Project Overview
As project manager, I led a team of six first-year engineering students to address critical accessibility issues at Hart House Theatre. The project focused on three main challenges: inaccessible stage access, limited wheelchair seating, and hazardous steep back aisles. Through extensive ideation and analysis, we developed comprehensive solutions that significantly improved theatre accessibility while maintaining the venue's historic character.
Wheelchair Seating Solutions
Design 1: Removable Seats
Push-lock detachable seats that can be stored during performances, creating flexible wheelchair spaces with unobstructed stage views.
Design 2: Swivel Seats
360° pivoting aisle seats with locking mechanisms, enabling easy transfer and integrated seating alongside other attendees.
Design 3: Foldable Seats ✓
Retractable seats that fold into the floor, providing seamless wheelchair integration without occupying additional space.
Back Aisle Accessibility
Design 1: Slope Readjustment
Physical modification of aisle gradients to improve accessibility while maintaining structural integrity.
Design 2: Handrails System
Central handrails with grip tape providing stable support without major structural changes.
Design 3: Chair Lift ✓
Motorized chair lift system with safety features for secure and comfortable navigation of steep aisles.
Stage Access Solutions
Design 1: Chair Stair Lift
Wall-mounted aluminum rail system with safety features for stair navigation.
Design 2: Portable Stage Lift ✓
Mobile scissor lift platform designed for wheelchair accessibility with stable steel construction.
Design 3: Portable Stair Wheelchair
Battery-powered mobile stairlift with foldable design for independent navigation.
Project Outcomes
Our final design proposal, combining foldable wheelchair seats, portable stage lift, and chair-attached lift system, earned a 90% grade on our Conceptual Design Specification Report - among the highest in our class. The project successfully balanced user safety, cost-effectiveness, and practical implementation while significantly improving theatre accessibility.
Project Details
Role
Project Manager
Responsibilities
- Team Leadership
- Design Iteration
- CAD Modeling
- Documentation