ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY BOARD
Colonial Paralyzed Veterans’ Association
28 Peddler’s Row, Peddler’s Village
Christiana, Delaware
(302) 368-4898
Thursday, May 10, 2007
1:30 P.M.
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
The May 10, 2007 meeting of the Architectural Accessibility Board was called to order by the Acting Chairman, Ada Stokes. The record will show that, in addition to Ms. Stokes, the following members were present:
Wayne Carter
Nash Childs
Keener Cobb
Chad Toms
Also present:
Dan A Muterspaw, Chief Administrator
II. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
A motion to approve the minutes of the Board’s previous meeting held on March 8, 2007 was made and seconded. By a unanimous vote, the minutes were approved as recorded.
III. DISCUSSION OF AGENDA
The Chief Administrator added one (1) case to the agenda as follows:
1. 07020 Sussex Work Release Center
IV. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S UP-DATE
The Chief Administrator reported to the Board on his activities for the past two months. The activities were routine in nature and brief highlights were given on field inspections, complaint issues and/or project updates.
V. SUBMISSIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
Because there was no AAB meeting during the month of April, the agenda for this month’s meeting consisted of cases reviewed by the Submissions Review Committee during their March 29 and April 26 meetings. Including the one (1) case added to the agenda by the Chief Administrator, there were twenty-one (21) total cases reviewed. The Board’s comments and actions on these cases are attached as a part of these minutes.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to discuss.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. It was suggested that the AAB may want to consider holding their meetings at times other than in the afternoons on the second Tuesday of each month, which has been the regular meeting time of the Board for over twenty years. Since any change in scheduled meetings would directly affect all members, it was agreed that all discussion on this topic would be delayed until that time when all members were present and could give their thoughts and views on the matter.
B. A recent site inspection at the Seaford High School identified a potential problem
with an existing means of emergency egress. The section of the school called the O.H. AREA, is directly adjacent to an exit which is, currently, not accessible. The problem is that this area houses numerous (a maximum of seven) disabled students, many with assistants and/or aides. In the case of an emergency, this would not be an accessible means of egress. In addition, the spaces which could be viewed as ‘areas of refuge’ within this exit are completely insufficient when considering the number of wheelchair-bound students and their assistants who may be required to use this exit. The AAB agreed, unanimously, that a letter should be sent to the school strongly suggesting, if not mandating, that the school address this important life/safety issue.
VIII. SCHEDULE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Architectural Accessibility Board is scheduled for Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. at the Thomas Collins Building in Dover.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
With nothing further to discuss or review, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan A. Muterspaw
Chief Administrator
DAM/bls E:\AAB\AAB Meetings\2007\05102007minutes.doc
Attachments
Cc: Board Members
Robert Furman, Dir., DFM
SUBMISSION NO. / 06016-REOWNER / Christina School District
PROJECT / Wilson Elementary School
Alterations/Repairs
ARCH/ENGINEER / ABHA Architects
CONTACT PERSON / Denis F. O’Flynn O’Brien
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – Apr. ‘06
COMMENTS / When this project was initially reviewed, revisions were required to some of the toilet rooms and some exterior curb ramps. In addition, detail was requested for the new elevator. These areas were addressed and the plan now appears to be correct.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 06073-RE
OWNER / Red Clay Consolidated School District
PROJECT / Telegraph Road Learning Center
Alterations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Gilbert Architects
CONTACT PERSON / Brian K. Good
PREVIOUS ACTION / Approved – Nov. ‘06
COMMENTS / Because of cost constraints to meet the originally approved design, the project had to be scaled back. Currently, only one toilet room will be upgraded. The project will now address mostly major systems. The design is acceptable.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 06080-RE
OWNER / Lake Forest School District
PROJECT / Lake Forest South Elementary School
New Construction
ARCH/ENGINEER / French + Ryan, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Alvin French
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – March ‘07
COMMENTS / The initial submission for this project was not approved because of various design flaws in some toilet rooms, in the faculty lounge and with some of the classroom casework. In addition, it was noted that the revised ADAAG was being followed. This is a problem in that this revised document has not been approved, at this time, by the Department of Justice and is not enforceable.
