Description:
The building will be five private individual artist studios, restrooms and a shared lounge, housed in two small buildings made from shipping containers. One art studio (640sf each) will be on the second floor of each building, so two of the five currently require us to provide vertical accessibility. The total square footage of second floor studio space is 1280, 44% of the total square footage.
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Summary:
Our construction costs are based on a proposals and estimates from Hudd Construction, Inc, 101 Mobility and Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation. This project is made up of work spaces, it is low cost but durable interior finish; basic not luxury, raw not polished.
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*Briefly explain why the request has now been referred to the Commission.
The City of Gainesville building department has stated that this project must include a commercial elevator in each of the buildings. Each elevator will serve one studio of 640 square feet. The CBO at the City of Gainesville recommended that, because he could not waive this requirement, we should apply for a waiver.
Need Additional Space
Issue 1:
Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms
Minimum height in parking structures
Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility
Toilet rooms
Private
Other
City of Gainesville Chief Building Officer has cited Florida Building Code 5th Edition (2014) Accessibility, Chapter 2, section 201.1.1 Vertical accessibility, stating that the art studio spaces on the second floor of this project do not meet any of the vertical accessibility exceptions provided. Further, 206.2.3 Multi-Story Buildings and Facilities states that, "At least one accessible route shall connect each story and mezzanine in multi-story buildings and facilities." See additional documents for more information.
Need Additional Space
Issue 2:
Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms
Minimum height in parking structures
Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility
Toilet rooms
Private
Other
Need Additional Space
Issue 3:
Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms
Minimum height in parking structures
Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility
Toilet rooms
Private
Other
Need Additional Space
NOTE:**
This is a unique project, not only because of its construction material, shipping containers, but because it is as much a site based sculpture as it is a building. The configuration of the overlapping and hinging containers among the trees in the site creates a purposeful spatial composition that satisfies the requirements for art studios while also being art. Having second floor spaces is necessary for this design to work. Being required to provide a full commercial elevator for this construction is too costly. If this waiver is not granted the owner will be forced to remove the second floor containers leaving the project incomplete in concept and reality. Neither disabled nor non-disabled tenants and patrons will enjoy the experience offered by this project.
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In an effort to complete this design we explored vertical lift options. ThyssenKrupp elevator estimated cost of elevators equipment excluding shaft construction to be $52,313.00. Installation for each second story unit proposed by Hudd Construction would be $110,391.00 per building (over $220,000) increasing our construction costs by almost double. We have obtained an estimate for a platform lift which meets the requirements of the accessibility code where allowed. According to an estimate from 101 Mobility, this equipment costs $15,737.35 for lift and total cost for two units installed would cost over $50,000 (25,921.00 per building). Both options would make these units unaffordable to us initially as well as unaffordable to our future tenants who are in need of affordable studio space.
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Comments:
I have prepared this application for Waiver and I support the contents as stated. I also, guarantee the implementation of the Board's decision regarding this waiver.
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