Our Work

From the East coast to West coast, Adaptability Canada has participated in projects that touch millions of Canadians’ lives. Here are a few of our most notable ones.

Hospital Wayfinding

Ministry of Accessibility and Seniors - (July 2019)

Problem

  • Hospitals across Canada have inconsistent and outdated forms of wayfinding, from coloured floor dots to small and hidden signage, making it difficult for visitors and patients to navigate with a consistent standard
  • Budget constraints need to allow for gradual, cost-effective solution implementation
  • Materials need to be conducive to frequent cleaning and powerful chemicals

Process

  • ADC developed a 5-layer approach to wayfinding based on the study of several hospitals in Ontario
  • Assessments and recommendations addressed tactile interfaces, visual cues, sound management, lighting, symbols, colours, and signage, and then visually connected (colour-coded) those elements to create a cohesive, big-picture wayfinding plan

Result

  • The Case Study included a range of cost solutions with varying levels of construction intensity so that any Hospital can use it to improve their accessibility no matter their budget or time constraints
  • The government can also use this Case Study as guidance on Hospital building best practices

Equipment Supply and Installation

Tridel / Deltera - (September 2017 – Present)

Problem

  • All of Tridel / Deltera’s new construction projects require tactile attention indicators that meet the Ontario building code to be installed before the building can achieve occupancy

Process

  • ADC sources and installs the best indicators for the client based on the look (design), feel, fire rating and durability
  • We provide a service guarantee that all work can be finished 1 week prior to inspection and occupancy

Result

  • We have successfully installed over 200,000 indicators
  • Since we offer a fixed price, rigid installation plan and coordinate with subcontractors, Tridel / Deltera is able to effectively budget this element for any future project
  • ADC is now taking on further projects with Tridel / Deltera including path-marking, ramp installations, handrails, and more
  • ADC now manufactures our own tactile attention indicators in-house

Accessibility Assessments

CBRE - (August 2019 – March 2020)

Problem

  • The condition of 35 buildings that served senior citizens was under scrutiny, and needed to be assessed to plan for upcoming capital investment

Process

  • ADC assessed each building based on AODA standards, global best practices, as well as senior specific elements (e.g. memory care + ease of use + senior and disability appropriate fitness equipment)
  • The recommendations included in-depth planning for cost prioritization, ranging from what to do tomorrow to what to do in 5-10 years
    Result
  • Our report was integrated with the building condition report, which made it very easy for the client to include accessibility upgrades in future construction projects without doubling up on costs

Accessibility Roadmap

A Major Canadian Financial Institution - (October 2019 – March 2020 / October 2021 – Present)

Problem

  • This Major Canadian Financial Institution intended to address their significant physical and customer service barriers in both retail banking and office environments
  • The complexity and size of their real estate portfolio needed to be addressed in a unified way

Process

  • ADC took the Bank’s design standards to the next level by incorporating accessibility measures in a pragmatic, research-based design guide and strategic plan
  • Solutions were mapped out based on their four key organizational initiatives over the next five years
  • The roadmap made recommendations on ways to dramatically improve the experience for their employees and customers with a full range of disabilities (mobility, age, chronic illnesses, neurodiversity, caregivers, and more)
  • Our approach looked at barriers not only from the physical standpoint, but from the experience of the process and systems that impacted a person’s experience in the retail banking or work environment

Result

  • The Bank is now able to address physical and service accessibility for anyone that steps onto their properties

5-Year Action Plan & Accessibility Assessments

Ottawa University - (October 2018 – August 2020)

Problem

  • The University received accessibility assessments from another firm that were extremely difficult to understand and implement
  • In their aim to be a leader in disability and human rights, they required a new, integrated, and clear plan for improving accessibility across the entire campus

Process

  • ADC data-mined their existing reports and integrated them with our supplemental assessments that addressed the experience of those with invisible and visible disabilities
  • We developed a 5-Year Plan to for the 40 buildings and the full exterior of the campus that included recommendations based on cost, building use, and timeline priorities

Result

  • This was the first 5-Year Plan to include inclusive design elements for seniors, Indigenous people, women, LGBTQ+, visible minorities, and obese people, thus going beyond human rights to awarding all stakeholders with dignity and respect
  • The intuitiveness and flexibility of the Plan allows the University to modify and export the data to their planning software – making it easier to implement recommendations as either CAPEX or OPEX expenditures

Inclusive Design Guides

Oxford Properties - (June 2016 – Present)

Problem

  • Oxford was on a mission to recognize and remediate the unaddressed experiences of people with disabilities on their properties
  • They were looking for a standardized approach to designing with accessibility in mind

Process

  • ADC conducted multiple accessibility assessments on a range of their retail, residential, and office buildings
  • We also created educational material for their property management teams to use in their operation and maintenance of buildings

Result

  • The 3 Inclusive Design Guides adopted measures for physical, sensory, mental, and emotional accessibility for all marginalized groups
  • The guides included tiered levels of achievement so that planners could set and measure goals against the end-user experience
  • Our work has influenced design in many of their buildings, and will be used for future construction projects
Get In Touch