GOWEN HALLGOWEN HALL

LSJ/CHID 332LSJ/CHID 332Group #1: Holly, Tara, Mandy, Group #1: Holly, Tara, Mandy,

Daniel, Jennifer & AishaDaniel, Jennifer & Aisha

Building BackgroundBuilding Background• Originally built in 1932.Originally built in 1932.• It was previously the School of Law, It was previously the School of Law,

but now houses the departments of but now houses the departments of Asian Languages & Literature, Asian Languages & Literature, Political Science and Law, Societies & Political Science and Law, Societies & Justice. Justice.

• It also houses the East Asian Library It also houses the East Asian Library on the 3on the 3rdrd Floor. Floor.

Entrance from the QuadEntrance from the Quad•Behind the trees is the entrance to Gowen off the Quad. This is not a wheelchair-accessible entrance.• Students with physical disabilities must go around to the backside of Gowen to enter.

Wheelchair Access EntranceWheelchair Access Entrance• The wheelchair access door is The wheelchair access door is

located on the east side of located on the east side of Gowen (the backside of the Gowen (the backside of the Quad)Quad)

• This door leads to the This door leads to the basement floor with access to basement floor with access to the elevator down the hallway.the elevator down the hallway.

Auto-open button located at right of

doorSymbol which denotes

wheelchair access entrance

Access to the basement Access to the basement floorfloor

• Directly inside the door is a ramp on the Directly inside the door is a ramp on the right side of the hall that is 45” wide right side of the hall that is 45” wide with no objects protruding into the ramp.with no objects protruding into the ramp.

• There is a railing on the left side of the There is a railing on the left side of the ramp to assist any visually-impaired ramp to assist any visually-impaired visitors.visitors.

Emergency Exit Emergency Exit AccommodationsAccommodations

• At the bottom of At the bottom of the legend is the the legend is the symbol which symbol which marks marks Accessibility.Accessibility.

• Coincidentally, Coincidentally, this map has no this map has no such markings on such markings on it.it.•In the case of a fire, persons

requiring wheelchair access to exit would have to use the elevator. If it is not in service, students would have to help carry disabled students out of the

building.

Parking AccessibilityParking Accessibility

• Outside the Outside the wheelchair access wheelchair access door, there are 2 door, there are 2 parking spots for parking spots for disabled drivers.disabled drivers.

•There is also a dial-There is also a dial-a-ride shuttle stop for a-ride shuttle stop for those who need those who need assistance getting to assistance getting to and from different and from different points on campus.points on campus.

•We recommend having clearer markings painted on the dial-a-ride drop-off area to make drivers more aware of the area.

Parking continuedParking continued• One of the available spots

has a 5-ft access aisle, the other spot does not.

• We recommend making the other parking spot wheelchair-accessible; this would necessitate reducing the number of non-disabled parking spots in favor of increasing accessibility for drivers with disabilities.

The spot on the left is extra-wide to allow wheelchair drivers space to exit their vehicle. The spot on the right does not have

extra clearance space.

Gowen 201Gowen 201• Gowen 201 is the Gowen 201 is the

second largest lecture second largest lecture hall with seating for 105 hall with seating for 105 students.students.

• Chairs are free-Chairs are free-standing throughout the standing throughout the classroom.classroom.

• There are multiple There are multiple wheelchair-accessible wheelchair-accessible desks at the front of the desks at the front of the room.room.

Gowen 201Gowen 201• Gowen 201 is a much more accessible Gowen 201 is a much more accessible

classroom compared to 301. The main classroom compared to 301. The main entrance accommodates students with entrance accommodates students with disabilities by having an electrical door disabilities by having an electrical door operated by a push button.operated by a push button.

Wheelchair-Access door with push-button access

Auto-open door button from inside 201

Gowen 201Gowen 201•Gowen 201 has a wheelchair-access ramp that leads down to the front row of the classroom.

Students have the option to sit at a wheelchair-accessible desk at the front of

the room, rather than the last row, such as in 301.

There is a handrail that runs the

entire length of the wheelchair

ramp.

Wheelchair ramp

Gowen 301Gowen 301• Gowen 301 is Gowen 301 is

located on the top located on the top floor of the building. floor of the building.

• There is elevator There is elevator access to the access to the lecture hall. lecture hall.

• Gowen 301 is the Gowen 301 is the largest lecture hall, largest lecture hall, seating 210 people. seating 210 people.

Floor Plan for Gowen Lecture Hall 301

Gowen 301 EntranceGowen 301 Entrance•This is the main entrance (which is not accessible to students in wheelchairs).•We recommend installing a lift on the side of the stairway to allow students in wheelchairs to sit in the middle of the classroom instead of the very back.

