Discover the partnership websiteLiving Atlas of Quality
6 August 2026To create the world’s most accessible office building; a space that can be used equally by all. “Accessibility is necessary for some, but good for everyone.” The building was originally drafted as a circular layout, but would have been difficult for people who are blind or have visual impairments to navigate, as a round building is boundless. The circle was squeezed in 4 places, resulting in the 4-armed starfish shape. The glass-covered central atrium became pentagonal, creating distinct orientation points in each bend. The main takeaway from the case study is the importance of accessibility versus universal design. Accessibility creates solutions for people living with disabilities, while universal design creates equality for all. While this may be harder to achieve, it's not impossible. All it takes is care and action, to dissolve barriers and achieve equality. Even the tiniest detail can make the difference.
| Resource type |  |
| Author | William Coggins and Deborah Mubamba |
| Copyright owner | Laurentian University SSHRC Partnership Grant |
| Type of viewpoint | Researcher |
| Language | English |
| Copyright | Creative Commons |
To create the world’s most accessible office building; a space that can be used equally by all. “Accessibility is necessary for some, but good for everyone.” The building was originally drafted as a circular layout, but would have been difficult for people who are blind or have visual impairments to navigate, as a round building is boundless. The circle was squeezed in 4 places, resulting in the 4-armed starfish shape. The glass-covered central atrium became pentagonal, creating distinct orientation points in each bend. The main takeaway from the case study is the importance of accessibility versus universal design. Accessibility creates solutions for people living with disabilities, while universal design creates equality for all. While this may be harder to achieve, it's not impossible. All it takes is care and action, to dissolve barriers and achieve equality. Even the tiniest detail can make the difference.
