Marcus,

Having viewed the web site I would have grave concerns about the glazing
in that I would consider visually impaired people would have significant
problems in identifying the glazed external walls. However an award from
such a group as the The Paralyzed Veterans of America is bound to catch
anyone's attention... I would guess it may have its origins in the
disability movement following the Vietnam war?

Anthony Rylands
Access Officer for Disabled People
North Somerset Council
Tel: 01934 634989
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Marcus Ormerod
Sent: 26 July 2006 11:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Access award

This item is in the RIBA newsletter World Issue 421 and may interest
some on
the list.

ACCESS TO SUCCESS

There are two interesting angles on the news story that a design award
for
accessibility has been won by Herzog & de Meuron's $135m de Young museum
in
San Francisco.

The first is that the award has been made not by architects but by users
-
The Paralyzed Veterans of America. The second is that the prize goes not
to
the star designers but to the local executive team of Fong & Chan
Architects
(FCA).

Preparation for the project's detailed design included the distribution
of
more than 1,200 questionnaires to members of the disability community. 
'There are no ramps; the horizontal design also boosts accessibility by
limiting the challenges associated with total vertical circulation, in
this
case provided by strategically placed elevators at prominent
intersections. 
Fully accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are strategically
dispersed...the auditoriumoffers visitors abundant wheelchair accessible
and
companion seating...'

http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek06/0721/0721pva.cfm

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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.inclusive-design.it
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html