Our architects thrive on applying design thinking and creative problem-solving to the challenges of accessibility and inclusion in public and private buildings. Our work is user-centered, anticipating and celebrating the diversity of human age, ability, and culture. We combine an unmatched depth of code knowledge with an uncompromising zeal for inclusive design strategies in service of a more equitable built environment.
KMA Representative Projects
Day House Accessible Entrance
Client: Norwood Historical Society
Location: Norwood, MA
The Norwood Historical Society (NHS) “collects and preserves objects, artifacts, documents, photographs, and memorabilia related to Norwood’s history” – including its headquarters, the F. Holland Day House. The House, built in 1859 in the Second Empire Style and radically transformed in the 1890s to its current Tudor style, was home to influential photographer, publisher, and philanthropist Fred Holland Day. Mr. Day bequeathed the house to NHS upon his death in 1933 and it has been open to the public ever since.
KMA was hired by NHS to make the entrance to the Day House accessible for the first time in its nearly ninety years as a public building. KMA’s challenge was to design an accessible entrance in harmony with the traditional and historic elements of the house, which is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The team designed an accessible route from the sidewalk to the house by proposing a bluestone walkway leading to a terrazzo ramp constructed within the footprint of the existing wrap-around porch. By remaining subservient to the original massing of the porch, the ramp design provides seamless access to the building without adversely affecting historic character defining features.
Photo by Jarred Stanley
First Church Somerville Accessible Chancel
Client: First Church Somerville UUC
Location: Somerville, MA
First Church Somerville is an Open and Affirming Congregation dedicated to the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in all aspects of its community life and leadership. The church engaged KMA to create accessible, barrier-free access to its chancel, previously only accessible by stairs.
KMA’s design replaced the existing stair with a central cascading stair flanked by gently sloping ramps. These ramps were strategically placed to preserve the symmetry, sightlines, and visual flow of the space. The chancel’s height was also lowered to foster a closer connection between the congregation and service leaders, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The thoughtful design seamlessly integrates accessibility into the space, meeting all requirements while maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of the chancel. The project embodies the church’s commitment to inclusion, ensuring all members of the community can fully participate in spiritual and cultural activities.
Stone Center Accessible Entrance
Client: Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College is a private liberal arts institution for women, boasting a stunning and diverse 500-acre campus with open meadows, wooded hills, and a private lake, all of which support the founders’ ideals that women should learn in the midst of beauty. Dating to 1870 and given its current form by the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. in 1902, the hilly campus and its many historic buildings present multiple challenges to accessibility. The college’s Office of Planning, Design, and Construction has partnered with KMA since 2017 in an ongoing effort to address these challenges.
The historic Stone Center – which houses the college’s counseling service – is a former Tudor-style residence that features a large, covered entrance porch with exterior wood stairs. KMA’s team redesigned the entrance so the existing porch was extended with new stairs, creating a space for a gently sloping concreate walkway that approaches from the building’s accessible parking. Integrating it with strategic landscaping improved the overall aesthetic and makes the walkway blend seamlessly into the campus grounds.
Photo by Jarred Stanley
Keohane Pool Spectator Seating
Client: Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College is a private liberal arts institution for women, with its current form designed in 1902 by landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. It boasts a stunning 500-acre campus with open meadows, wooded hills, and a private lake. KMA has been a key partner to Wellesley College’s Campus Planning and Facilities Department for nearly a decade, serving as Architect of Record on some design projects while helping address various accessibility challenges of the hilly campus and its many historic buildings.
The college’s Keohane Poll was built in the 1980s, before the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) began requiring new facilities to meet accessibility standards. Very much an artifact of its era, the building features clerestory lights illuminating the large interior volume, which is given shape by strong geometric forms adorned with painted metal rails and glossy ceramic tile. The mezzanine was already served by an elevator, but the bleachers were then down several steps from the elevator landing and lacked wheelchair seating.
KMA was tasked with improving accessibility in the mezzanine while maintaining the original intent. The design team replaced the stairs with a ramp in the same location, matching the distinctive 1980s material choices of the original design, and created two platforms for wheelchair spaces plus room for companion seats. The platforms, which are wholly integrated into the existing bleacher seating, feature tempered glass guard rails to ensure clear sight lines.to the competition area while also preserving the overall quality of light in the space and echoing the strong, geometric volumes of the remainder of the space.
Photo by Jarred Stanley
Light Hall, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
KMA is developing a concept design and feasibility study for single-room-occupancy residences to be leased by the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA). Originally built as apartments, this 19th century building was built before there were any accessible design requirements. Now it is owned by Northeastern University and currently used as a dormitory. KMA will assist Northeastern in defining cost and feasibility of the necessary access and safety upgrades to enable it to lease two floors to for MAHA’s SROs.
6 Blanchard Rd., Cambridge, MA
KMA is modifying the master bath for a couple who want to continue living in their single-story 1950’s ranch house overlooking a golf course. They already have aides helping the spouse whose increasing dementia and a growing loss of dexterity and mobility require more care. Anticipating more functional changes and the need for additional space for an assistant, the couple moved to their summer home, while modifications were made. To minimize confusion on their return, KMA designed adaptability features without substantially changing the master bath’s layout or “look-and-feel.” Keeping the toilet, sink, and bath in the same general locations, KMA specified blocking behind all of the walls so that grab bars can be added, space for a transfer tub seat, and additional heat sources. They kept two vanities, but made new ones removable so that one can easily be removed to make more space for an aide to assist with bathing and dressing. Working with the Corian manufacturer, KMA designed hand holds built into the counters surrounding the sinks. The mirror remains in its same location, but lighting is enhanced with hard-wired motion sensor foot lamps, and finishes are in contrasting colors to help distinguish horizontal and vertical planes. The cork floor was replaced with a floor of the same color, but it easily washable and non-slip. KMA designed built-in storage so that equipment and supplies are readily available for the home health aides.
Ecologic, Cambridge, MA.
Ecologic is an international not-for-profit development fund supporting sustainable agriculture patterns throughout Latin America. Because Ecologic’s employees often travel to-and-from Latin America, they wanted their new workspace to be flexible and offer multiple ad hoc spaces for collaboration. Because the new space has limited natural light, the design needed to capitalized on the available light and views afforded in the space. In addition to flexibility, Ecologic wanted the space to be intuitive, with plenty of maneuvering space and workstations that allow for a variety of workstyle preferences. This translated into half-height walls with integrated storage and adjustable-height work locations for sitting and standing users.
