ADA Access Into Historic Buildings Is Often Relatively Easy
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law just over 22 years ago by President George H. W. Bush. Retrofitting older building for accessibility isn’t always easy but surprisingly some of the monumental buildings from late 19th and early 20th centuries aren’t bad.
So many of these buildings have very grand entrances with multiple series of steps, but the main floor is often enough above grade the basement isn’t excavated at all or very little. Here are some examples.
ABOVE: Main St. Louis City Hall entrance
ABOVE: The gate is open during the day for the basement entrance to city hall, this entry is often used by elected officials in addition to the disabled.
Going in the back way isn’t glamorous but neither would ramps out front. We wouldn’t build this today but it works. But not all basement entrances are around back.
ABOVE: Main entry to Scottish Rite on Lindell.
ABOVE: ADA entrance to Scottish Rite to the west of the main entrance
Another example is the building I posted about yesterday — the vacant German House on Lafayette Ave:
ABOVE: The late 1920s German House on Lafayette awaits renovations and occupancy.
ABOVE: When the building is renovated ADA access will be aided by the basement entrance to the left of the main stairs.
These buildings were built with elevators so going from level to level is also easy, the elevators are generally replaced or modernized during renovation. At times I get to ride in an old elevator though, such as at Scottish Rite, which is fun.
– Steve Patterson