Cover Story The Ins and Outs of Door Automation Capabilities with customization By Lori Bedard hile automatic door accessibility in healthcare facilities is now the rule rather than the exception, other types of buildings are also increasingly more likely to employ automatic entrances. Due to growing demand for such automation, architects often seek complete customization capabilities as a better solution for practical and esthetic design challenges, as well as meeting ever-changing building code requirements. Elevating accessibility For general accessibility, elevators are typically controlled by three types of buttons. Just outside the elevator are relatively small ‘up’ and ‘down’ hall buttons at each stop. When the button is pressed at a certain floor, the elevator picks up passengers at that location. W Inside the elevator cab, call buttons (also usually very small) are pressed to choose a floor. Finally, an alarm button or switch is also inside the cab—passengers can use it to signal an emergency. Although a simple setup, it can be complicated for those with physical restrictions. To address a very unique and specific challenge, highly specialized custom elevator activation switches are featured in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)—the new home of the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD). Pictured on the cover, this interdisciplinary research centre focuses on developing effective strategies to provide functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Its mission is to give mobility and access control back to people with SCI.1 52 July 2009 Construction Canada CC_JulAug09.indd 52 6/24/09 2:13:43 PM Photo courtesy Delicious Photography of Vancouver