How and Under What Circumstances Can the Goals of Historic Preservation and Equitable Access be Met Through the Application of Universal Design and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards?

Abstract

Universal Design is a concept that has more recently been used in the built environment, even though its evolution goes back to the 1950s. Universal Design (UD) builds on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law that mandates accessibility for people with disabilities. UD however, is not a mandate. UD is a concept that advocates design which is usable for all people, not only people with disabilities.This treatise examines the use of Universal Design in case studies of the rehabilitation of historic buildings that have or have not used Universal Design as a solution for access. Through the discussion and analysis of the case studies, this thesis research answers the question of how and under what circumstances can the goals of historic preservation and equitable access be met through the application of Universal Design and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The case studies are prefaced by discussion and analyses about Universal Design, which includes its history, principles, and goal. Federal laws are introduced and analyzed that pertain to accessibility and historic buildings. This analysis is followed by an explanation of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as well as the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The case studies build on these discussions and analyses to reach an answer to the thesis question regarding Universal Design and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. My findings show that when rehabilitating a historic building, there are commonalities essential to successful solutions for access when applying Universal Design. These commonalities include: Usable space in or around a historic building, non-defining characteristics, and prior changes or alterations. These commonalities can be used to enhance the ADA standards by presenting opportunities for achieving greater access in historic buildings through the application of Universal Design. UD is a mindset. The time has come that Universal Design be applied to historic buildings.