Odegaard Undergraduate Library: ADA Approved? Brenna Hesch, Erin Reddish, Katie Carlile, Brandon Rain
ADA Conflictions to Address: Slick bricks in Red Square Accessible entry Elevator non-compliance Restrooms
Slick Entryway to Odegaard via Red Square: During wet months, Red Square is a traction-free surface Designed in the 1970s to allow for effective crowd-control against anti-war protesters As many students can attest to, walking through Red Square in the rain can lead to a fall
Inoperable with a close fist Accessible Entry: 34” Movable Obstruction 32” Inoperable with a close fist
Elevator Non-Compliance: No audible floor indicators No brail on buttons for 50% of elevators Intercoms lack Braille, raised lettering, and ability to use without voice communication
Restrooms: Third Floor Men’s 28” No accessiblity demarcations outside of restroom 28” for accessible entry No grab bars behind toilet Insufficient room for wheelchair use Not all entrances were marked with Braille
Possible Solutions: Red Square: Feasibility of change is low, considering mass scale of operation and historic value Accessibility entry: Requires wider doorways and book aisles Elevator non-compliance: Braille on all buttons, non-verbal intercom accessibility, auditory signals for floor level Restrooms: External accessibility demarcations, wider accessible stalls, installation of grab bars posterior to toilet
Conclusions: It’s not economically feasible to resurface Red Square Perhaps install a “traction pathway” Widening entryways is possible, though expensive Increasing spacing between bookshelves Making elevators accessible will involve putting on Braille additions (cheap), new intercom design (could be expensive), and auditory signals for floor level (also potentially expensive) Women’s/Men’s restrooms on the 3rd floor can be made more accessible for little cost