Bad Designs on Campus - Submission
Slip & Slide Walkway
Problem description: The walkway leading from the street down to the EECS building is steep. In the winter, this is going to be a very bad hazard – all it would take is a little bit of ice for someone to fall, and they could slide quite some distance down the walkway. Even in good weather, walking on a downward slope takes a great deal of control to avoid falling. This can be difficult when a person is carrying books.
Proposed solution:There are several possible solutions. One would be to build an entrance on the second floor of the EECS building, with an elevated walkway on a more gentle slope, leading to that entrance. This could also shield the lower walkway to the first floor from the elements, making it less likely to accumulate slippery precipitation products such as snow and ice. Then, the lower walkway could be re-designed to include stairs instead of a steep slope. Someone who is able-bodied could easily walk up or down the stairs to enter the building on the first floor, while someone whose mobility is impaired could use the second-floor entrance.
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