File
Number PS-01-1214
April 3, 2003
Accessibility Advisory Committee
City of Ottawa
Re: Centrepointe Theatre Expansion
Ben Franklin Place
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The existing Centrepointe Theatre,
opened in 1988, is a 968 seat, professionally appointed performing arts venue
providing community groups, commercial promoters and professional artists with
a state-of-the-art theatre venue and professional services. Centrepointe
Theatre has developed a reputation for being an excellent venue for musical
theatre and has been successful in recruiting a large company of volunteers to
work in partnership with paid staff. This has encouraged community use by
reducing overhead and lowering rental and ticket charges. Both developments
have created a huge demand for space. It became apparent to staff that the lack
of rehearsal, storage, workshop, volunteer and administration spaces, as well
as inadequate dressing rooms were impeding the theatre’s development and its potential
for revenue generation. The program for the addition includes a ‘black box’
studio space seating 200, two new Dressing Rooms, Green Room, Catering Kitchen,
Storage, Workshop, Administration Offices, Washrooms, Accessible elevator, a
larger Loading Dock and Volunteer, Multi-purpose, First Aid and Janitorial
Rooms.
ACCESSIBILITY:
The Existing Theatre, located
in Ben Franklin Place currently has numerous attributes to help make this
facility barrier-free for the public, staff and volunteers. Upgrades to the
existing theatre as recent as the summer of 2002 have increased the number of
accessible viewing positions, providing space for patrons using wheelchairs and
able-bodied companions. In addition, new railings at the end of each row of
seats assist our aging population in accessing their theatre seats. The
existing theatre has ‘assisted listening’ capabilities in the form of an
induction loop system. This system has performed adequately over the past 14
years, however a more efficient infrared system offering better sound quality
is scheduled to be installed in the near future utilizing replacement reserve
funds.
As part of the Proposed Studio
‘Black Box’ Addition, we are including the following accessibility features
in an effort to make the project as barrier-free as possible for the public,
performers, employees and volunteers.
Handicapped Seating:
The proposed design will
accommodate six wheelchairs positioned to allow able-bodied patrons to sit next
to guests using wheelchairs. Four of these six spaces will be located at the
‘Viewing Gallery’ located on the Upper Level. Refer to drawing XX.2.
The remaining two spaces are
located at the new Stage Level. Refer to drawing XX.1.
As indicated in the introduction,
the existing theatre has recently been upgraded to accommodate up to 12
wheelchair spaces in addition to its 968 seats.
Emergency Exits:
Currently all of the emergency
exits are at Ground Level or have appropriate ramps from exit door to Ground,
except for the Stage Door exit/entrance. This door leads to an exterior landing
/ ‘area of refuge’ with stairs up to grade or stairs down to the loading ramp.
This exterior landing can accommodate a minimum of six wheelchairs.
Emergency Annunciation:
In addition to normal fire bells
and buzzers, the proposed design will incorporate strobe lights for the hearing
impaired. These strobe lights are proposed in the Public Areas, including
Public Washrooms.
Main Entrance:
There are existing Automatic
Operators on the main exterior doors leading to the Theatre. The Box Office,
located adjacent to the main entrance has an accessible counter. The new
exterior doors located at the new Upper Lobby will also be equipped with auto
operators. On the Lower, Studio Level, we propose to include automatic
operators on one pair of the doors to the Studio for guests using the room for
Meeting, Rehearsals or other functions.
At the Main Entrance, there
currently is a dedicated space for Para-Transpo drop off. This will remain
unchanged.
Ramps:
Ramps are designed with a minimum
1,500mm level landing at top and bottom of the ramp. The ramps will have
non-slip floor surface and appropriate railings.
Clothes Storage:
Coat and clothes storage will have
rails or hooks not higher than 1400 mm to provide access to staff and guests
using wheelchairs. This also will be incorporated in 10% of the staff lockers
located in the ‘Green Room Hall’ on the Lower level.
Signage:
Internal signage will be located
on the wall, on the latch side of doors, free of obstacles or barriers below so a person with a
visual impairment can bring their face close to the signage.
Identification signage will have large characters in bold print measuring at least 22 mm. Lettering colours will be significantly different from the background colours.
Signage: (cont.)
