Terri Meyer Boake, BES, BArch, MArch, LEED AP
Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo
email: tboake@uwaterloo.ca

Arch 172:
Building Construction 1

Fall 2023

The Empathy Project

Project Description:

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion should be at the core of everything that we as architects design. Our buildings should be improving the experience of people in general, and also allow for accessibility that goes beyond basic code compliance. Too many architects provide only the code mandated accommodations for accessibility and fail to go beyond - largely due to a lack of understanding or empathy for the mobility limited.

It is not only morally necessary but also legally required that all public buildings be accessible to the mobility limited.

For this project each individual in the class will experience wheelchair use for the full day. The two wheelchairs will be stationed in the 1A studio for ease of borrowing. Please be respectful of the wheelchairs. This is an empathy project. The assigned times can be found on this list on this page, a hard copy of which will be posted beside the wheelchair parking spot. If for some extremely valid reason you cannot make your time, there are some extra slots available that can be booked where there are vacant slots on the posted list.

The session runs approximately 8:30 to 5:30. During that time you have various mandatory tasks to perform in the wheelchair.

1. enter/exit the building from Melville Street
2. enter/exit the building from the rear patio + navigate up and down the ramp
3. enter/exit the studio
4. use the elevator
5. enter/exit the e-classroom
6. enter/exit the main lecture hall
7. sit and work at whatever desk your classes happen at during your slot (studio desk, e-classroom, main lecture hall).
8. use the washroom - including washing your hands at the sink and transferring yourself on and off the toilet unassisted.

You are to prepare a short report on this experience that also includes some photos of your experience. Please provide a couple of sentences on each of your experiences in the above 8 scenarios. Provide some summary suggestions as to what might be improved in the design to make life easier for someone's daily routine in a wheelchair in our school building. Although you are to be handling the list above without anyone helping you open and close doors, etc, you can have a friend take some photos of you in the chair to use in the report.

The report is due in the Dropbox on LEARN one week after your session. All reports will be evaluated at the same time once the class is finished.

Here is a helpful link on how to use a wheelchair. https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Wheelchair

And a more comprehensive source on Universal Design: https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/the-7-principles/

MISUSE OF THE CHAIR, JOYRIDING, ETC WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF ZERO. THIS IS CALLED THE EMPATHY PROJECT FOR A REASON.