University of Guelph Accessibility and Inclusion Audit

The Project

Completion of a detailed campus-wide interior accessibility and inclusion audit at the University of Guelph’s main campus. It consists of 114 facilities across the campus, totaling over 6.5 million square feet. This audit is a continuation of the campus exterior audit completed in 2016.

This work edifies the University of Guelph’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion on their campus. The audit will inform where barriers exist within the built environment and be a resource to develop a multiyear strategic plan to remove the barriers. The goal is to create an accessible and inclusive campus such as to provide independent and dignified access for persons with disabilities throughout the university.

The audit will review for compliance against legislated minimum accessibility requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Part IV.1 Design of Public Spaces Standards (DOPS) and the Ontario Building Code (OBC). To capture a more inclusive lens beyond minimum accessibility compliance, the audit will include Human Space’s recommendations of implementing universal design principles and the assessment against the OCAD University Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS) and CSA B651 Accessible Design for the Built Environment.