At Grade Access -- Progress! November 7, 2011

One of the more difficult issues in adapting a turn-of-the century structure for contemporary use has been at-grade access to the Dent Building and each of its four levels.

The School considered several alternatives to access through the front door within the guidelines provided by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and found none satisfactory. We opted to revive an old design dating from the 1998-2000 renovations, an at-grade entrance to the lower level of the Dent Building off 2nd Street. We will install an elevator in the building to serve all four floors. When the renovations are complete Dent will be fully accessible and the School will be in voluntary compliance with 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design for Commercial Facilities.