Page 32 - School Planning & Management, May 2017

FACILITIES RETHINKING RESTROOM, SHOWER ROOM AND LOCKER ROOM DESIGN
and look over,” says Wroble. Yet, this in itself can create a security concern in terms of drawing inappropriate behavior.
“Sometimes creating greater privacy creates a security or safety issue at the same time,” Wroble admits. “I think that, as more school districts implement different policies, we’ll see how it shakes out.”
On the other hand, offering greater privacy may not create
a safety challenge, but may promote safety. “Having a sense of privacy gives people a feeling of safety,” says Cyrus D. Boatwalla, director of marketing for Yonkers, N.Y.-based ASI Group. “I do ap- preciate school administrators wanting to be able to see to prevent untoward behavior. In a sense, that’s more of a discipline issue than a safety issue.”
Student Comfort and Privacy
What’s happening in terms of student comfort and privacy in the design of restrooms, shower rooms and locker rooms is that there’s an increased need for privacy. “Students today expect more privacy than past decades, especially when showering,” confirms Ferking. Both administrators and architects want students to feel comfortable regardless of which restroom, locker room or shower
room they’re using. In addition to using zero sightline, taller parti- tions in restrooms, as mentioned above, here are a couple other tactics they’re using.
First, individual shower stalls are being provided that are large enough for students to disrobe, shower, dry off and get dressed without having to walk through the locker room in a towel. “There are no sight lines or gaps, and students feel comfortable doing what they need to do in that space,” says Wroble. “The need for privacy in showering and changing is the biggest change I’ve seen in locker room design.”
Second, changing areas in locker rooms are becoming com- monplace in both athletic and PE locker rooms. “There’s more awareness for students’ need for privacy if they want it,” says Wroble. “Providing the opportunity is becoming important.”
Gender Inclusive Spaces
Another consideration in the rethinking of restroom design spe- cifically is gender inclusivity. “This has been a social question that has come to the forefront and has legal challenges,” says Wroble.
Indeed, providing gender-inclusive restrooms is still in flux on the legal front. There was guidance from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in May 2016 that interpreted “sex” under Title IX to mean gender orientation and the mandating of schools to accommodate transgender requests. “But the new federal administration has called back that guidance to study it and make a decision if it’s even an issue the federal government needs to address or if the states should wrangle with it as far as what’s appropriate in their jurisdictions,” says Katie Anderson, an attorney with Dallas- based Strasburger & Price, LLP. “We have no reason to believe that accommodating transgender students will be required under this administration, and it will take years for the situation to be resolved, as I don’t see any shortcuts.”
In the meantime, a change from traditional school restroom design requires new design consideration. At this point, neither administrators nor architects have quick or easy answers. “How- ever, if we present the issue and give them the tools and have a conversation with all restroom users, they’ll come up with the best
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