Winchester City Council has demonstrated its continued commitment to go above and beyond, in providing five highly specified Changing Places bathrooms in its recently opened Winchester Sports and Leisure Park.
Pressalit, the leading Scandinavian manufacturer of accessible bathroom solutions, was asked to specify a range of state-of-the-art products for each of the bathrooms that would suit both adults and children in a multi-user, public environment.
Working closely with LA Architects, Pressalit responded to the Council’s desire to provide enhanced facilities for members of the community with disabilities. For example, three of the five bathrooms benefit from the Pressalit electrically powered height adjustable toilet, exceeding even the recommendations in the British Standard.
In addition to the toilet lifters, all five Changing Places facilities include Pressalit’s electrically powered height adjustable Matrix Medium wash basin, their award-winning height adjustable Shower Change Table 3000, as well as drop down hinged support arms and grab rails.
Cubicles in a number of other communal accessible changing areas also include Pressalit’s height adjustable shower seat, along with additional support arms and grab rails.
Winchester Sports and Leisure Park, which opened in May, includes the brand new state-of-the-art Pinder Hydrotherapy Pool, which is directly supported by two of the five fully equipped Changing Places rooms.
Adam Southcott, from Pressalit UK, explains that working with LA Architects on behalf of Winchester City Council has been a real opportunity to develop not just one, but five best in class Changing Places facilities.
He says, “The inclusion of electrically powered height adjustable bathroom solutions, sends out a clear message that the leisure centre is there for all members of the community, providing a safe and secure environment for changing before and after using the leisure centre facilities.
“The bathroom appliances chosen will enhance the experience of visiting the leisure centre for those with disabilities and also, importantly, their carers, as the products can easily be adjusted to suit individual needs. Contemporary lime green also blends perfectly with the centre’s colour scheme.
“I am delighted that the Council recognised the benefits and invested in them. This is an important new facility for the residents of Winchester, its district, and the wider county of Hampshire.”
Peter Joyce, Inclusive Design Advisor at LA Architects, says, “At LA, we always look to go beyond just complying with the minimums of regulations or accepting the norms. When it comes to the importance of inclusivity, we endeavour to deliver a better design and way of living for human dignity and enablement.”
Winchester Sports and Leisure Park is managed and operated by leisure centre company, Everyone Active. Pressalit has provided training to all duty managers on the new products.
Set within a sports parkland, the new centre replaces a 40-year-old facility, and includes an 8 lane 50m pool, 20 m teaching pool, multipurpose sports hall and climbing facility, squash courts and fitness suite.
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