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GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Bricks will meet ADA requirements Comment By Cynthia Rider and Peter Koehler DailyTidings.com By Cynthia Rider and Peter Koehler Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 10:47 AM By Cynthia Rider and Peter Koehler Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 10:47 AM » Social News We are writing to correct inaccuracies in Tom Dimitre’s guest opinion of August 12 about the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s project to renovate the courtyard at the center of our campus — known as “the Bricks” — and to share our excitement about the project. OSF is undertaking this very complicated and expensive project because it is the right thing to do. We have hired one of the nation’s very best landscape design firms, Walker Macy, to design the courtyard, and one of the very best architectural firms, THA Architecture, which designed the Thomas Theatre, to design the renovations to the Angus Bowmer Theatre. We are confident that we have maximized accessibility within the constraints of the site and the existing topography, that this project will radically improve the experience of all of our patrons, especially those with disabilities, and that the renovated Bricks will be a tremendous asset to the entire Ashland community for decades to come. Mr. Dimitre’s article includes several factual errors which bear correcting: The Bricks will absolutely be made compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and will be more flat, smooth, and stable. The areas of the courtyard which lead pedestrians to the doors of the Angus Bowmer and Allen Elizabethan theaters will not exceed 5 percent in slope or 2 percent in cross-slope. All ramps and stairs that connect the Bricks to our buildings will be made compliant in terms of steepness, handrails, turns and other factors. Patrons using wheelchairs or otherwise mobility-challenged will not enter the Angus Bowmer Theatre through a side door. An elevator will be installed in the lobby of the building, allowing patrons using wheelchairs to enter through the front door along with all other patrons, and to travel to their seating without traversing stairs. Patrons using wheelchairs will be able to visit an accessible restroom and, using the elevator, purchase concessions without exiting the building. Access to the Allen Elizabethan Theatre will be through the main doors of the historic Chautauqua wall, and patrons using wheelchairs will be able to access their seats via an ADA-compliant path and wheelchair lift. The changes to the Bowmer and to the Allen Elizabethan have passed the city of Ashland’s review process, clearly indicating that we are on the right track. We have investigated the possibility of a patron drop-off zone, but without a major modification to the public street (which may require a full and permanent closure), a drop-off zone is not feasible. Nothing about this undertaking — the cost of nearly $4 million, the siting on a steep, natural hillside, and the fact that construction can take place only during the three months each winter when there are no performances — falls under the “readily achievable” standard for improvements required by the ADA. OSF has made a commitment to access for all of our patrons and to the transformative effect this project will have on our campus and on how patrons with disabilities access our performances and events. The true spark for this project is the generous support of Ashland donors, who made it possible for us to begin planning for this comprehensive renovation to serve the Ashland community. Cynthia Rider is OSF executive director. Peter Koehler is president of the OSF Board of Directors. By Cynthia Rider and Peter Koehler DailyTidings.com By Cynthia Rider and Peter Koehler Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 10:47 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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