Law, Societies and Justice 332May 22, 2007

Group Two April MonastrialCarolyn Thayer

Corrina EmerickJames MaloneLeisl BaumanMegan Hanse

Kane Hall Architectural Accessibility Survey

Kane Hall Overview

• Kane Hall is a classroom-auditorium building

• Kane Hall was built in 1971

• Kane Hall has the largest lecture halls on the UW campus; some rooms can seat more than 720 people

• In addition to classrooms, Kane Hall also houses the Walker-Ames Reception Room for large gatherings

• Kane Hall also houses a number of departments:

- Classroom Support Services (CSS)

- UWTV

• Kane Hall is intended for large classes, lectures, gatherings and receptions

• Many entry-level undergraduate courses are held in Kane Hall

• Kane Hall houses both UW and non-UW activities, such as SAT testing and outside conferences

Kane Overview, Cont.

Kane Hall Location

• Kane Hall is located in the “North Central” area

• Kane Hall sits at the northeast end of Red Square

• Kane Hall is above the Central Plaza parking garage and is relatively close to 15th avenue

Kane Hall Classroom Overview

•The following table shows the size of each classroom in Kane Hall. This does not include the Walker-Ames room or any other rooms.

Level Room Seats

1 110 230

1 120 4401 130 7202 210 2452 220 2402 235 1252 234 20

Kane Hall Accessibility Survey

• Our survey of Kane Hall is founded on the “Facility Checklist” worksheet

• Survey took place on May 1, 2007

• Survey was conducted during normal building hours between 14:00-16:00

• Questions on ADA building practices were addressed by referencing a professional interior designer and an ADA text

Kane Hall Accessibility Overview

• Kane Hall meets most though not all ADA requirements

• Most requirements are met at minimum level

• For such a large and central building, Kane is not nearly accessible enough

• Remodeling projects in Kane have failed to rectify many major problems

• Many problems are not necessarily specific to Kane Hall

Cultural Construction of Disability through Kane Hall

• Kane Hall is created with able-bodies individuals in mind; persons with disabilities have been “retrofitted” into the building as needed

• As Mutua observes, accessibility and spontaneity are almost inversely related; in Kane Hall one must follow a very rigid and set path

• Therefore, we must question why Kane is constructed in such a way - surely it seems not to be out of consideration for individuals with disabilities

• Most accessible areas are in the basement of Kane Hall; this puts individuals with disabilities outside of the public sphere into a less visited place

• Accessibility features and devices are often camouflaged which makes them harder to see as distinct from the environment

• If disability is culturally constructed, what can we say about only doing the bare minimum as required by law?

Approach and Entrance to Kane Hall

NOT stable, firm and slip-resistant

Route of travel

Too long, poorly designedRamps

Sign for Kane Hall is poorly placed and designed

Kane Hall Signs

Cuts are poorly placedCurbs

Unclear, possibly dangerousParking and Drop-Off

Van-accessible spots not marked well, confusing signs

Parking and Drop-Off, Cont.

Loading dock a possibility; poorly marked, shady

Parking and Drop-Off, Cont.

Some inaccessible doors have no signs

Entrance

Some entrances are poorly designed and lit

Entrance, Cont.

Lacks needed information, flat print text only

Accessibility Sign

Most entry doors, when open, are 31” wide; poor signs; likely take more than 5lb/f to open

Entry Doors

Some alarms do not have light indicators; very poor switch placement

Emergency Egress

Signs are poorly designed; no raised text

Emergency Signs

Access to Programs/Services in Kane Hall

Door pulls likely require > 9lb/f and are hard to open with closed fist

Doors to rooms

Some objects protrude into the route of travel; hard to find with cane

Obstacles in Route of Travel

Poor design and placementSigns

Poor design and placementSigns, Cont.

Wheelchair seating at front and back only

Seating

Wheelchair spaces are filled with other chairs

Seating, Cont.

Freight elevator, usably by public, does not have tones or braille controls

Elevators

All elevators do not have speech-independent emergency intercoms installed; poor signsElevators, Cont.

Usability of Restrooms in Kane Hall

Not tactile; poor placementBathroom Signs

Awkward configuration and poor placement frustrate

Entry Into Bathroom

Very poor door placement; it is only 34.5” wide

Path to Fixtures

Poor design complicates sink use

Fixture Placement

Rim too high, not enough clear space to floors

Lavatories

(not pictured - people were becoming cross)

Additional Access in Kane Hall

Spout too high at 43” & poor choice (in remodeled area)

Drinking Fountains

Very poor spacing; too high (57”); no signs for phones

Telephones

Poor placement in many areas

Trash Receptacles

Missing; hope you do not need it

Fire Suppression Equipment

Questions