In responding to the Board’s observations, the architect addressed all of the concerns listed in the March ’07 case review summary. The architect’s attention to these accessibility issues was satisfactory.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07002-RE
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Milton Rail to Trails
Conversion
ARCH/ENGINEER / Becker Morgan Group
CONTACT PERSON / Michael Lane
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – March ‘07
COMMENTS / The initial submission was only 60% complete. In addition, there was incomplete/confusing detail pertaining to the design of the curb ramps. This led to the AAB’s recent veto of this project.
The revised drawings are now 100% complete, and include the appropriate curb ramp detail.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07004-RE
OWNER / DNREC
PROJECT / Cape Henlopen Life Skills & Respite Care Center
New Construction
ARCH/ENGINEER / French + Ryan, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Alvin French
Mike Sollazzo
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – March ‘07
COMMENTS / An accessible path to the outdoor recreation areas, accessible counters and compliant toilet rooms were required before the design of this project could be approved as being accessible. The appropriate revisions were completed. A new problem, however, was observed. The door locks to many of the doors were changed to the type that must be operated by inserting one’s thumb and turning the hand. This is not acceptable for an operating door.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07005-RE
OWNER / Delaware State Housing Authority
PROJECT / Middletown Trace Apts.
Alterations/Renovations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Volmer Associates
CONTACT PERSON / Richard Wilson
PREVIOUS ACTION / Not approved – March ‘07
COMMENTS / The AAB observed several design problems during their last review. The toilet room grab bars and the perceived step problem were appropriately addressed and the drawings are now correct.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07006
OWNER / Cape Henlopen School District
PROJECT / Cape Henlopen High School
New Construction
ARCH/ENGINEER / Buck Simpers Architect + Associates
CONTACT PERSON / Tony Vassalotti
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / This project is for a new senior high school. As such, everything is required to be accessible. The AAB noted a number of irregularities in the design of this facility, which included, but may not be limited to, the following:
l. Locker room accessible transfer showers (such as in room #G114) do not have the required clear floor space.
2. Toilet rooms adjacent to locker rooms (such as
#G115A) do not have the required clear floor space
for the toilet.
3. Numerous accessible stall and/or toilet room doors (such as #D104) are not located properly.
4. Ambulatory toilet stalls are required whenever the fixture count of water closets and urinals exceed six, which includes the accessible stall.
5. Field house concession stand window/counter height was not indicated.
6. Transfer showers (such as in #FH012) cannot be recessed from the front wall.
7. It doesn’t appear that there is an accessible route to all athletic fields.
8. There was no detail for the new greenhouse.
9. Accessible seating in the auditorium (#B100) should be dispersed throughout.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07007
OWNER / Delmar School District
PROJECT / Delmar Middle Senior High School
Expansion & Alterations
ARCH/ENGINEER / George, Miles & Burr, LLC
CONTACT PERSON / Vincent B. Fredericksen
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / The project consists of expanding the cafeteria, doing alterations in some of the classrooms and upgrading several of the toilet rooms. With some design guidance from the AAB, the plans and drawings have included all required accessibility elements and/or spaces.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07008
OWNER / Red Clay Consolidated School District
PROJECT / Heritage Elementary School
Renovations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Colm Engineering, P.A.
CONTACT PERSON / Will O. Fantozzi
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / This existing school will be undergoing alterations and renovations. Accessibility has been included in the design of these alterations. This plan appears to be compliant.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07009
OWNER / Red Clay Consolidated School District
PROJECT / Brandywine Springs Elementary School
Alterations/Renovations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Studio JAED
CONTACT PERSON / Andrew C. Moore
Michael Williams
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / Existing administrative offices will be altered to make space for a new 7th grade level, while at the same time increasing the space for additional kindergarten classrooms. Additional modifications to other areas, such as locker rooms, will also be included. This plan has been designed to be compliant.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07010
OWNER / Delaware State Housing Authority
PROJECT / Capitol Green Apts.
