1. Public Space Accessibility
The Accessibility Plan
Public Buildings
8 June 2018
Lorraine Guthrie
Barrier Free

2. Purpose - To champion a more liveable world
Mission - To advocate for accessibility and universal design by providing professional advice and training and shape the creation of accessible buildings, spaces and transport networks

3. The Accessibility Plan: Public Buildings
What is it?
A programme of work intended to achieve ‘Equitable access to and use of publicly accessible buildings by all New Zealanders’
Where and When?
From a review into the accessibility of public buildings commissioned by MBIE and ODI in late Developed with input from an external access reference group.

4. User Guidelines Phase 1 Conceptual Design Deliverables
Investigate options for incorporating end-user access requirements
effectively into conceptual design phase
• initial draft of user-requirements for publicly accessible buildings
• sector engagement on initial draft
• final draft approved by MBIE
• report identifying where/how the guide can be used in the construction sector
• MBIE keen to hear consultation feedback on next steps

5. Phase 1 What else is in Phase 1?
Terms of Reference for environmental scan of building developer and designer sector/targeted communications
Assess the true cost and potential benefit of improved access in new and existing buildings

6. What else? As near as reasonably practicable
• Guidance
• Engagement
• Education
Align and simplify pathways to achieve compliance
• NZS 4121
• Acceptable solution
• Alternative solution

7. options for non-compliance of access issues
Investigate
Current; and
Alternative
enforcement
options for non-compliance of access issues

8. Occupation
Identify mechanisms to assist the Disability Sector stakeholders to work together to improve accessibility of public buildings

9. Informative, Coherent, Useful
Users of the Guidelines
Informative, Coherent, Useful
Architects, Designers, TA’s, User Groups, Owners, Occupiers, Government, Tertiary Providers,
Access Advisors
Who else?

10. Section Titles A B C D E F Activity Processes Surrounding Areas
Site Layout
Pedestrian access and circulation
Vehicle and cycle access and circulation
Building entrances and exits G H I J K L
Internal circulation
Use of spaces
Fixtures and fittings
Building types
Means of escape
Building Management

11. Element A Process Approach – how building users ‘use’ a space
• Gather information – be aware, gather information about the environment
• Process information – use the information you have gathered to decide on a course of action
• Take action – navigate through and find your destination, physically move and/or operate fixtures and fittings

12. An example Activity - what the building user wants to do
• Locate the staircase
Commentary - explains the reasons for the activity and other information from the user’s perspective
• Recognisable as a staircase
• Attractively designed staircase
• Prominent position
• Visibility from the entrance and waiting areas
• Alternative step free routes to others floors are identifiable
• It is not usable unless it can be identified and located
• People with visual impairments may only be able to locate
by way of tactile cues

13. Design Response - how to design for the user to have the best experience
• Logical position
• Good sightlines
• Directional cues from circulation routes
• Directional cues at decision making points
Design Examples
References – Compliance requirements/International Best Practice

14. Another example B Surrounding Areas Element Transport options
Activity Decide on most suitable method of transport
Commentary Visitors may arrive at the site by a combination of modes, car, bike, passenger in a car, bus, taxi, ferry, wheelchair or as a pedestrian
Design Response Consider possible pedestrian routes through and from site
Design Example • Select location of site and building entrances to minimise level change
• Co-ordinate floor levels with typography to create level entrances
• Position facilities to inform possible access routes
References

15. Commentary – Informed by User Experience – Yours!
• Surrounding areas – transport, parking, pedestrian routes
• External steps, ramps, lifts, resting spaces, landscaped areas, pavements
• Vehicle entrances, parking, garages
• Building entrances, exits, automatic doors, revolving doors
• Corridors, stairs, lifts, ramps, travellators, escalators
• Means of escape, warnings, signage
• Management issues – maintenance schedules, building information

16. Timeframes • User Guide - being drafted
• Consultation - disability sector – June/July
• Consultation - architects, TA’s, landscape architects, others
• User Guide – updated - August
• Education/Communication - MBIE working on this now
• Final draft – launched - September

17. What is different? Barrier Free opinion
NZS 4121 – overdue for review but not yet used consistently
Architects and Designers – don’t know what they don’t know, design elements of the building, not how a user experiences the building
TA’s – accessibility is only part of their role, inconsistency due to lack of understanding about how a building user navigates
Tertiary students – very limited guidance
ANARP – requires decision making currently with little guidance
Commentary – is about your experience – thank you for sharing yours