Planning for an Accessible Expansion

Highlights of the New Space

Everything in a building from the types of door hardware to the size and spacing of office signs must be considered when designing a space to be accessible.

At a recent staff Accessibility Awareness Week event at Markham Stouffville Hospital, Suman Bahl, Director, Redevelopment presented about these and the many other accessibility features of the hospital’s expansion. The building’s architects, B+H, retained the services of Leber Rubes Inc. as well as Accessible Solutions Inc. to ensure the hospital is meeting accessibility standards including the Ontario Disability Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Section 3.8 - Barrier Free Design Ontario Building Code, Town of Markham Accessibility Guidelines and the National Health Services Audit checklist, among others.

Expansion Accessibility Highlights:
• Designated shaded areas for passenger drop off and pick up
• About 47 barrier free parking spaces, with spaces in each public lot
• Barrier free, accessible entrances with  automatic sliding doors
• Intuitive wayfinding including pictograms, Braille and tactile features
• Handrails in all public and patient zone corridors
• Barrier free accessible hardware and accessories
• Door operators where required
• Accessible washrooms with blade handle or electronic sensor hands free faucets and wall hung toilets
• Accessible sections at all publicly accessed desks
• Ceiling mounted patient lifts in all inpatient rooms
• Roll-in showers equipped with fold down seats, and accessible sinks in all inpatient rooms
• Slip resistant flooring in new inpatient washrooms

Image of the new emergency nurse station with an accessible section for easier wheelchair access.