Accessible Elevators and
Existing University Buildings
Using timelines of multiple scales, this research explores the evolution of elevator accessibility standards resulting from governmental acts, such as ABA and ADA, and the effect they have on design strategies that seek the continued operations of existing university buildings.
The resulting primary strategy being the addition or relocation of vertical circulation cores to meet the most recent accessibility code and/or standard.
Kyle Kueper
Standards
Accessible design standards that contain dimensional guidelines for elevators in university buildings.
Elevators
Elevators attached to existing university buildings through renovations and additions.
Acts
Standards
Elevators
American National
Standard 117.1
1961
American National
Standard 117.1
1980
American Council on
Education Standards
1981
1968
ADA Standards for
Accessible Design
1991
American National
Standard 117.1
1992
American National
Standard 117.1
1998
American National
Standard 117.1
2003
Civil Rights Act 1964
Public Law 88-352 (Organizations)
An Act
“To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes.”
Architectural Barriers Act 1968
Public Law 90-480 (Standards)
An Act
“To ensure that certain buildings financed with
Federal funds are so designed and constructed
as to be accessible to the physically handicapped.”
Rehabilitation Act 1973
Public Law 93-112 (Organizations, Funds)
An Act
“To replace the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, to extend and revise the authorization of grants to the States for vocational rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe handicaps, to expand special Federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to handicapped individuals, to establish special responsibilities in the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for coordination of all programs with respect to handicapped individuals within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for other purposes.”
Education of the Handicapped Act 1975
Public Law 94-142 (Funds)
An Act
“To amend the Education of the Handicapped Act
to provide educational assistance to all handicapped
children, and for other purposes.”
Fair Housing Amendments Act 1988
Public Law 100-430 (Organizations)
An Act
“To amend title VIII of the Act commonly called the Civil
Rights Act of 1968, to revise the procedures for the
enforcement of fair housing, and for other purposes.”
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
Public Law 101-336 (Standards)
An Act
“To establish a clear and comprehensive
prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.”
ADA Amendments 2008
Public Law 110-325 (Standards)
An Act
“To restore the intent and protections of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”
Context
South Dakota State University elevator additions are used as a case study.
Below is an analysis of dates associated with accessibility acts and standards parallel to the addition of accessible elevators on the exterior of university buildings.
South Dakota State University Campus Map
Standards
Disability / Accessibility Acts
Crothers Engineering Hall
2002 Renov.
Role of the Architect
In knowing that acts and standards will continue to have an effect on a building’s operations and that there is still improvement needed in making buildings more accessible, architects must become leaders in the advancement of accessible standards and embed accessibility within the entire design process. Instead, it has largely become a secondary additive element both in the way it is thought of during the design process and in how it is physically implemented within the built environment.