Built Environment Accessibility Audit for a 600,000 Sq Ft Provincial Facility
600,000 square feet. Two standards — AODA and CSA B651-23 — applied simultaneously. And a recurring tension between security requirements and accessible design.
Project Overview
A provincial government forensic science facility — 600,000 square feet of laboratories, administrative offices, and public-facing areas — engaged Accessibility Partners for a comprehensive built environment assessment. The facility required assessment against both AODA and CSA B651-23, the Canadian standard for accessible design of the built environment.
The Security vs. Accessible Design Challenge
Forensic science facilities introduce a complication that most built environment assessments do not encounter: security. Controlled access points, secure entry systems, restricted zones, and specialised laboratory environments create potential accessibility barriers that cannot simply be removed without affecting the facility’s security posture. The assessment needed to identify barriers and recommend solutions that worked within both frameworks simultaneously.
Our CSA B651-23 & AODA Audit Approach
We conducted a thorough on-site assessment across the entire facility, covering parking, exterior pathways, entrances and vestibules, interior circulation routes, washrooms, kitchens and break areas, handrails and stairways, elevators, and security and access control systems.
Each area was assessed against both AODA and CSA B651-23, with findings documented to show which standard each issue related to. Where security and accessibility requirements came into tension, we provided specific recommendations that addressed the accessibility barrier without compromising the security function.
We delivered a prioritised remediation roadmap organised by three dimensions: urgency, user impact, and implementation complexity — giving facilities management a practical basis for sequencing the work.
Project Snapshot
Industry
Provincial Government
Location
Ontario, Canada
Compliance Standard
AODA
Key Result
600,000 sq ft · 2 standards
Built Environment Audit Results
Services Used
Legislation: AODA
Talk to Us About Complex Facilities
Every engagement we take on is led by a credentialed senior consultant — not delegated to junior staff after the proposal is signed. We hold Government of Canada Standing Offer #1 national ranking, $5M errors and omissions insurance, and twelve years of experience across federal, provincial, municipal, and private-sector clients.
If your facility has competing requirements — security, laboratory safety, restricted access — that make standard accessibility solutions insufficient, we would welcome the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is CSA B651-23 and how does it differ from AODA built environment requirements?
CSA B651-23 is a Canadian accessibility design standard that provides detailed technical guidance beyond some AODA requirements.
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How do you balance security requirements with accessible design in a government facility?
We recommend solutions that improve accessibility while maintaining necessary security controls and operational requirements.
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How is a remediation roadmap prioritised for a facility as large as 600,000 square feet?
Priorities are usually based on urgency, user impact, and implementation complexity.
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What areas of a government facility does a built environment accessibility audit cover?
Audits commonly include parking, entrances, pathways, washrooms, elevators, circulation routes, signage, and security systems.