The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center becomes the second building in the U.S. to achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Gold Rating
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University is the second building in the U.S. to achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Gold Rating. RHFAC measures and certifies the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites beyond building code and is based upon the holistic user experience of people with varying disabilities.
The Harkin Institute and the Rick Hansen Foundation have recently committed to collaborating together in the U.S. to work toward a shared goal of a society in which people with disabilities can participate fully in the places people live, work, learn, and play.
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa, is home for The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement. Our design team worked with Sen. Harkin, the Harkin Institute, Drake University, and the Harkin Institute’s People with Disabilities Core Advisory Committee to evaluate inclusive design principles in response to barriers that individuals still encounter within built environments each day. The building embodies a gracious spirit of place and was designed to elevate the Harkin Institute’s mission and reflect its values as a model of innovation for inclusive, accessible workplaces. Inclusive design strategies throughout the building focus on providing all users and visitors with generous space, equitable experiences, clear paths, and individual empowerment.