Date of Award

5-2019

Document Type

Thesis open access

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Richard Reed

Second Advisor

Alfred Montoya

Abstract

Trinity University’s San Antonio campus is nationally renowned for its unique architectural design. Created by lead architect O’Neil Ford during the 1950s, its red-brick buildings often deploy the lift-slab method, at the time done for cost-saving purposes. More importantly embody Ford’s philosophy of incorporating architecture into the natural landscape. These buildings now bear national recognition from the Texas Historic Commission, and their pattern of design is reiterated in the campus’ newer buildings as well. Yet, as a campus constructed before the implementation of legislation such as the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, university facilities face issues with accessibility. Trinity’s campus was born out of an aesthetic-first design process, which concerned itself with buildings’ appearances, rather than their function. Before the campus can truly approach accessibility in a meaningful way, it must re-imagine itself, and engage with accommodation-first architecture.

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