I-17: Universal Access – Above Green

The intent of this Imperative is to allow equitable access to, and protections from negative

impacts resulting from the development of, Living Building projects.

All projects must make all primary transportation, roads and non-building infrastructure that

are considered externally focused (e.g. plazas, seating or park space) equally accessible to all

members of the public regardless of background, age and socioeconomic class—including the

homeless—with reasonable steps taken to ensure that all people can benefit from the project’s

creation.

Projects in Transects L3-L6 (except single-family residences) must provide for and enhance

the public realm through design measures and features that are accessible to all members of

society, such as street furniture, public art, gardens, and benches.

All projects must safeguard access for those with physical disabilities through designs meeting

either the Principles of Universal design (United States Access Board), the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Guidelines, or

international equivalent.

No project may block access to, nor diminish the quality of, fresh air, sunlight, and natural

waterways for any member of society or adjacent developments. Projects must also

appropriately address any noise audible to the public.

Fresh Air: Projects must protect adjacent property from any noxious emissions that would compromise its ability to use natural ventilation. All operational emissions must be free of Red List items, persistent bioaccumulative toxicants, and known or suspect carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic chemicals.
Sunlight: Projects may not block sunlight to adjacent building facades and rooftops above a maximum height allotted for the Transect. The project may not shade the roof of an adjacent building, unless that building was built to a lesser density than acceptable for the Transect.
Natural Waterways: Projects may not restrict access to the edge of any natural waterway, except where such access can be proven to be a hazard to public safety or would severely compromise the function of the project. No project may assume ownership of water contained in these bodies or compromise the quality of water that flows downstream. If the project’s boundary is more than sixty meters long parallel to the edge of the waterway, it must incorporate and maintain an access path to the waterway from the most convenient public right-of-way.