A community-minded approach to accessibility

The exterior illuminated signs consisted of hollow fabricated stainless-steel letters.

The exterior illuminated signs consisted of hollow fabricated stainless-steel letters.

Finalizing the mounting method for the illuminated fascia sign was another challenge for the team, as the building’s brick facade was not structural and could not support the weight of the sign with masonry screws. Further, it had been cladded before the design concepts were finalized, so they had missed the opportunity to install brackets to the building envelope. Ultimately, the solution was to source a heavy-duty anchor which expanded in the cavity behind the bricks. The brackets were angled to support the sign’s raceway, and the power supply was then brought to each line of text through the fascia. Both this sign and the projecting parkade entry sign were installed using a scissor lift. All electrical wiring for the illuminated fascia sign and the under-canopy sign was concealed within the tube frame raceways.

Production and installation of the interior signage took place last summer, and the exterior signage was finished last winter. The public plaza at the front of the centre is set for completion in the third quarter of 2023.

In the design and construction of the Maillardville Community Centre, the city is determined to meet Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) guidelines—more specifically, RHF Accessibility Certified Gold. Some notable features to help achieve this goal are the braille and tactile graphics on all the room names, as well as the high contrast between the graphics, the sign backers, and the walls, to ensure the signs stand out and are easy to see. The pictograms throughout the building are also intended to contribute to its accessibility by assisting any visitors who are not able to read the destinations in English. Finally, the project team has included contrast safety strips on the glass panels throughout the building, to make sure they are visible to end users.  

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