A.M.E. Research Building, Florida State University

Issue: Vertical Accessibility to the all levels in a seminar room/auditorium within a new building

Analysis: The applicant is requesting a waiver of providing vertical accessibility to all levels of seating in seminar room 106, in this is a new building. The proposed A.M.E research building consists of a two story 60,337 SF institution building on the FSU campus. The owner proposes to provide all accessible seating at the front and back of the auditorium. The laboratory also provides office space for the administration and faculty. Total cost for this project is estimated at $20,084,073.00.

Project Progress:

The project is under plan review.

Items to be Waived: Vertical accessibility to any and all levels of seating as required by Section 553.509, Florida Statutes.

553.509 - Vertical accessibility. Nothing in Sections 553.501-553.513 or the guidelines shall be construed to relieve the owner of any building, structure or facility governed by those sections from the duty to provide vertical accessibility to all levels above and below the occupiable grade level regardless of whether the guidelines require an elevator to be install in such building, structure or facility, except for:

(1) Elevator pits, elevator penthouses, mechanical rooms, piping or equipment catwalks and automobile lubrication and maintenance pits and platforms;

(2) Unoccupiable spaces, such as rooms, enclosed spaces and storage spaces that are not designed for human occupancy, for public accommodations or for work areas; and

(3) Occupiable spaces and rooms that are not open to the public and that house no more than five persons, including but not limited to equipment control rooms and projection booths.

Waiver Criteria: There is no specific guidance for a waiver of this requirement in the code. The Commission’s current rule, authorized in Section 553.512, Florida Statutes, provides criteria for granting waivers and allows consideration of unnecessary or extreme hardship to the applicant if the specific requirements were imposed.