Talking Stick - November/December 2017 - 32

FACILITIES

UW's Alder Hall - Extensive
glazing provides visual
connectivity between study
areas, lounges, and hallways.

University of Oregon's
new Kalapuya Ilihi
residence hall has an
open washroom design.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN BENSCHNEIDER

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH PARTEE

CREATING EQUITY FOR STUDENTS IN RESIDENCE HALLS IN THE MOST
PERSONAL OF SPACES - THEIR BEDROOMS - IS A VITAL PLACE TO BEGIN
ADDRESSING THE MANY WAYS PEOPLE INADVERTENTLY CREATE BARRIERS TO
FAIR TREATMENT.
impaired students better control over
their residential environment.
For the International Living-Learning Center at Oregon State University
in Corvallis, transparency was a key
design strategy to open up the common use areas for student engagement. Community kitchens, lounges,
and even classrooms utilized movable
glass partition systems to promote
visual connectivity and flexibility in
transforming the spaces for larger
group functions throughout the day.
Gender-inclusive washrooms and
toileting and showering facilities allow
every person to take care of their most
intimate human functions. Enhanced
privacy for these facilities fosters
equity and inclusion for all, increases
safety, and reduces the potential for
embarrassment. Showers and toilet
stalls are evolving not only to remove
unwanted sightline gaps in toilet partitions, but to also offer true walls with

TALKING STICK

lockable doors. Whether they are private, single-occupancy washrooms or
more communal washrooms shared by
the floor community, these accommodations can seamlessly address gender
variances and an array of functional
needs.
The University of Oregon's newest
residential learning community in
Eugene showcases an open bathroom
suite, supported by the university, its
stakeholders, and the City of Eugene.
The restroom facility has private toilet
rooms to support all users and an open
plan for hand washing. The result is a
strong statement about equity but enhanced privacy for all. "The inclusive
restroom on the first floor within the
social and academic space of Kalapuya
Ilihi residence hall fulfills this building's intent to create equitable spaces
for all students, faculty members, and
community members. All can experience safe and private spaces within

the restroom facility. As we progressively approach definitions and social
constructions of gender and gender
identity, the restroom is a testament
to the modernization of facilities to
support an evolving understanding of
the community and individuals that
live and learn within them," says Anna
Schmidt-MacKenzie, director of residence life and educational initiatives.
Acoustic performance is more
than an annoyance when considering
equitable living environments. Overly
noisy spaces, minimal wall separation,
and impact transfers from footfalls
on hard surfaces cause distractions,
while overly controlled spaces without
appropriate ambient noise can be just
as troublesome. Both extremes can
have negative impacts on students on
the autism spectrum who may need
more intentionally controlled acoustical performance to manage their
symptoms and improve learning and

Talking Stick - November/December 2017

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