Seems like there is a buzz in Shorewood about making some large statement type changes. Downtown Shorewood is taking on a new look, SHS is getting thousands of dollars worth of makeover, a new park is being planned around Atwater beach and the beloved spork has been replaced by real flatware at one elementary school that I know of.
As a person who is experiencing daily, the effects of the last big wing dig over at Lake Bluff, may I offer some suggestions for planners to consider as they flip through the color samples and hardware options?
1. Consider the client. Now, most elementary schools are staffed with women. The average height is probably about 5’6, weight maybe 135. If you install cabinets, measure the distance between the top surface of the cabinet to ensure that someone can actually reach across said cabinet to lets say, open the windows. Many teachers have to climb up on top of the cabinets in order to open the windows when it starts getting hot and the air conditioning is…oh that’s right there is no air conditioning at the elementary schools.
Also, imagine standing just slightly beyond arms reach of a very, very heavy and hard to push window. You have to lean forward, so the cabinet edge pushes into your ribcage as you get on your tiptoes. You set your elbows hard on the surface so as you curl your fingers under and try to lift, you don’t pull any arm muscles. This is probably no problem to people the height of the installers, however.
2. If you insist on making windows that lock, make the locks workable. Many of us have to use pliers to squeeze the locking part open, or push up the locking piece with a crowbar, or hammer claw. It gets to the point where it’s easier to just push the windows almost closed so you don’t have to fight with a piece of metal for 10 minutes when you should be getting things ready for the students.
3. If you are going to install electrical outlets, don’t put them on the baseboard under cabinets that you need to open and close. Unless you use all your electrical items actually on the floor, the cord has to stretch from the surface of the counter, straight down the front of the cabinet door, making it impossible to use something that plugs in and open a cabinet at the same time.
4. If you are going to have windows installed, get them to fit so the sound of whistling wind isn’t louder than the little kid trying to read in front of the class for the first time. While it adds a nice scary touch at Halloween, it is extremely annoying during the rest of the year.
5. If you are going to use shades on your windows, don’t. I can’t imagine how much of the payroll goes to people repairing or replacing shades that don’t work. Better to just tint all the windows and be done with it.
6. If you are planning of children making use of your new structure, put sinks, paper towel and soap at a height anyone can use them. It’s easier for taller people to bend than short people to try to come up with artificial height.
7. Kids can’t flush toilets with the metal pushers. They aren’t strong enough, or they don’t want to reach over the toilet to do it. They are afraid they’ll fall in. They also need locks they can work, but stall doors short enough they can crawl under. Their fear of someone seeing them is almost as great as the fear of being trapped with nothing but a toilet and paper dispenser to live on until someone notices they are gone, which they think will be never.
While schools are set up great for adults, if there was an OSHA for kids, heads would be rolling. Whatever is conceived of and executed in attempts to improve Shorewood, please have designers, architects and builders willing to make it work while on their knees. If they can’t reach, pull, push, open, start or turn off something, the chances are good half the community won’t be able to either.
Just a little something to consider as we begin work on the silk purse that will be Shorewood.
