Independence First

Independence First is a nonprofit advocacy organization for persons with disabilities. This client had a very clear objective for its new facility: to be a “model of accessibility.” The facility occupies a 40,000 sq. ft. former industrial building. Creative was contracted to collaborate with an architectural firm on the building plans as well as provide interior design concepts and furniture for the space.

Universal design was the foundation for all interior design elements. The architectural finishes were required to meet several specific design criteria. These included addressing physical and/or visual disabilities as well as accommodating persons with chemical sensitivities to materials used in flooring and paint. Patterned materials for carpet and textiles were selected with sensitivity to persons with cognitive and/or visual disabilities. To aid in way-finding for persons with visual impairments, flooring patterns were created in public and staff areas using high contrast colors. Furniture selection was considered and arranged in a way to facilitate ease of movement and accessibility throughout the space.

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