Washrooms for All: A Case Study Approach to Gender-Neutral, Accessible Design
This webinar is part of the RAIC 2023 Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!
Topics: Health, Safety, and Accessibility
Length: 1 hour | What's Included: Video, Quiz, and Certificate of Completion
“Washrooms for All” is the right of everyone, regardless of gender, accessibility requirements, or personal needs, to feel safe and welcome when they need to use a public washroom. In 2016, Bill C-16 amended the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code. The change added gender identity and gender expression to the list of “prohibited grounds of discrimination.” The purpose is to protect individuals from discrimination and acknowledge equal rights, freedoms and accommodations for everyone. As awareness and understanding of the importance of gender equity have risen, the demand for gender-inclusive washrooms in public spaces has too.
The speakers will look at a case study project that is currently being constructed at the University of Montreal. The University is renovating the washrooms in the J.-A.-De Sève Pavilion on the main campus. Figurr has been working with the university to develop designs that more closely align with its mandate to place equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of its growth.
The following session explores a brief history of public washroom accessibility. It reviews the policies and accommodations that have been given, with an overview of where we are now and the future of public washroom design. The speakers will also examine several organizations in North America that are addressing design inequality in public washrooms through research and publishing their findings in an open-source format that allows other designers to learn from and apply their research. The objective of this presentation is to identify key issues in the design of public washrooms and how architects and designers are approaching them.
Learning Objectives:
By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify and describe the four categories of design that address the typical questions relating to equitable and accessible public washroom design.
- Describe the changes that Bill C-16 made to the Canadian Human Rights and Criminal Code that was introduced in 2016.
- List three organizations in North America that are addressing design inequality in public washrooms.
- Summarize the role of gender-neutral and accessible washrooms.
Subject Matter Expert:
Mr. Stephen Rotman
OAQ, OAA, AIA, MRAIC, LEED ® AP BD+C
Architect, Senior Partner, Figurr Architects Collective
Stephen Rotman is a Founding Partner of Figurr Architects Collective, formerly Rubin & Rotman Associates. Stephen has practiced architecture for firms in France, Britain, Canada and the United States over the past three decades. He has worked on various complex institutional projects, including community centres, schools, museums and libraries, many of which have become municipal landmarks. Stephen works collaboratively with clients and stakeholders through a participatory design approach to achieve distinctive solutions to their specific needs, integrating design, contextual and functional issues to create exceptional architecture. He is actively involved in the community, having served on the boards of several local organizations and was previously President of Habitat for Humanity Quebec. Stephen graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University. Stephen is currently involved in the new Eeyou Istchee Regional Health Centre in Chisasibi, Quebec, in a consortium, applying his skills in participatory design with the local community.
Ms. Maud Jobert
OAQ
Architect, Associate, Figurr Architects Collective
Maud has been practicing architecture for over twenty years in various fields, including the public and private sectors. Her career has focused on institutional projects, including architectural programming, higher education buildings, community service buildings, and fire stations. She has extensive experience working with First Nations and Inuit communities. Most of these projects have been in collaboration with local governmental bodies at the provincial, municipal and band council levels. Maud is a skilled communicator and project manager. She instills trust in her clients and team members with her thoughtful and attentive approach to project management. Maud received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Montreal in 2000 and is a member of the OAQ since 2016.
Pricing A-La-Carte
Member: $50 / Non-Member: $75
Intern Member: $35 / Intern Non-Member: $50
Student: $25 (must be an RAIC student associate member)