Architecture students in Sudbury design accessible buildings that could become a reality

For 20 years, a group in Sudbury called Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin (ILSM) has wanted to build an affordable, and accessible, housing complex for its members.

Now, a unique partnership with Laurentian University's McEwen School of Architecture is taking that dream one step closer to reality.

"The members have indicated to myself and previous executive directors that they were interested in doing a housing project," said Angela Gray, Independent Living's current executive director.

"We firmly believe here at ILSM that people with disabilities are the experts with regards to disability accessibility, diversity, and inclusion."

The organization helps people with disabilities in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts live more independently. Its building in downtown Sudbury acts as a social hub for members, where they can also take part in programs that teach them the skills needed to take care of themselves. 

Gray said she and the board connected with Thomas Strickland, a professor in Laurentian's architecture program.

Strickland developed a course for his masters students in which he challenged each of them to design an accessible apartment building with around 30 units.

"To have the students be able to become sort of the innovators in the area was central to our relationship with Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin, and Angela wanted that as well," Strickland said.

"That was key to her."

Before the students got to work on their designs, the class visited Copenhagen, Denmark, which Strickland said has some of the world's most accessible buildings.

"Denmark itself is very-forward thinking when it comes to issues of accessibility," Strickland said.

"So that presented an opportunity to be at a place where at least the new buildings that are built will be built through the principles of universal design."

When they returned to Sudbury, the students met with Independent Living members to get their input, and found out what they would like to see in an accessible apartment building.

"We just, we got to sit down and kind of just talk about just some of their daily experiences, what that meant to be living with these different types of disabilities," said architecture student Max Berry.

"Because I think a lot of us don't truly understand what that's like."

Accessible touches

Architecture student Zoe Clark said one thing that stood out for her is the design of the lips on the floor where one room transitions to another.

"Like if you live in an apartment and there's a balcony, the lip that sits there that you have to get over to get onto the balcony is a struggle for someone in a wheelchair," she said.

Independent Living member James Whyte said he was impressed how one design had a long ramp that extended to every floor.

"People in wheelchairs, if we have a fire alarm in an apartment building, they can't get out because they can't use the stairs," he said.

Neil Penner, Independent Living's program and volunteer co-ordinator, said he appreciated how the designs took different disabilities into account.

In one case, a building would have different-textured flooring for each room, and paths leading to bus stops. 

"You just drag your foot and you feel the surface and you know, 'OK, if I stay on this surface, I'm gonna go to my desired location,'" Penner said.

A blueprint for funding

The architecture students have completed 12 designs that are displayed on the walls at Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin's downtown officers. 

Over the next month, members will vote on their favourite designs, and the agency could then use the most popular design, or mix and match the best elements from several designs, to help secure funding to get it built, hopefully in the next three years. 

"People are more likely to get on board with funding when they can see something close to reality as a series of designs for a final [building]," Strickland said.

For Penner, a fully accessible apartment building in Sudbury could serve as an example to others.

He noted there are around 37,000 people in Greater Sudbury who identify as having a disability.

"Think of the forward progression that this city can make with 37,000 more happy, productive, contributing members," Penner said.

"I believe that this is the beginning of a revolution in northern Ontario, and I believe that Sudbury can be a jewel, an example."