A building containing residential units, a library and primary care centre

The multi award winning Clapham One (Library Building) is a 12 storey redevelopment scheme, consisting of high quality residential units, a library and primary care centre.

Within the accessible environments’ project deliverables we carried out compliancy checks and advised the project team of changes required in order for the residential units to be designed according to the correct standards. This was to ensure that 10% were designed to be wheelchair accessible or easily adaptable, with the remainder compliant with Lifetime Homes standards.

As well as advising on the housing, we made sure the public facilities were accessible for all occupants, patients, visitors and staff. As we were working on a project which had already achieved planning permission it was important to ensure the ramped feature that was proposed was fully functional in terms of compliant ramp sections and level landings.

It was of particular importance that the books could be accessed from level landings and the study/meeting areas within the library were designed with step-free access to them. This was achieved, but made all the more challenging due to the required changes in level throughout the building.

We were also required to visit the site and assess particular fit-out items to give the project team reassurance that what they were proposing to install would meet the relevant standards.