May 2024 - Parks & Recreation - 25

through the toilets and provide a separate common area
for all-gender handwashing, which expedites the handwashing
task at the sink and mirror and, in turn, keeps
the total time in the restroom to a minimum.
Considerations
The various layouts and designs have both good and
bad aspects. While no design is perfect, it's important
to consider some of the following:
* Where will this restroom be located?
* What is the main use of this facility?
* How many people will it need to accommodate?
* When will this restroom be the busiest?
* How frequently will that occur?
If these questions are answered correctly and implemented
into the proposed design, the size and occupancy
load will be adequate. For example, in most cases,
from highway rest areas to campgrounds to a sports
complex, it's rare to ever wait in line to use the restroom.
In other words, the owners typically are taking
all these design considerations and requiring proposed
buildings to have a larger quantity of restrooms with
bigger restroom-use capacity than is really required to
provide adequate use for its occupants.
What the public prefers will likely serve as the basis
of design and direct the change or requirements for
each public space. That is what has driven the growth
in popularity of single-user designs. Currently, the public
prefers all-gender facilities that are evolving to include
specific spaces to oblige the family unit with baby
changing accessories, as well as accessible adult changing
rooms with all the pertinent accommodations.
These demands are changing public restroom buildings
to all-inclusive, multiuser, all-gender spaces.
Benefits of All-Gender Facilities
For owners and maintenance personnel, one of the greatest
concerns regarding public restrooms is vandalism. Not
only are the new all-gender designs more inclusive, but
also they reduce vandalism by providing a space for all.
In planning universal common areas, restroom staff will
have the ability to provide more oversight while facilities
are open to the public. This will allow for no lapse in general
cleaning procedures, the prompt awareness of a fixture
failure, and the ability to address the issue by closing
a certain stall or isolating a portion of the space.
Design Examples
For the Cedar Links Park restroom near Medford, Oregon,
the number one concern was vandalism. The project
combined what is essentially a typical multiuser design
with a single vandal-proof entrance that when opened
provides easy access to the vestibule area with a high-low
drinking fountain alcove and split-entry access to the restrooms.
This entrance provides an attractive open feel
and visibility for both users and maintenance personnel.
Sharing the same concerns with vandalism as Medford, a
similar design concept was required for the Exchange Park
restroom in Decatur, Georgia. The plan combined what is
commonly an all-gender design with a single vandal-proof
entrance that when opened provides easy access to a common
entry for both the restrooms and the mechanical
room. This entrance also provides an attractive open feel
and visibility for both users and maintenance personnel.
From big buildings to small buildings in restroom and
shower buildings, the single-user popularity is driving the
new construction of all public restroom and shower buildings
toward all-gender spaces for most new designs.
Cassandra Ruport is Lead Technical Designer at Romtec, Inc.
(marcom@romtec.com).
24_002828_Parks_Recreation_MAY Mod: March 20, 2024 3:50 PM
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