Una COSA Por Todos is a competition entry for the City Hall for All Accessibility Competition in San Antonio.
San Antonio City Hall, a beautiful example of Classical Renaissance Revival, is a treasure of San Antonio's architectural legacy. However, its monumental approach does not work for all. More than seven vertical feet separate the main entry doors from the sidewalk below, creating a difficult or impossible journey for the elderly, injured and disabled visitors to City Hall.
UnaCOSA celebrates universal accessibility as a design approach that focuses on eliminating barriers for all, both visual and accessible. All slopes on the regraded site are under 5%, eliminating landing requirements. Deep ledges are employed to eliminate guardrail requirements. A gracious 6 inch riser over 15 inch run is utilized to aid those with difficulty in climbing stairs.
The removal of these obstructions allows the beautiful stone walls, trees and landscaping, and the building itself to come to the foreground. Where landings are provided, it is to enhance the historical architectural approach. Where a handrail or guardrail is required, existing details are replicated to pass down the knowledge and craft of the talented artisans who created the work.
Project Team: Jeremy Jaramillo, Clayton Holmes