Going one step further for accessible housing
January 02, 2018
GTA builders and developers are meeting the needs of the 15 per cent of Ontarians who live with disabilities by making great efforts to design and build accessible homes.
All builders meet the high standards of accessibility set out in the Ontario Building Code, which requires that 15 per cent of units in multi-unit residential buildings come with accessibility features. This means providing an obstacle-free path of travel into a bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen and living room. Common areas also have to be barrier-free, according to the Building Code, with power-operated doors, curb ramps and wider doors and hallways to accommodate wheel-chairs and walkers.
Some builders, such as BILD member The Daniels Corp., don’t just meet the accessibility requirements set by the Building Code, they exceed them. The company has created the innovative Accessibility Designed Program (ADP), which will be introduced in two of its upcoming projects, DuEast Condominiums and Wesley Tower. The intent of the program is to address the needs of people who find it difficult getting around in traditional layouts, and to go beyond the Code in removing physical barriers, says Daniels’ Jake Cohen.
Daniels worked with Quadrangle Architects, a BILD member with expertise in universal accessible design, to evaluate the accessibility of the designs within the builder’s buildings and within suites.
As part of the Program, Daniels will offer specially designed one- to three-bedroom suites with extra accessible features for people with mobility challenges, at no additional cost. The suites will exceed Building Code requirements with power-operated entry doors and low-threshold roll-out balconies with swing doors. Bathrooms will have extra features like roll-in showers, and extra clearances beside the toilet and shower.
Daniels’ 29-storey DuEast Condominiums, part of the revitalization of Regent Park in Toronto, will offer ADP suites on the lower floors and on the ground floor. The 43-storey Wesley Tower, part of Daniels’ 23-acre master-planned community near Square One Mall in Mississauga, will have ADP suites available throughout the lower floors.
DuEast and Wesley Tower are just the beginning for the Accessibility Designed Program. Going forward, the program will be offered in all Daniels Corp.’s condo communities.
This is just one example of what builders and land developers in the GTA are doing to bring innovative design to barrier-free homes as the industry works to build complete communities for everyone.