolina State  walker would have access to any space  client,” he says. “It is not a one-size-fits-  University. Universal Design is the design  from a kitchen or bath to common areas  all approach. We start by understand-  and composition of an environment so  such as lobbies and hallways. In the early  ing the users and asking questions about   that it can be accessed, understood, and  1990s this became a trend. It was the mo-  used to the greatest extent possible by all  ment where the design industry took on  to residents as well as staff. Some of this   people regardless of their age, size, and  the moral and ethical responsibility of this  happens by asking, and some by observ-  ability. It is a fundamental process of good  challenge. We weren’t going to design just  ing.  design.”   Cohen goes on to explain that there are  use. Form follows function. It is a com-  seven principles of Universal Design: eq-  uitable use, flexibility in use, simple and   intuitive use, perceptible information,   tolerance for error, low physical effort,  a federal statute or mandatory code. The  space; differentiating between public, pri-  and size and space for both approach and  ADA, on the other hand, is the law. Baron  vate, service and emergency egress, and   use. Taken together and applied, these  explains that the Americans with Dis-  principles ensure that an environment  abilities Act was passed and signed into  the varied characteristics and abilities of   can be used in the most independent and  law in July 1990 by then President George  users’ mobility, sensory, cognitive, as well   natural way, in the widest possible range  H.W. Bush. ADA compliance enforce-  of situations, by the broadest array of us-  ers, without special adaptation, modifica-  tion, or specialized solutions. They can  action. Failing to make spaces and facili-  be applied to evaluate existing designs, to  ties accessible to those with disabilities  slippery floor surfaces. You also address   guide new ones, or to educate designers  was considered discriminatory.    and consumers.   Jonathan Baron, principal of Jonathan  Design incorporate the same principles  It’s also important to address the things   Baron Interiors, also located in New York  and values enshrined in the ADA—and  that aren’t as apparent as disabilities, such   City, explains the movement in simple  according to Cohen, architects and de-  terms. “The concept came out of archi-  tects’ and interior designers’ concerns  the ADA requirements all the time. “We  Appropriate furniture  and selections  to   about  meeting  the  needs  of  everyone,  use codes as a guide for compliance with  accommodate a range of sizes and abili-  including mildly to severely disabled  agencies having jurisdiction, but make  ties—arms  on  chairs;  seating  height  and   people. Something as simple as a cane or  the process specific to the location and   anything anymore. It’s about ‘comfortable’   mitment to meet the needs of everyone.”   Enter the ADA  Universal Design is a movement—not  bility impediments. Ease of navigating the   ment followed, with failure to meet the  selections of flooring finishes, lighting,   new requirements resulting in costly legal  surface finishes on ceilings, walls, floors,   Of course, the tenets of Universal  contrast in light/dark, hue, and pattern.   signers integrate Universal Design and  sues, and to respond to neurodiversity.   what they find most challenging. We talk   “The design process itself is interactive   and layered, and takes many factors into   consideration,” Cohen continues, “includ-  ing things like spatial clearances and mo-  finding direction; an understanding of   as what is familiar to them; appropriate   and transaction surfaces to avoid glare,   acoustics and palate, to provide balanced   as mental health issues and cognitive is-  continued on page 25 


































































































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