ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY BOARD
Thursday, January 8, 2015
1:30 P.M.
State Fire Service Center
2307 MacArthur Road
New Castle, DE 19720
Telephone: (302) 323-5365
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
The January 8, 2015, meeting of the State of Delaware’s Architectural Accessibility Board was called to order by the chairman, Chad Toms. In addition to Mr.Toms, the record will show that the following board members participated in the meeting, either by telephone (T) or by their actual presence (P): Jennifer Ridgley (P); Chang Yoon (P); Scott Ward; Armando Liberti (P); Eric Potts (P).
Also in attendance: Dan Muterspaw, Chief Administrator
Jennifer Lieber
II. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The motion to approve the minutes of the Board’s previous meeting, held on December 18, 2014, was made and seconded. By a unanimous vote, the minutes were approved as recorded.
III. DISCUSSION OF AGENDA
The Chief Administrator added nine (9) cases to the agenda, as follows:
1. 14158-RE Sussex Academy School
2. 15001 Bannecker School
3. 15002 Milford Central Academy
4. 15003 Holloway Campus - Gen. Housekeeping
5. 15004 Bus Stop - Marrows/Chestnut Hill Rds.
6. 15005 Bus Stop - Marrows/Brookside Rds.
7. 15006 Bus Stop - Clinton/Front Sts.
8. 15007 Bus Stop - Clinton/2nd Sts.
9. 15008 Bus Stop - Clinton/4th Sts.
IV. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE
The Chief Administrator reported to the Board on his activities for the preceding month. These activities were routine in nature and consisted of normal field inspections, preliminary plan reviews, complaint issues and miscellaneous accessibility inquiries. In addition, the following projects (all having no accessibility issues and/or impact) were approved by the Administrator, and were presented to the Board for their endorsement/acceptance of these approvals:
1. 14177 15/21 the Green – Ext. Trim & Demo. work
2. 14179 Murderkill River Jetty – Rehab.
V. SUBMISSIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
At their December 18, 2014, meeting, the Submissions Review Committee reviewed five (5) cases. These cases were forwarded to the full Board for their review. The Board’s comments and actions on these cases, and for the additional nine (9) cases submitted by the Chief administrator, are attached as a part of these minutes.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Jennifer Lieber, prospective candidate for the soon to be vacated position of Chief Administrator of the AAB, was in attendance for this meeting and was introduced to the members of the Board. After a brief ‘get acquainted’ period, and in accord with the recent memorandum submitted to each member regarding Ms. Lieber’s credentials for serving the AAB as its Administrator, the Board voted, unanimously, to recommend Ms. Lieber’s appointment to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as prescribed by the state code. It was further agreed that Chairman Toms would notify Ms. Ann Visalli, Director of OMB, of this selection. It would be emphasized that, to avoid disruptions to the AAB’s normal operations, OMB’s approval should be completed with as little delay as possible.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to discuss.
VIII. SCHEDULE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Architectural Accessibility Board will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at 1:30 PM. The location will be the State Fire Service Center in New Castle.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
With nothing further to review or discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan A. Muterspaw, Chief Administrator, AAB
DAM/slb
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14158OWNER / Dept. of Education
PROJECT / Sussex Academy School
Interior Fit-out
DESIGNED BY / George, Miles & Buhr, LLC
CONTACT PERSON / Michael McArthur
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – Dec. 2014
COMMENTS / The architect was quite upset that their initial plans and drawings for this project were not approved by the AAB, and equally upset when they believed that the Board’s Chief Administrator did not explain the design’s flaws to them in an “acceptable or professional” manner. It was agreed that the design would be resubmitted and re-evaluated by the Board at the January meeting.
The resubmitted drawings were identical to the ones received in November, with several additions: this copy of the drawings was sealed; and, there were numerous markings and written-in comments attempting to explain why the required information and detail was omitted. The main problems and flaws the Board previously observed remained unaddressed and unchanged from the initial review. These flaws include, but may not be limited to, the following:
1. The new toilet room being constructed adjacent to office 205 (TR 207) was not designed to be adaptable. There is insufficient maneuvering space at the exit door.
