Downtown civic buildings in Buffalo, NY: evaluating mobility impaired and or wheelchair users experiences with historic buildings

This report explores the interactions between historic civic structures and how users enter and utilize the space. The project specifically looks at how users with mobility impairments and or wheelchair users are accommodated. Being that the Americans with Disabilities Act is relatively new, a majority of historic and older public buildings were never designed to accommodate someone with mobility impairments. Traditionally, these buildings have been defined by their grand staircases and even grander plinths. This is problematic for individuals who cannot traverse them and require additional accommodation to enter and experience the building.