ADA Compliance Design Guidelines
Chapter 8: Preservation Commission Design Guidelines, Page 8 of 8
Commercial and public buildings must meet the criteria set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means that wheelchair ramps sometimes must be added to historic buildings to provide access for people with disabilities. The primary entrance of a historic building should be made universally accessible unless remodeling would permanently damage defining features.
Three-Step Approach to ADA Compliance
The National Park Service's Preservation Brief 32, titled Making Historic Preservation Accessible, suggests the following three-step approach for owners or site administrators of historic buildings to meet ADA requirements:
Step 1: Review the property's significance and identify its defining features
Step 2: Determine the current level of accessibility
Step 3: Evaluate accessibility options within a preservation context
Making Historic Properties Accessible
To make the primary entrance of a historic building accessible, building owners or site administrators may need to take the following actions:
- Install wheelchair ramps
- Add wheelchair lifts
- Modify doors, hardware, or thresholds
Adding Exterior Wheelchair Ramps
Design reviews must take all ADA requirements into account. Design guidelines can provide the following suggestions so building owners can try to preserve the historic character of their building and the district:
- Whenever possible, add ramps to the rear of the building or to a side of the building that is not visible from the street
- Use materials compatible with the building (if appropriate)
- Use simple railing designs or match the original porch railings
- Screen ramps with landscaping or low shrubbery