2. There appeared to be insufficient space on the wall side of the toilet (TR 207) for the installation of a grab bar, if and when such installation might be required.
3. Elements and spaces required to be accessible under the ADA’s path of travel provision, were not shown or detailed. This included:
a. The new toilet rooms serving the chemistry classroom were not indentified or detailed. Of the possible toilet rooms serving this area (indentified only by an overall floor plan), none of them appeared to be compliant and no work was proposed in the drawings that would address:
1. Insufficient maneuvering space at the exit doors, in gang toilet rooms as well as in the single user-toilet rooms.
2. No ambulatory toilet stalls were shown in the gang toilet rooms.
3. There are no lavatories in the accessible toilet stalls, as required by Delaware’s standards.
4. There was no detail provided for any of these rooms. Compliance with adequate floor spaces, fixture heights, mounting heights of grab bars and other appurtenances, could not be determined.
b. The toilet rooms serving the other primary function areas (the library, the kitchen and the cafeteria fit-out areas) are similar to what was observed in item a, above, regarding the degree of non-compliance.
There were also several observations that were equally disturbing. It was fairly obvious, by the architect’s own explanation of the design, that the ADA’s ‘path of travel’ requirements were not clearly understood. Often-times, the ADA requires that accessibility upgrades be made outside of the ‘Limits of Construction’ (as repeatly expressed by GMB). In addition, the construction of the facility in 2004-2005 appeared to have been completed with many building code and accessibility violations. For example, not one toilet room shown on the plans and drawings for this school, appeared to be compliant. In addition, there weren’t any water fountain shown on the plans, as required by the IBC. Another area of concern was the note stating that some accessible entrances discharged onto “concrete walks or stoops, and then to asphalt or pavement”. This, in itself does not support vertical access, (where required, especially for emergency egress) or a firm and stable surface for travel. With the above concerns not being adequately addressed, the Board could not vote to move this project forward.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
NOTE: / As explained above, identifying all violations was impossible, since adequate detail, sufficient enough to make any such determinations, was not provided. The only way to identify all existing violations is to perform a thorough survey, or assessment, of the building’s elements and spaces. It should be explained in the disapproval letter that the Board will provide technical assistance and/or direction, were appropriate, but it is not the responsibility of the AAB to perform such evaluation services. This responsibility rests with the design professional. In addition, Sussex Academy School officials should be informed of the Board’s review and decision.
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14171
OWNER / Dept. of Health & Social Services
PROJECT / DHCI Prickett Building
First Floor Renovations
DESIGNED BY / Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Michael Bauman
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / Since being reviewed by the Submissions Review Committee, the architect had the chance to address all of the issues that either needed clarification or correction. A corrected set of drawings was resubmitted and the design for the proposed alterations now appeared to be correct and acceptable.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14174
OWNER / Dept. of Education
PROJECT / DE State University – Baker Annex
2 Story Addition – New Construction
DESIGNED BY / Tetra Tech, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Tim Skibicki
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / This proposed project consist of adding a new, 2 story addition to the existing Baker Annex building. The new offices, labs, lounge, and class spaces will be adjacent to the current building on three sides. There were two main problems observed with the plans and drawings submitted. They included, but may not be limited to, the following:
1. The doors opening onto the existing corridor #203 all appeared to be set too far away from the door openings on their push sides.
2. Because there are no toilet rooms or water fountains being constructed in the new addition, the ADA’s path of travel requirement mandates that the foundations and/or toilet rooms serving the new addition be brought into compliance, if they aren’t already compliant. The drawings did not appear to show where these other elements and spaces were, in fact, already complaint. More information and detail is required.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14175
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Intersection – Virginia Ave. & Bridgeville Hwy.