Alterations/Renovations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Architectural Alliance
CONTACT PERSON / Robert J. Bartilomo
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / This project proposes alterations to an existing apartment complex. Currently, there is a total unit count of 145 units, but this will be reduced to 132 units to allow for expanded dwelling units and the creation of accessible dwelling units. There will be a total of 7 accessible units on completion. The residential units and common spaces have been designed to be accessible.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07011
OWNER / Brandywine School District
PROJECT / P.S. DuPont Elementary School
Modernization
ARCH/ENGINEER / ABHA Architects
CONTACT PERSON / Denis O’Flynn O’Brien
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / The entire school will be undergoing alterations and renovations, which will include many toilet room upgrades and alterations to the existing auditorium. With some design guidance from the AAB, this plan appears to be accessible.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07012
OWNER / DNREC – Parks & Recreation
PROJECT / Can-Do-Playground
Alapocos Run State Park/Wilmington
ARCH/ENGINEER / In-house design
CONTACT PERSON / Cindy Todd
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / The creation of this playground is a project of six rotary clubs of Wilmington. All financing will be private, but the State of Delaware will be managing and maintaining the playground (which will be constructed on State property) upon completion. The area layout and the actual playground equipment appear to comply with the guidelines for accessible play areas.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07013
OWNER / Department of Education
PROJECT / Delaware State University
Strength/Conditioning Addition
ARCH/ENGINEER / Holzman Moss Architects
CONTACT PERSON / Ben Caldwell
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / An addition to the existing athletic buildings will be constructed to accommodate strength and conditioning programs. This is actually Phase I of the construction of a new Wellness Center Building. The Board observed several design problems on the plans and drawings. They included, but may not be limited to, the following:
1. It is not clear if additional parking will be provided.
2. In toilet rooms nos. A101 and A102, the doors swing into the clear floor space required at some of the fixtures.
3. Side grab bars are not a minimum of 42 inches.
4. There are no vertical grab bars.
5. There appears to be no accessible urinal.
6. There are no lavatories in the accessible stalls.
7. Shower doors (A209 & A203) appear to be less than the minimum 32 inches.
8. The temporary ramp appears to have an insufficient landing at the top.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07014
OWNER / DelDOT
PROJECT / Forest Ave. and Saulsbury Road
Repairs
ARCH/ENGINEER / In-house design
CONTACT PERSON / B. Thad McIlvaine
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / Standard street/roadway repairs will be performed at this intersection. The project appears to meet compliance with all accessibility requirements.
BOARD ACTION / Approved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07015
OWNER / Delaware State Housing Authority
PROJECT / Shipley Lofts Apts.
Renovations
ARCH/ENGINEER / Architectural Alliance, Inc.
CONTACT PERSON / Nicholas L. Fedyk
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / The plans submitted were only preliminary plans. The AAB will only review a complete set of construction documents, since numerous changes are likely to take place when finalizing the drawings. However. The Board did notice that the toilet rooms (just off the leasing area/gallery area) were not compliant. Also noted was that the architect was only using the ANSI standards for design guidance but should also be taking the ADAAG into account.
BOARD ACTION / Disapproved
SUBMISSION NO. / 07016
OWNER / Seaford School District
PROJECT / Seaford Middle & Central Elementary Schools
Toilet room upgrades
ARCH/ENGINEER / Studio/JAED
CONTACT PERSON / Andrew Moore
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / This project consists solely of toilet room upgrades. The design for these upgrades meets all relevant compliance. However, since this project is likely to be altered (due to funding) there is no need for any type board approval at this time.
BOARD ACTION / Tabled
SUBMISSION NO. / 07017
OWNER / Seaford School District
PROJECT / Seaford High School
Bleacher Replacement
ARCH/ENGINEER / Studio/JAED
CONTACT PERSON / Andrew Moore
PREVIOUS ACTION / None
COMMENTS / The bleachers in the gymnasium will be replaced. All seating will be newly designed and arranged, and accessible seating has been included. The toilet rooms along the ‘path of travel,’ however, are not compliant and it is not feasible to try to upgrade them to be accessible. A new, accessible, single user toilet will be constructed to meet the ‘path of travel’ requirement.