Columbia University's project managers and client partners have gained valuable insights on building accessibly following a lunch and learn session focused on accessibility design requirements.
The event “Accessibility Beyond Building Codes” was hosted by Columbia’s Planning and Capital Project Management team and Columbia Health to educate project managers and clients on thoughtful design elements that should be considered when embarking on construction projects to ensure spaces are built to be accessible and equitable.
The panel included featured speakers Luísa Janssen Harger Brown and Kevin Morin of Code Consultants, Inc., as well as Colleen Lewis, director of Disability Services at Columbia Health and Janet Grapengeter, director of Design and Compliance for Columbia’s Planning and Capital Project Management team.
During the event, Harger Brown and Morin discussed relevant local and federal laws and codes, such as Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and NYC building code, and how to incorporate required accessible design elements into capital projects. Grapengeter also presented on more stringent design requirements the University has in place to ensure spaces are created thoughtfully and provide an equal experience to the entire Columbia community.
Improving accessibility throughout Columbia’s historic Morningside campus is an ongoing priority for the University. Over the past several years, Columbia has completed a number of projects aimed to address accessibility challenges present on its campus grounds and buildings that were constructed over a century ago. Among the improvements are permanent accessible ramps at Low Plaza, Lower Campus, and Butler Plaza; an accessible ramp and entrance into Havemeyer Hall; a sloped pathway leading from the Mathematics Building to Havemeyer Plaza; disability access lifts in the International Affairs Building and Mathematics building; a limited use/limited application (LU/LA) elevator in Pupin Hall to connect the 13th and 14th floors; and more.
