April 30, 2015

Project

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Proposed Fine Arts Building and Design Hall

Subject

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Design Development Plan Review Report for Compliance with Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (Accessibility Law)

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: I.

Site Development Plan A. Findings 1. One outdoor accessible parking slot is not located nearest to the start of the accessible ramp. 2. No dropped sidewalks or curb ramps are shown. B. Recommendations 1. Relocate the outdoor accessible parking slot to be the parking slot located closest to the start of an accessible ramp. Provide dropped sidewalks or curb ramps as needed along accessible pedestrian routes. 2. Identify two (2) more accessible parking slots to have a total of three (3) accessible parking slots. Accessible parking slots can be perpendicular (preferred) or diagonal parking but never parallel parking because it is difficult to transfer from a car to a wheelchair on a sidewalk and it is dangerous to get out on the busy side of the street.

II. Ground Floor Plan

A. Accessible Toilet Cubicle in Male and Female Toilets 1. Findings a. The waterclosets are located farther than the required 450MM from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. 2. Recommendations a. Locate the waterclosets in the accessible toilet cubicles 450MM measured from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. b. Provide grab bars as shown in Fig.II.B.2.1; Fig.II.B.2.2; Fig.II.B.2.3 B. Toilets and Bath at Faculty 1. Findings a. Both T & B’s are not accessible. 2. Recommendations a. Unless the College of Fine Arts is completely certain that it will never have or will not accept a person with disabilities into the faculty, modify at least one or both of the T & B’s to provide accessible toilet(s) and accessible shower(s) as shown in Fig.II.B.2.1; Fig.II.B.2.2; Fig.II.B.2.3; and Fig.II.B.2.4. Not providing accessible T & B’s for the faculty may be viewed as discriminatory against potential faculty members who have disabilities. Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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Fig. II.B.2.1

Image above shows 3D view of Accessible Toilet (“Fig. C.6.2 3D VIEW OF ACCESSIBLE TOILET FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” in the Draft BP 344 IRR Amendments, page 33)

Fig. II.B.2.2

Image above shows in plan the detailed dimensions of an accessible toilet. (“Fig C.6.3 BLOW UP FLOOR PLAN OF ACCESSIBLE TOILET FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” in the Draft BP 344 IRR Amendments, page 34)

Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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Fig. II.B.2.3

Fig. II.B.2.4

Image above shows 3D view of an L-type grab bar for accessible toilets (“Fig. C.6.4 L-TYPE GRAB BAR” in the Draft BP 344 IRR Amendments, page 34)

Image above shows a 3D view of an accessible shower (“Fig.C.6.8: 3D View of Walk-in Shower” in the Draft BP 344 IRR Amendments, page 37)

Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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C. Auditorium 1. Recommendations a. If fixed seating is to be used for the auditorium, provide wheelchair parking slots in accordance with the following guidelines: Depending on the total seating capacity of the auditorium, provide wheelchair parking (accessible vacant slot with no auditorium seat installed) as follows: Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (BP344) requires that: “In all assembly places where seating accommodation is provided, there shall be spaces for the disabled persons [persons with disabilities] as provided. Seating Capacity 4 – 50 51 – 300 301 – 500

Wheelchair Seating Space 2 4 6

III. Second Floor Plan

A. Accessible Toilet Cubicle in Male and Female Toilets 1. Findings a. The waterclosets are located farther than the required 450MM measured from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. 2. Recommendations a. Locate the waterclosets in the accessible toilet cubicles 450MM from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. b. Provide grab bars as shown in Fig.II.B.2.1; Fig.II.B.2.2; Fig.II.B.2.3. IV. Third Floor Plan