•If a lift were installed, disabled students could sit at these desks. We recommend removing 3-4 seats for wheelchair-access.

Gowen 301Gowen 301

•Aisle space between long tables is narrow. •This prevents wheelchair access.

The seats are bolted to the floor which makes it difficult to maneuver around.

•Aisles in Gowen are narrow and have stairs . •This is the view from the wheelchair seating area.

Gowen 301 Gowen 301 Wheelchair AccessWheelchair Access

• There is elevator access There is elevator access which leads to a large which leads to a large enough space for a full 360 enough space for a full 360 degree turn around.degree turn around.

• Space for persons in a Space for persons in a wheelchair is located at the wheelchair is located at the top of the lecture hall. top of the lecture hall.

• Individuals who are in a Individuals who are in a wheelchair and have visual wheelchair and have visual impairments are impairments are disadvantaged greatly. disadvantaged greatly.

Men’s RestroomMen’s Restroom

• Inaccessible men’s restroom provides no directions towards an accessible one

Men’s Restroom ContinuedMen’s Restroom Continued

•No sign stating accessibility on restroom door •Door opens outward, making it difficult for persons with physical disabilities to enter

•First floor map does not indicate wheelchair accessible restroom

Men’s Restroom ContinuedMen’s Restroom Continued

•Although unmarked, the stall has adequate space for a wheelchair to maneuver.

Women’s RestroomWomen’s Restroom•Inaccessible women’s restroom provides no directions towards an accessible one.

•No tactile signage identifying restroom.

Women’s Restroom Women’s Restroom ContinuedContinued•There are grab bars

behind the toilets, but the toilet seat is only 14 inches high.

•Faucet cannot be operated with closed fist.

•Bottom of mirror is 45 inches from floor.•Door is operable with a closed

fist.

•Stall does not have an area of at least 5 feet by 5 feet, clear of the door swing.

Drinking fountainsDrinking fountains

• All drinking fountains All drinking fountains had spouts taller had spouts taller than 36 inches which than 36 inches which is taller than the is taller than the desired height.desired height.

• All drinking fountains All drinking fountains had adequate floor had adequate floor space.space.

Gowen HallGowen Hall Visually Impaired Visually Impaired

• Gowen is not equipped to Gowen is not equipped to accommodate individuals accommodate individuals with visual impairments. with visual impairments.

• Braille is only found inside Braille is only found inside the elevator on the buttons the elevator on the buttons and directly outside the and directly outside the elevator near the door. elevator near the door.

• Signs denoting room Signs denoting room numbers, department numbers, department locations, bathrooms, locations, bathrooms, emergency exits, or fire emergency exits, or fire alarm pulls are not marked alarm pulls are not marked with Braille.with Braille.

Recent ModificationRecent Modification

•Door hinges were switched to allow wheelchairs coming down the ramp to

enter the room.

Possible solutions Possible solutions • Add Braille to elevator controls, floor Add Braille to elevator controls, floor

level indicators, and restrooms.level indicators, and restrooms.• Modify elevator communication system Modify elevator communication system

to allow non-audible communications.to allow non-audible communications.• Provide directions to accessible Provide directions to accessible

restrooms from non-accessible ones.restrooms from non-accessible ones.• Modify accessible men’s restroom door Modify accessible men’s restroom door

to push inwards.to push inwards.• Add symbol indicating accessible men’s Add symbol indicating accessible men’s

restroom on floor map and restroom restroom on floor map and restroom door.door.

Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions• Install higher toilet seats to comply Install higher toilet seats to comply

with regulations.with regulations.• Install motion sensitive faucets.Install motion sensitive faucets.• Lower mirror and shelf at least 5 Lower mirror and shelf at least 5

inches.inches.• Lower soap dispenser providing an Lower soap dispenser providing an

easier reach from wheelchair.easier reach from wheelchair.• Put in a lower drinking fountain.Put in a lower drinking fountain.

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks• Overall, there are many crucial features Overall, there are many crucial features

that need to be updated to make the that need to be updated to make the building more user-friendly for universal building more user-friendly for universal access.access.

• UW should strive to make all the other UW should strive to make all the other lecture halls in the building similar to lecture halls in the building similar to Gowen 201 with its ease of use and high Gowen 201 with its ease of use and high level of accessibility.level of accessibility.

• A major concern is the entrances to the A major concern is the entrances to the restrooms and classrooms. Optimally, they restrooms and classrooms. Optimally, they would be widened and have electrical push-would be widened and have electrical push-button entrance capabilities. The current button entrance capabilities. The current doors are too heavy to easily open and doors are too heavy to easily open and many of them fail the closed-fist test.many of them fail the closed-fist test.