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Home > Design Guidance > Design Objectives > Historic Preservation > Comply with Accessibility Requirements

Comply with Accessibility Requirements

by the WBDG Historic Preservation Subcommittee

Last updated: 05-24-2012

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Overview

Most historic buildings were not originally designed to accommodate people with disabilities and special needs. However, persons with disabilities should experience sites, landscapes, buildings, and spaces in the same manner as other users whenever possible.

Providing access (exterior and interior) for persons with disabilities in ways that preserve the character of the historic property is a challenge and requires creativity and collaboration among the project team members. Compliance is required in these areas, but the accessibility standards (such as the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)) are more flexible when applied to historic buildings. ADAAG provides alternative solutions that allow retention of original historic fabric (such as narrow corridors).

While accessible design is covered in WBDG Accessible Branch, unique issues that must be resolved in order to provide accessibility in historic buildings will be discussed in this section.

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Recommendations

The following are the primary areas related to accessibility design requiring special care:

Accessible Routes and Clearances

Community center in Arilinton, VA with landscaped access ramps

Areas in front of this community center were regraded to allow access to the building via landscaped ramps. Arlington, VA.(Photo: Arlington County, VA)

  • Preserve the intended entry experience of historic sites and buildings for everyone.
    • Wherever possible, design solutions that use on-grade entrances or low slope ramps integrated into the site to avoid the requirement for railings at abrupt level changes.
    • As an alternative, consider on-grade entrances or down-grade sloping ramps that connect to interior elevators.
    • This may require locating an accessible entrance elsewhere.
  • Exterior accessibility can be accommodated by providing a wheelchair accessible path from safe and accessible parking to a significant entry to the building, historic landscapes, or informational exhibits.
  • Accessible routes do not have to be altered if they provide adequate turning radius at intervals.
  • Construct new ramps and railings of compatible materials and design.
  • Preserve visual symmetry where applicable.
Carleton Place, St. Paul, Minnesota

(Left) Primary elevation of buildings and (right) elevator and stair tower sensitively sited at rear of building. Carleton Place, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo: NPS.

Ariel Rios, EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

Ariel Rios, EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC. The ramps at this historic federal building were sensitively designed to provide equal access while preserving the building's original fabric.
(Photo: GSA)

Doors and Hardware

  • Provide access without removing character-defining elements such as doors and hardware. Modifications that limit impact on the historic character of a building while still meeting code are preferable.
  • Avoid replacing historic hardware wherever possible. Alternative solutions to hardware replacement include such techniques as keeping the door open during normal business hours and electric door openers.
  • Avoid widening door openings. Look for alternative routes. Where it is unavoidable, design new doors and openings to be compatible with the materials and detailing of nearby historic doors.

Interior Public Spaces

  • Preserve the hierarchy and historic character of significant spaces including entrances, lobbies, atria, primary corridors, and stairs.
  • Preserve character-defining features and spatial qualities of ceremonial lobbies.
  • Maintain historic primary entrances.
  • Avoid detrimental modifications to primary entrances in seeking to meet security and accessibility solutions.
Minneapolis Brew Company, Brew House, Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Brew Company, Brew House, Minneapolis, MN. Glass elevator for accessibility sensitively inserted into a historic building. Also note: sympathetic adaptation of existing historic handrailing. Photo: NPS.

Program Access

  • Alternatives to Physical Access: House museums and significant spaces within historic buildings may not be adaptable for physical access. In such cases, visual access and/or program access to such spaces may be adequate alternatives. Methods include visual presentations, models, and providing exhibits in accessible spaces.

    For more information, refer to the following:
  • For accessibility to programs and employment, relocation of these functions to accessible areas is allowed and avoids major adverse renovations.

Restroom Design

  • When restrooms are part of the character of the historic building and cannot be readily modified due to clearances or level changes, consider adding appropriately located, accessible, unisex restrooms to eliminate the need for modifying existing bathrooms with historic finishes.

Signage

  • Signage should be integrated into the historic building fabric in ways that preserve the historic character.
  • Avoid altering, removing, and damaging historic signs and finishes.
    • Installation: Installation of signage should be carefully executed to avoid damage to finishes. Avoid penetrating historic material. Free-standing signage is often an acceptable alternative to mounting signs on historic fabric.
  • Serif letters may be used if the font size is large and there is high contrast with the background. See Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibit Design for more information.

Vertical Accessibility

Former General Post Office, now Hotel Monaco, Washington DC, view from streetFormer General Post Office, now Hotel Monaco, Washington DC, entry view

Former General Post Office, now Hotel Monaco, Washington DC—Examples of a well-designed modification of a historic doorway to comply with accessibility requirements on the exterior. On the interior, existing stairs have been retained and are covered by the ramp. (Exterior Photos: NPS, Interior Photo: GSA)

Interior of Hotel Monaco, Washington DC.
  • Either new or existing elevators provide vertical accessibility. Often elevators are a significant element of the fabric of a historic building. Accommodating required clearances and control heights are often issues. Consider:
View of stair lift from the street.Close up view of stair lift looking back to street.View of stair lift from the interior of the museum.

This is an excellent example of stair lifts used for accessibility. They were installed at a house museum in Washington, DC. The goal was to make the house accessible, as well as the backyard, where many receptions are held. There was a major grade change and it was quite a challenge to make this happen. The first lift takes visitors to the rear yard and another interior lift takes visitors to an interior gallery space just off the main stair hall. The most important exhibits are on the ground floor, with video interpretation of the rest of the building also on this level. The final execution of the accessible route was very sensitively done with virtually no historic fabric removed for its installation. The success of this project is due to the vision of a new executive director, whose method of interpreting the subject matter also protected the building.

View of the museum from the street.
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Relevant Codes and Standards

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Major Resources

WBDG

Design Objectives

Accessible, Historic Preservation—Additional Resources, Historic Preservation—Accommodate Life Safety and Security Needs, Safe / Secure—Plan for Fire Protection

Federal Agencies

Organizations/Associations

Publications

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