A. Accessible Toilet Cubicle in Male and Female Toilets 1. Findings a. The waterclosets are located farther than the required 450MM measured from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. 2. Recommendations a. Locate the waterclosets in the accessible toilet cubicles 450MM from the centerline of the watercloset to the face of the nearest adjacent wall. b. Provide grab bars as shown in Fig.II.B.2.1; Fig.II.B.2.2; Fig.II.B.2.3. B. Drawing Room 1 and Drawing Room 2 1. Findings a. No wheelchair parking slots are provided. 2. Recommendations a. Provide a minimum of two (2) wheelchair parking slots for each drawing room. Provide a minimum of four (4) wheelchair parking slots if the seating capacity exceeds fifty. Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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C. Deck/Outdoor Studio 1. Recommendations a. Make the transition in floor elevation from the interior to the exterior of the building using an accessible ramp with a slope of 1:12. V. Elevation and Section Drawings

A. Diagonal or Inclined Columns, Struts, and Walls 1. Findings a. Persons with visual impairments whether people who are completely blind or people with low vision impairments can unknowingly bump into diagonal or inclined building features. 2. Recommendations a. Some may be of the opinion that visual arts cannot be enjoyed by persons with visual impairments. This is not true. The Guggenheim Museum has “Verbal Description guides [that] include accessory touch object packs and recorded interactions with museum visitors who are blind” Furthermore guided tours for persons with visual impairments are “Conducted through Verbal Descriptions and touch, tours and workshops are led by arts and education professionals who facilitate shared observation, discussion, and creative practice.” (http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/visit/accessibility). Student Guides can be trained to narrate and help people with visual impairments experience the various works of art exhibited in the college. Student guides should also be trained on how to assist persons with visual impairments.

Image above shows “Felice Tagliaferri [a sculptor who is completely blind] and Simona Atzoril, who was born without arms, working on the Cristo Rivelato”, (http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-29837275)

“Felice Tagliaferri has a personal motto: "you are forbidden not to touch". It's about making art inclusive to everyone through the use of all five senses and stems from an incident which started a mini revolution.” Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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b. The College of Fine Arts may also want to consider the “mini-revolution” started by Italian Sculptor Felice Tagliaferri, who is completely blind, that is to allow persons with visual impairments to touch and experience the sculptures being exhibited. Image at left shows “Steve Handschu [who is completely blind] at work carving one of his sculptures, which he is calling Detroit Birth Song. Tribune photo by Heather Stone.”

(https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm01/bm0111/bm011103.htm)

Image above shows John Bramblitt a painter who is completely blind. “Mr Bramblitt went blind at the age of 30 after suffering from epilepsy since the age of 11. Mr Bramblitt uses a special technique to transfer the scene which he imagines onto the canvas.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3021339/Painterdiscovers-love-art-going-BLIND-creating-pictures-mind-transferring-specialcanvas.html Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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c. There are world renown painters like Felice Tagliaferri and Steve Handschu; and sculptors like John Bramblitt who are completely blind but have excelled in their fields despite their disabilities and there are many others like them. d. Provide tactile warning blocks on the floor positioned such that it can warn and prevent a person with visual impairments so that they will not come too close to inclined concrete and steel elements at portions where these are below than 2.00 Meters high from the finish floor as shown in Fig.V.A.2.1 and Fig. V.A.2.2 below. Persons with visual impairments can bump into protruding elements.

Fig.V.A.2.1

Image above shows a schematic plan of how Warning Tactile Block are used to warn persons with visual impairments of an inclined column.

Fig.V.A.2.2

Image above shows possible danger posed by inclined columns to persons with visual impairments.

B. Railings on Accessible Ramp 1. Findings a. The lower handrail on the ramp is not mounted at a height of 700MM. It is mounted much lower than 700MM. 2. Recommendations a. For both ramps provide handrails on both sides and with railings on two levels - 900MM and 700MM measured from the finish floor of the ramp to the top of each handrail as shown in Fig.V.B.2.1 and Fig.V.B.2.2.

Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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Fig.V.B.2.1

Image above shows minimum required and suggested handrail configuration for accessible ramps. (Fig.A.3.2 in the Draft BP 344 IRR Amendments, page 5)

Prepared by:

ARMAND MICHAEL R. EUSTAQUIO, UAP Architect/Accessibility Consultant

Armand Michael R. Eustaquio, Architect / Accessibility Consultant

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