Signs in all Public areas will be mounted with the bottom
edge at approximately 1300 mm from the floor in order to provide a viewable
range for a person of average height standing and also from a seated position.
Production areas back stage often have crates, set pieces,
props and other show items lined or leaning on open walls. Mounting heights in
these Production areas will need to be higher to avoid being obscured by these
set pieces.
Directional
signage will have characters measuring at least 40 mm. If practical, raised
characters will be incorporated to assist persons with visual impairments.
Doors:
Lever Door handles will be
incorporated and door closers will be adjusted to not less than 3 seconds.
Elevator Access:
The proposed design incorporates a
new elevator to both levels of the new Studio addition. The existing handicap
lift located near the existing stage will be upgraded to elevator status and an
additional stop at the Upper level will also be included in this upgrade.
Parking Spaces:
In addition to the passenger drop
off area at the Main Theatre Entrance, the current parking layout at Ben
Franklin Place includes 13 handicapped parking spaces. Six of these spaces are
directly in front of Main Theatre Entrance; the other seven are located
adjacent to the Library entrance, approximately 60 M from the Theatre entrance.
New site curbing associated with this addition will incorporate curb cuts near
building entrances / exits.
Sound Enhancing Equipment:
For the New Black Box Studio, a
state of the art infrared system will provide assisted listening capabilities.
The distribution panels will be located in each corner of this space to ensure
that assisted listening can be achieved throughout the Studio space.
Meeting Rooms:
The Meeting Room, located in the
administration part of the addition, will be wired for future assisted
listening capabilities. Furniture for this room will include chairs with arms
for persons with balancing or muscle weakness problems. Similar chairs will be
included in the Green Room and In the Volunteer’s Kitchen.
Kitchen:
The Main
Kitchen, located on the Upper level, is primarily for the use of outside
catering companies. In an effort to improve accessibility, one work surface
will be at a height of 850mm complete with clear knee space below and
accessible electrical outlets in the front. A minimum clearance of 1,200mm will
be provided between opposing counters and / or walls, appliances etc. Floor
surfaces will be slip resistant.
Telephones:
Currently at Ben Franklin Place,
there is a TTY telephone available for Public use at the Library. The
Centrepointe Theatre staff are currently considering the purchase of an
additional TTY for Public use at the Theatre Box Office.
Washrooms:
The scope of work for this project
includes seven new washrooms. The proposed addition includes two Public
Washrooms, located off of the Stage Lobby and two Staff Washrooms, located next
the administration area. These washrooms will include the following barrier
free features:
·
Accessories located away from the path of travel but within
close proximity of the lavatories. Operable parts and controls to be mounted no
higher than 1,200mm from floor.
·
All plumbing fixtures will be ‘hands free’, controlled by
electric eye.
·
Vanities and sinks will conform to OBC 3.8.3.11 to provide
clear knee space under the sink and counter.
·
Mirrors will extend down to a minimum of 1,000mm from floor.
·
Each washroom will have one fully accessible toilet complete
with grab bars as per OBC 3.8.3.8(d).
In addition, located on the Stage
Level, there is a pair of accessible washrooms for use by staff and volunteers.
Each washroom contains one toilet and one sink. These washrooms will conform to
OBC 3.8.3.12 “Special Washrooms”.
On the Lobby Level of the existing
Theatre, this project includes the construction of a unisex accessible “Special
Washroom” as described above. The two existing public washrooms on the main
floor of the theatre each offer a fully accessible toilet, lavatory and
accessories; this additional fully accessible washroom will help satisfy demand
at peak use during Intermissions and also accommodate someone attending to the
disabled guest needs.
Coatcheck:
The design of the new Coatcheck
area, located in the Upper Lobby, will include an accessible counter.
Administration Reception Desk /
Waiting Area:
The design of the Administration
Reception Desk will include a lower, accessible transaction counter complete
with clear space below to serve wheelchairs. The Waiting Area located next to
Reception will include one space for a wheelchair.
Richard
Fouchard B.Arch., OAA.
Senior Project Manager,
Design & Construction
c.c.
|
Barbara Feldman |
Centrepointe Theatre |
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David Macdonell |
Centrepointe Theatre |
580-2706 |
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Paul
Landry
|
People Services |
724-4154 |
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Sandy
Davis
|
Hobin Architects |
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