CITYBUILDING | Demystifying ADA for Renovations and Redevelopment

Understanding how to accommodate a broad range of users is key to success when working with existing buildings.

Written By Eric Kronberg

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a scary beast for many folks that have to interact with it. Architects, developers, and building owners often have a decent handle on working with ADA for new construction but can get really thrown off trying to figure out how to correctly apply its requirements to renovations of existing buildings. We’ve seen countless times where misunderstood and misinterpreted requirements killed such potential renovations. These missed opportunities are particularly painful when it comes to Main Street buildings, leaving unnecessary dead zones in what should be an active streetscape.