FEASIBILITY OF ADJUSTABLE SINK/COUNTER SYSTEMS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, ADJUSTABLE SINK/COUNTER SYSTEM IS OF INTEREST TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND DEVELOPERS AS A WAY OF MEETING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE NEEDS OF THEIR CLIENTS. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN COMPONENTS THAT LEAD TO VIRTUAL INDISTINGUISHABILITY BETWEEN HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE AND STANDARD APARTMENTS, SINCE PROPERTY OWNERS FREQUENTLY HAVE DIFFICULTY LEASING UNITS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS HANDICAPPED LIVING SPACES. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING A PROTOTYPE ADJUSTABLE SINK/COUNTER SYSTEM THAT WILL BE EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS AND PEOPLE WHO DO NOT. THE TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITY IS FOCUSED ON CREATING AN AFFORDABLE SYSTEM THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR BOTH NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION. PROJECT STAFF WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING FIVE FUNCTIONAL SUBCOMPONENTS: VERTICAL MOVEMENT, FLEXIBLE FLOW, ELECTRICAL CONTROL, SAFETY, AND COUNTER CONSTRUCTION. AD*AS'S TECHNICAL APPROACH TO DETERMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCTING AN ADJUSTABLE COUNTER AND SINK WILL TAKE PLACE IN FIVE PHASES DESIGNED TO 1) GENERATE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS; 2) DEVELOP TECHNICAL CRITERIA; 3)IDENTIFY TECHNICAL OPTIONS; 4) EVALUATE TECHNICAL OPTIONS; AND 5) PRODUCE A PLAN FOR INTEGRATING PREFERRED SOLUTIONS INTO A PROTYTYPE DESIGN.