|
|
|
| |
 |
Door Operators Broaden Accessibility at Washington Facility
Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies
Americas
111 Congressional Blvd.., Suite 200
Carmel, IN 46032
www.irsecurityandsafety.com
Editorial Material
Contact: Ronald E. Ratell
ADA Program Manager
317-613-8307
Subject: Door Accessibility at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
WASHINGTON-June 15, 2004... Hundreds of automatic door openers have been added to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. Although the building met ADA accessibility guidelines and building code requirements when it was built, automatic operators are being added to a large number of restroom doors and other doors to make the facility still more user-friendly.
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, dedicated in 1998, is the second-largest federal building after the Pentagon. With 3.1 million sq. ft. of space, it is a unique collaboration of the federal government and private enterprise. The building is owned and managed by the US General Services Administration (GSA). The building houses five federal tenants and 40 private sector and retail tenants, in addition to the Conference Center that enjoys an average of 14,000 visitors a week.
Enhancing Accessibility
When the building was completed in 1998, some of the restrooms had doors that accommodated people with disabilities, but not all restrooms provided full accessibility. Once the building was in operation, it became apparent that providing greater accessibility than required would enhance its ability to serve its visitors and its functionality.
Access to office areas in the building itself is secured by a guard service and metal detectors. However, with such a large facility, there is a need to manage visitor traffic. According to Joe Siraco, RPA, project manager for Consolidated Engineering Services, a firm under contract to manage the building's physical plant, there are probably more than 400 door operators in the building. A large percentage of these are on restroom entrances. Most of these doors are equipped with push plates and are accessible to anyone in the area. Siraco notes, "Some have keypads with standalone battery operated access control, where we don’t want everyone to use them." He explains that certain restrooms are reserved for those with disabilities, and the door operator is linked to a proximity card reader to ensure that only authorized persons can enter. "They flash their card and push the button, and if they are authorized, it activates the door. If they aren’t authorized, the door doesn’t operate."
Other Accessibility Solutions
Other methods of meeting ADA guidelines were employed in the building's original design, and additional solutions are constantly being applied as tenant needs change. The main doors incorporate LCN automatic operators on at least one door at each location. These are equipped with proximity card readers on a bollard outside the door and with push plate request-to-exit switches inside.
Some tenants have their own access control systems as well. For instance, the EPA Federal Credit Union uses a magnetic lock and a proximity card reader to control access, with a call button and intercom for those without cards. From the inside, a motion sensor acts as a request-to-exit switch and de-energizes the electromagnet to allow egress. It also activates the LCN automatic door operator.
Keeping up with the constant changes in tenant space utilization are a challenge in a building of this size. Siraco says, "Government agencies move just as other tenants do. Two of the largest agencies occupy more than a half-million square feet each, and they are always building or moving within their space. As they change, they often find a different area where they want to put in an accessible door to accommodate their staff or visitors." Changes are made to meet tenant requirements and requests. Budgeting varies with the application. Siraco says, "If an agency wants an ADA door operator on their door, they pay for it. GSA pays for operators on toilet room doors and main doors."
Throughout the complex, there is a practice of going beyond the minimum level of accessibility suggested by ADA guidelines. If an area has four restrooms, instead of making only one accessible, it is likely that all are or will be accessible. The building's continuing program of maintaining and improving accessibility demonstrates how a complex of this size is always a work in progress.
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners of New York City collaborated with Ellerbe Beckett Architects and engineers of Washington, DC in designing the complex. Lead architect James Ingo Freed defines the building's exterior as "a contemporary reading of the neoclassical style" or "virtual classicism".
 |
|
 |
| Entrance to Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue includes LCN automatic door operator, as well as Von Duprin 35 Series exit devices. |
|
Access is controlled by this bollard-mounted proximity card reader, with push plate to activate the door operator for those with disabilities. |
 |
| Exterior entrances are secured by electromagnetic shear locks, controlled by proximity card readers. Handicap-accessibility pushbutton, used in conjunction with card reader, de-energizes the magnetic lock and activates the door operator. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
