Emerge by AIAU: Making Architecture Accessible
Included in subscription
Description
Guided by the expertise and insight of industry professionals Brad Gaskins, Tom Hirsch, and Karen Braitmayer, this course highlights the history of accessibility by focusing on the work of civil rights organizations and the role played by members of the American Institute of Architects; discusses how universal design reinforces the principle of access for all; reviews the key requirements of complying with the ADA for new construction; and explains the best approach to updating existing buildings to comply with the ADA. This course offers entry into a conversation that is essential for emerging and seasoned professionals alike.
Course expires: 03/11/2027
Learning Objectives
Review the history of accessibility: How social equity issues for the disabled shaped the practice of architecture and how accessibility is integrated into architecture today.
Learn the how the principles of universal design improve the built environment, allowing easier access and removing barriers for all in the public buildings, independent of age and ability.
Evaluate how accessibility is governed by federal law and how it is incorporated in the building codes, which are integral to the design process for new building projects, citing examples and best practices.
Discuss the unique challenge of making existing buildings accessible, which requires an understanding of federal law, building codes, and the scope of the renovation being designed.
Braitmayer is the founder and managing principal of Studio Pacifica. With a professional focus on accessibility and her advocacy, she advises state agencies, local governments, school districts, developers and architects on accessibility for housing, commercial, retail, institutional and educational projects. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and served on the Advisory Board of the Northwest ADA Center and on the Board of the Northwest Center (for people with Developmental Disabilities).
Braitmayer received a BA from Rice University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Houston. Braitmayer served as a member of the Washington State Building Code Council from 1994 to 2001 and remains involved in the development and update of Washington State’s accessibility code. In September of 2010, President Obama appointed Ms. Braitmayer to the U.S. Access Board, an independent Federal agency that provides leadership in accessible design under the ADA and other laws.
Brad has 25+ years of experience in architecture. He is a principal at The McIntosh Group, a nationwide design firm specializing in accessibility and program management. Brad serves on the Oklahoma Board of Architects and is an active member of the ANSI A117.1 Consensus Committee on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. Brad also runs AskBrad.info, a website regarding accessibility issues. As a certified AIA CES Provider, he is a regular speaker on accessibility.
Thomas Hirsch, FAIA, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1968 (B. Arch). He is a Wisconsin-registered architect and land use planner.
In January 2011 he was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects for “original thinking, ethical responsibility and comprehensive approach to a wide range of human habitability issues [that] has resulted in precedent-setting standards for floodplain management, accommodations for persons with disabilities, and affordable housing that is highly energy efficient and incorporates renewable energy.”
He received the 2014 "Golden Award” from AIA Wisconsin, the state society of the American Institute of Architects, as “the consummate champion for community involvement and public service. “
Currently, Mr. Hirsch is self-employed, designing residential structures and performing site and building evaluations for accessibility and capital needs & cost segregation. Some recent projects include eight municipal and one tribal housing authorities’ revitalization & re-use utilizing Section 42 tax credit financing. He currently serves on the AIA Civic Leadership Committee, the City of Madison Downtown Coordinating Committee (2013-19), and the North Allen Street Condominium Association board of directors (2004-18).