EAST ELMWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE (E.E.C.C.)
ACCESSIBLE KITCHEN & PROGRAM PLANNING
All photographs by Jacqueline Young (Stationpoint Photographic)
The fully accessible kitchen includes accessible ovens (with pull-out cooling racks), which allow users in wheelchairs to easily cook and bake.
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Year: 2015
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Client: City of Winnipeg
Budget: $4 million
Award: 2015 City of Winnipeg Award of Excellence in Accessible Architectural Design
A highlight of the East Elmwood Community Centre is its accessible kitchen. With all counters, sinks, cabinets and appliances (including the oven) designed to meet Winnipeg Accessibility Design Standards, the kitchen can easily be used by community members of all abilities.
As a whole, the East Elmwood Community Centre was designed to allow all visitors ̶ regardless of their levels of mobility ̶ to immerse themselves in the activities of the community and its surrounding grounds. The building is arranged around the wide corridor, which connects visitors entering from either end of the building. The addition of built-in benches and generous glazing creates a warm and luminous environment that acts as a natural public gathering space. The wall of glazing also creates a strong visible connection between both indoor and outdoor activities. Visibility was integral in the design of interior program spaces -- not only to help provide a sense of community, but also to create a safe environment, one easily monitored by staff. Through the strategic use of glazing, the interiors of all main rooms are visible from many different locations.
The East Elmwood Community Centre is built around a wide, luminous public corridor, which connects both entrances to the building and acts as a natural gathering space. |