The three pillars of sustainability are defined as the environment, economy, and society. Take away any one pillar, and the system will fail.

Sustainable architecture is primarily about limiting the negative impact of buildings through energy efficiency, material use, and waste and water management. That covers the environmental pillar.

And the project needs to be buildable within budget and offer operational efficiencies for the economic pillar.

The societal pillar is often supported by walkability, indoor air quality, daylighting, and so forth. But a crack in this pillar can form when we look at diversity, equity, and inclusion: accessibility.

We engineer a high-performance building envelope and stunning exterior façade, then slap a ramp on it for wheelchair access. Or we design a swanky interior filled with reclaimed materials, but put the restrooms (complete with wheelchair stall) down a flight of stairs in the basement. Or we tuck accessibility around the back—we make the person using a wheelchair or scooter go the long way around. Not very inclusive.

At iFly indoor skydiving schools, they believe that “regardless of physical or cognitive challenges, everyone should be given the opportunity to spread their wings.” The credo is brought to life by specially trained instructors and stylish accessibility lifts like this Savaria V-1504 at the Montreal location.
At iFly indoor skydiving schools, they believe that “regardless of physical or cognitive challenges, everyone should be given the opportunity to spread their wings.” The credo is brought to life by specially trained instructors and stylish accessibility lifts like this Savaria V-1504 at the Montreal location.

Historically, one big challenge with accessibility has been aesthetics. Attention on function over form—or of checking an ADA compliance tick box—along with keeping costs down meant drab, chunky lifts that are hidden away.

“You’re out there designing beautiful buildings, and we, the manufacturers of accessibility lifts, have been handing you plain, average-looking boxes,” says Alex Bourassa, President North America Accessibility at Savaria, a leading supplier of residential and accessibility elevators, wheelchair lifts, stairlifts, and patient care solutions. “But what if we could give you lifts that are just as beautiful as the buildings that house them?”

Bourassa cites two projects as examples of accessibility that takes center stage in beautiful and sustainable building design.

Zuma New York, a celebrity-favorite restaurant on Madison Avenue by GKV Architects, features a Savaria Orion LU/LA. The glass-and-steel elevator housed in a custom glass hoistway was installed by Mobility Elevator & Lift in full view to diners to provide a perfect touch of industrial chic to the two-story Manhattan hotspot. And a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston by Ennead Architects and Studio Red Architects includes a Savaria Prestige glass vertical platform lift by 101 Mobility Houston. There, it takes pride of place in the revamped theater lobby.

A wheelchair lift in a custom color, like this Savaria V-1504 vertical platform lift installed by Raymond C. Maule and Son in “Planet Fitness Purple,” can emphasize corporate branding and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
A wheelchair lift in a custom color, like this Savaria V-1504 vertical platform lift installed by Raymond C. Maule and Son in “Planet Fitness Purple,” can emphasize corporate branding and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.

“We’ve done lifts with custom paint jobs to match corporate branding, some really fun ones painted to fit into wall murals at daycare centers, and so on,” says Bourassa. “The only real limits are code and budget. Other than that, we can get super creative to fit your vision.”

From sleek glass-and-stainless-steel machines to custom paint jobs that match corporate branding, the only limit is the imagination.

“Accessibility lifts have to be safe and totally reliable and meet code. But after that, we can have a lot of fun with aesthetics,” says Bourassa. “If you want a standard lift, we’ll give you a standard lift. But if you want to create a truly welcoming public space that’s accessible, sustainable, and beautiful all at the same time, we can help make that a reality, too.”

Learn more about beautiful accessibility from Savaria.