Lida Lewis
PASSIONATE DESIGNER
EDUCATOR | THOUGHT LEADER
Restroom of the Future Design Competition
I was pleased to win this contest to design the restroom of the future, in which I took the opportunity to expand on a number of my interests in wellbeing design and diversity+inclusion thinking.
​
Interiors + Sources Magazine and Sloan held a contest to design the Restroom of the Future, providing a floorplan and the following design direction:
ANY PLACE University (APU) would like to redesign its existing male-female restrooms to include a futuristic restroom configuration which takes into account the trends, laws, and water restrictions that are likely to be a design concern in the year 2030 and beyond. The original restrooms, built in 1990, exist with the below footprint. Design a space that utilizes updated aesthetics, technology, and products. Consider the impact of space and privacy as well as the need for the restroom(s) to be available during high-traffic periods such as between classes or during intermission of APU’s student activities and athletics.
​
*Note: Fixtures can change in location and number. Interior walls can be removed or added as long as the overall footprint does not change. Do not remove outer walls or support beams.
​
Design the APU restroom utilizing the existing footprint. Piping can be re-routed. The design should take into consideration:
​
-
High traffic
-
The need for privacy
-
Water conservation
-
Energy savings
-
Waste reduction
-
Cleanliness/hygiene
-
Codes and regulations under which universities fall, including the Americans with Disabilities Act
-
Updated aesthetic
I saw this as an opportunity to redesign the standard side-by-side men's and women's restrooms to meet a myriad of cultural, gender, and identity needs for the occupant profile common to universities, but also the populous at large as our worldwide demographic profile becomes ever more diverse and inclusive.
All stalls are sized to accommodate ambulatory access, and are provided with horizontal
(and vertical, where appropriate) grab bars to maximize access. Stall latch hardware is
operable without the use of pinching, turning, or grasping of the latch. Physical access to
the restroom facility is also enhanced by the provision of a simple open doorway, rather
than a typical latched door.
Code Compliance
physical accomodations
The design of the restroom includees accomodations both for personal, and facility hygiene. The provision of health faucet sprays at each stall provide access to water for personal hygiene or for cleaning restroom stalls. Floors in the stalls are sloped (~2% angle) toward the rear of the stall toward a continuous trench drain for water disbursement when using this spray or in the event of a clogged fixture.
The flooring and rear fixture wall surface in the stalls, and the low partition surrounding the sinks, consist of large (~3m x 10m) sheets of porcelain tile panels. These slip coefficient compliant panels minimize grout lines for maximum cleanliness and ease of maintenance.
The provision of paper towels for hand drying minimizes the spread of infectious materials. They are provided individually at each sink station, as well as a trash receptacle and soap dispenser, to minimize the occurrence of dripped water or soap, or abandoned towels from hand washing.