Talking Stick - November/December 2016 - 26

FACILITIES

and space constraints are quickly
magnified. As a result, designers must
understand a multitude of factors
that affect accessibility, including
furniture configurations; door and
open space clearances; power and data
locations; light, color, and contrast; and
bathroom and shower layouts.
There are a number of other
considerations that architects and
housing departments must consider
when designing and planning a

PHOTO CREDIT: MAHLUM ARCHITECTS

Testing furniture layouts in double- and
triple-room configurations ensures adequate
clear space for mobility device storage and
charging. Zura Hall at SDSU incorporates
accessible rooms throughout each floor, giving
students options and ensuring functionality.

26

TALKING STICK

residence hall. For example, many
accessible bedrooms are located
near the elevator core in order to
increase safety, convenience, and
cost effectiveness. While this may
be appreciated by students with
mobility challenges, they may feel
isolated if rooms are located only at
the periphery. Like most students,
those with mobility differences
want full integration - to be in the
middle of the action. By providing
accessible bedrooms at multiple
locations on each floor and on all
floors, we promote diversity of choice
and increase open interaction among
students.
A recent example of this design
strategy in action is the renovation
of Zura Hall at San Diego State. The
design team focused on accessible

room distribution, diversity of unit
types (accessible singles, doubles,
and triples), and flexible furniture
layouts that accommodate multiple
configurations, including locations for
parking a mobility device. In addition,
the front door - taken for granted
by many - must be considered.
The bedroom door carries a set of
social conventions, which should
be supported to promote inclusive
communities. An open door allows
students to informally say "welcome";
such invitations to connect also
strengthen the floor community in
a natural, friendly way. For students
with visual, auditory, or mobility
impairments, open doors are also
easier to navigate. However, fire
marshals typically reject open door
policies, since the corridor becomes
the fire-protected tunnel to safety. A
viable solution is an automated door
closing system that allows doors to
remain open for student communities
and to close in an emergency. For
the renovation of Zura Hall, utilizing
door hardware that maintains fire
separations in emergencies while
allowing students to leave their doors
open when they want is a win-win
design strategy.
Closed doors present further
challenges for students with auditory
impairments because they cannot hear
a knock nor can they anticipate a door
about to open. One simple solution
is to add a visual signal to rooms to
maintain equitable social customs.
Developments in furniture and
technology have made it easier to
achieve universal design within
residence halls. Within a bedroom,
the location and placement of
power and data access must be
thoughtfully planned; a layout that
passes an electrical inspection may
still prove completely frustrating to
students with mobility challenges.
Outlets behind a headboard or a
desk can be impossible to use or
even find. Furniture planning must
integrate fixed locations for power
and technology to ensure that outlets
are reachable for all students and
Talking Stick - November/December 2016

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