In order for all individuals to move through and use the campus environment easier, the MYAP outlined the following objectives:
- To develop a consistent design strategy to address those limitations or building elements where it may be feasible for Waterloo to exceed legislative requirements.
- Catalogue existing physical space elements on Waterloo campus, identifying spaces with accessibility considerations.
- Supporting the space and asset management strategy to embed accessible elements and integrate it with Waterloo’s standard facilities management protocol.
D1. Design Strategy
Status: not started
Progress: on track
While a comprehensive design strategy is not planned to start until the latter phases of this MYAP (2021-2022), accessibility is taken into consideration with all design projects that are currently underway. For example, the Campus Wayfinding Project considered accessibility from the initial phases. While it was not possible to make all the identified pathways fully accessible with the current topography and landscape, the project team identified the barriers early on. This allowed the University to plan for alternate solutions, which included applying for funding through the Federal Government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund. As a successful recipient of the fund, the University was able to upgrade our Douglas Wright Engineering building and create an accessible, interior path, traveling parallel to the exterior path outlined within the Campus Wayfinding project. Upon installation of the pathway identifiers and markers, it will also include signage of alternate, accessible routes for individuals traversing through our campus.
Another project is the development of our Student Service Centre, which opened its doors in January 2019. Designed to provide a “one-stop” service for all student administrative needs, the project team took great strides in reviewing the design of the space to ensure it can service students of all abilities. Areas where there were known physical/structural barriers, the project team was then able to build and develop business processes to ensure service delivery remained consistent and equitable.
D2. Cataloguing accessible elements
Status: started
Progress: behind schedule
Waterloo is implementing a facilities management system which will have capacity to itemize and track all of Waterloo’s assets. At present, accessible exterior entrances have been identified and tagged within the system. Other accessible elements have been defined and a review of existing spaces and cataloguing these areas will be completed as resources allow. No dedicated resource has been identified for this specific task at present.
D3. Facilities Management protocol
Status: started
Progress: at risk
Upon cataloguing the accessible elements noted in D2, the University will review its current facilities management processes and identify gaps, if any, between the noted elements and its facilities management procedures. Additional processes to address those gaps will be developed.
Operationally, the University finds opportunities to maintain accessibility of our campus on an ongoing basis. For example, the University adjusted our grounds maintenance program, including snow removal, to reflect the Campus Wayfinding Project’s priority pathway strategy. Priority of clearing pathways follows Campus Wayfinding Project’s defined primary, secondary and tertiary paths.
