Cerebral Palsy Center Housing
Oakland, CA

Housing for clients of the Cerebral Palsy Center

SUMMARY: On-site accessible, affordable housing for clients/participants in the vocational and habilitational programs offered at the Center.

Although it’s 1950’s building was designed to be accessible beyond the building codes of the time, the Cerebral Palsy Center (CPC) has been in need of architectural improvements for a number of years.

Mikiten Architecture was hired to evaluate the existing facilities and assist the appropriate committees in prioritizing which of the many improvements would be undertaken in what order. The process also involved reviewing ways in which office, storage, kitchen and other spaces were used. This led to discussions of overall space management issues that went beyond the access issues we were brought in to address.

We are working with the CPC to take a fresh look at the facilities, like the restrooms pictured above. Formerly a pair of standard men’s and women’s restrooms, these facilities were a source of significant bottlenecking as orderlies tried to get many clients in and out during peak usage times (breaks, lunch, etc.). The restrooms were too cramped to allow two wheelchairs to pass, and the stalls could only accommodate one orderly at most.

Through discussions with clients, orderlies, and staff we determined that some clients need much more space around them in order to be assisted by two orderlies. Since there was no way to expand into the hallway above or dining rooms below, we created seven unisex restrooms and one changing room. Each room is entered from the hall and can be used independently, but they are also connected by lockable pocket doors to facilitate orderlies’ travel between the rooms.

By understanding the real needs of the clients, we devised a creative solution that goes well behyond standard access requirements to create a place that will work for clients with any level of ability.

Project Data:
Project Type: Facility Access Improvements

Project Team
Client: Cerebral Palsy Center of the Bay Area
Principal Designer: Erick Mikiten, AIA

Site Plan