ADA/ FHA
Facility Accessibility Surveys
as Part of Due Diligence performed with Marx / Okubo
We have established a relationship with Marx / Okubo & Associates, Construction
Consultants and Architects, to perform ADA Surveys as part of their services.
Marx / Okubo specializes in building condition surveys, among many other services.
For example, recently, as part of a team of consultants including Marx / Okubo's
staff, a roofing specialist, an elevator specialist, a water infiltration specialist, and
others, we participated in a comprehensive Due Diligence Survey. Financial
institutions and others in the real estate industry are viewing buildings with significant
barriers as having lesser value than the comparable building which is fully accessible.
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The Access Board - Rulemaking Updates
The Access Board is responsible for issuing updates to the ADA
Accessibility Guidelines, the technical standard of the ADA. The process is somewhat
complicated and drawn out. The new changes effect owners of buildings designed for
children's use, state and local government facilities, telecommunications, and
over-the-road buses. Upcoming changes, in process, include play areas, ADAAG
revisions incorporating Federal Facilities and Housing, Recreation Facilities, and Outdoor
Developed Areas. For your reference, we have provided a duplicate of the information
published by the Access Board in an issue of Access Currents, slightly updated. Click here now.
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Mr. Endelman Elected to Board of Directors
of Easter Seals Washington
Mr. Endelman, principal of E&A, is honored to have been elected to a Director
position in this fine organization. "Easter
Seals is a direct service organization whose objective is to provide world class,
quality programs and services to help people with disabilities and their families live
with equality, dignity and independence." He looks forward to his
responsibilities in helping the organization effectively plan and meet its goals.
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Accessibility Design Reviews
for Architects & Other Designers Professionals
Endelman & Associates PLLC has been recently focusing on reviewing
the accessibility aspects of preliminary designs and construction documents prepared by
Architects and Engineers, especially for commercial projects. The public
accommodations areas of these new projects are required to be accessible, and the local
building codes require accessibility throughout as well.
For example...
We recently finished reviewing a large restaurant project
and in a couple of hours provided written feedback and sketch comments. The Accessibility
Design Review not only corrected some ADA compliance issues, but improved
the overall design, when the design was reworked to improve accessibility. Cost
effective, valuable, and timely assistance is our goal. Contact
us for more information.
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COMPLETED...
1930's High Rise Office Building ADA Survey
as part of a renovation project by Mithun Partners, Inc., Architects.
The Property Manager is Trammell Crow Company.
Doing a Facility Accessibility Survey prior to a major renovation is an ideal time to
do it. This way the improvements can incorporate accessibility in a very cost
effective way. As architects, our recommendations are sensitive to architecturally
significant buildings, preserving the fine details. Registered
historic landmarks (this one isn't) present additional accessibility issues, which we
can assist in resolving.
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COMPLETED...
Unique Project for
King County Parks Accessibility Study
We successfully completed accessibility surveys of 104 King County, WA Parks
and Trails in just 6 months. (King County surrounds Seattle, WA.) We
worked with MacLeod Reckord Landscape Architects doing cutting edge Americans with
Disabilities Act Surveys. We completed the field work and submitted the Facility
Accessibility Survey Report, which consisted of five 3" volumes.
What's new, is our having used a 1994 Access Board study on accessibility in
outdoor recreation areas as a technical survey standard. This study is preliminary
to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines being amended to accommodate the unique issues of
accessibility in nature. We anticipate this in 1999. We have updated our
custom ADA Survey Software to add Developed Outdoor Recreation Facilities, Trails, Boating
and Swimming Facilities and others, using the new standards. Endelman &
Associates PLLC is at the front of the curve on this one.
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ADA - FHA Compliance
