UI Campus Facilities Accessibility Progress!
Updated 04/15/2013
- Linquist Center - South 2nd Floor Restrooms
The Men’s and Women’s restrooms located on 2nd floor of Lindquist Center south have recently been renovated. Both restrooms are now completely accessible. Improvements included new wheelchair accessible toilet compartment stalls, accessible lavatories and faucets, lowered mirror heights, appropriate approach and maneuvering clearances along with adequate turning space. Floor and wall coverings were also upgraded.
- Biology Men's Restoom - Now Accessible
The Men’s restroom located on 1st floor of the Biology Building has been renovated and is now wheelchair accessible. The 1st floor drinking fountain was replaced with a dual height accessible fountain. The Women’s restroom was altered during previous years to improve accessibility.
- Medical Laboratories - Hearing Loop Installed
The UI’s first permanent hearing loop installation was recently accomplished in an 84-seat classroom located at ML. This photo was taken while faculty, staff, and Contractors tested the newly installed system.
Historically, the University’s primary assistive listening system of choice has been the FM radio transmission type which requires individuals to check out and wear a receiver and headset. An alternative to the FM system is the T-coil hearing loop system. T-coil hearing loop technology adds a copper looping system to facility spaces, which when connected to the room’s sound system, allows hearing aid users (with the T-coil setting offered in approximately 80% of US hearing aids) to receive a direct and clear connection to the amplified source. B&LS first started researching the plausibility of T-coil hearing loop technology as an assistive listening system on campus in October of 2011. Meetings and presentations with various stakeholders across campus discussing the pros and cons of implementing such technology ensued. Representatives from the College of Medicine were impressed by one of the presentations and decided to pursue the opportunity of addressing the needs of this relatively large group of underserved individuals on campus. The College of Medicine has additional plans for installing a system in a 75 person seminar room at PBDB as well as the Med Alumni Auditorium. The design teams for both the Hancher and School of Music replacement projects have also decided to incorporate this technology.
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Chemistry Building – 2nd floor Unisex Restroom
As part of a project to address accessibility and life-safety deficiencies in the Chemistry Building, nine stair enclosures and fifteen restrooms have been modified to improve accessibility. The stair enclosures included modifications to doors, handrails and guardrails. Alterations to the restrooms included the entrances, accessible fixtures, wheelchair accessible toilet stalls and other modifications to improve accessibility within the rooms. Drinking fountains have been upgraded from a single fountain to dual height fountains.
- USB Crosswalk
UI Parking & Transportation installed an accessible crosswalk with nearby accessible parking at the University Services Building.
Before
After
- Dey House - Glenn Schaeffer Library
A power door operator was installed at the Dey House – Glenn Schaeffer Library
- Bowen Science Building - West Entrance
The Bowen Science Building wheelchair ramp located at the West entrance has been completely redone.
- Bowen Science Building - Cane Detection Guardrail
A cane detection guardrail was installed under the concrete stairs at Bowen Science Building to prevent injury of individuals with sight impairments.
- Calvin Hall – Renovate West and South Entrances
The west entry of Calvin Hall is a primary public entry for the Registrar’s Service Center and the only accessible entry for the building. Since this west entry is used for service and delivery access, the existing condition is confusing and un-inviting. The existing service access system is directly outside the door, with adjacent stairs that do not have handrails. The accessible route from the south is narrow with a sloping sidewalk system.
Improvements include a public accessible route that is distinguishable from the service/delivery route. Though the service route is adjacent to the public entry; the public entry is emphasized with a larger court area and accessed by a new curving slope sidewalk and ramp system from the south. Directional signage from the adjacent parking ramp and other sides of the building will be included.
The south entry monumental stair has been removed and replaced including new metal guards (rails) and handrails. The new stair has a deeper top landing.
- Theatre Building - Main Entrance
The Theatre Building main entrance received a power door operator that now allows individuals with disabilities to easier navigate in and out of the facility.
Before
After
- Calvin Hall – Renovate Restrooms
This project includes full renovation of the ground/basement, first, and second floor restrooms to be ADA compliant. A Women's restroom will be added to the Ground Floor which will also include a Lactation room.
- Music West Interim Building - Main Entrance
Music West Interim Building now has an accessible main entrance.
Before
After
Stay tuned for more updates! Questions? Comments? Email carly-armour@uiowa.edu.