Repairs and Alterations
DESIGNED BY / In-house design
CONTACT PERSON / Sarah Coakley
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / As part of the State’s “Safe Routes to School” program, the above intersection is being upgraded to be accessible. This will impact all curb ramps, the crosswalk striping, and the approiate signage for students attending the Seaford Middle School. The only problem observed on the design plans and drawings was some incorrect labeling of the proposed curb ramps to be constructed.
BOARD ACTION / Approved. DelDOT should ensure the curb ramp designs are compliant with the proposed curb ramp locations.
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14176
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Intersection – S. Main St. & Edgewood St.
Repairs and Alterations
DESIGNED BY / In-house design
CONTACT PERSON / Sarah Coakley
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / As part of the State’s “Safe Routes to School” program, the above intersection is being upgraded to be accessible. This will impact all curb ramps, the crosswalk striping, and the approiate signage for students attending the Woodbridge
Middle School. The only problem observed on the design plans and drawings was some incorrect labeling of the proposed curb ramps to be constructed.
BOARD ACTION / Approved. DelDOT should ensure the curb ramp designs are compliant with the proposed curb ramp locations.
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 14178
OWNER / Red Clay Consolidated SD
PROJECT / Linden Hill Elementary School
Entrance Alterations
DESIGNED BY / StudioJAED
CONTACT PERSON / Phillip R. Conte
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / In addition to some window replacement work, the entrance will also be altered to be more secure. The design for the entrance work, including work in the interior vestibule area, appeared to be acceptable.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15001
OWNER / Milford School District
PROJECT / Safe Route to School
B. Bannecker Elementary School
DESIGNED BY / In-House
CONTACT PERSON / Sarah Coakley
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / To encourage school children to walk or ride their bicycles to school, accessibility barriers along the route will be removed. For this project, the intersections at Church St. and Allens Way & at Brights Way will be upgraded with two new curb ramps, a painted crosswalk and new signage. All work being proposed meets the accessibility requirements.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15002
OWNER / Milford School District
PROJECT / Safe Route to School
DESIGNED BY / In-house design
CONTACT PERSON / Sarah Coakley
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / To encourage school children to walk or ride their bicycles to school, accessibility barriers along the pedestrian route will be removed. For this project, and within the school campus, a new section of sidewalk will be installed, three new curb ramps will be constructed, crosswalk striping will be painted, and signage will be installed. All work being proposed meets the accessibility requirements.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15003
OWNER / Dept. of Heath & Social Services
PROJECT / Holloway Campus – Admin. Bldg.
General Housekeeping Alterations
DESIGNED BY / Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Michael Bauman
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / General interior alterations will provide additional office space within this section of the Admin. Building. Wall partitions will be removed and/or relocated and two new toilet rooms will be constructed. A water fountain will also be installed. Two office floors will be raised to remove the existing step barriers at each office door. All work has been designed to be accessible. Numerous other accessibility violations will remain for DHSS to address, but these violations are not required to be corrected within the scope of work of this project.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15004
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Marrows Rd. at Chestnut Hill Rd.
Bus Stop Installation
DESIGNED BY / In-house
CONTACT PERSON / John Kotula
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / A new bus stop location has been identified and modifications are necessary for the site to be compliant. Some existing sidewalk will be replaced by a 5’ X 12’ boarding pad. Signage will complete this stop. No other alterations are necessary and all proposed work appears to be accessible.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15005
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Marrows Rd. at Brookside Blvd.
Bus Stop Installation
DESIGNED BY / In-house
CONTACT PERSON / John Kotula
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / A new bus stop location has been identified and modifications are necessary for the site to be compliant. Some existing sidewalk will be replaced and a boarding pad will be constructed. Two new curb ramps will also be constructed. Signage will complete this stop. All work appears to be accessible.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NUMBER / 15006
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Clinton St. at Front St. (DE City)
Bus Stop Installation