The Human Kinetics Building has undergone a major upgrade featuring a new front entrance designed to be welcoming and accessible.

The new entrance, which had its grand opening Monday, was constructed using universal design principles, prioritizing equity and human diversity, ensuring the space meets the needs of as many people as possible.

“When you make your spaces accessible for everyone, it communicates that you’re welcome here, we were expecting you, and we want you here,” said Cherie Gagnon, accessibility manager in the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility, who helped lead the project.

“It is the first way that we communicate to people that they belong on our campus.”

The new space, which had its grand opening Monday, boasts a long ramp built with a gentle slope, resting areas with benches, recessed lighting, light posts, and a snow-melting system to keep it safe in the winter. It also includes stairs running through the middle of the entrance, offering autonomy and choice.

This new entrance has been years in the making, said kinesiology department head Jess Dixon.

It was brought to fruition with the help of a $722,800 grant from the Employment and Social Development Department of the Government of Canada through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, for which only a handful of projects across the country were selected. OHREA, Facilities Services, the Accessible Built Environment Committee, and human kinetics faculty helped get the project across the finish line with support from the community.

The total cost of the project was about $2 million.

“I'm very thankful that we were successful with that application, and the University came on board to pick up the balance of the cost of the project,” Dr. Dixon said. “And here we are, with this fancy new entrance to our facilities.”

Before the new entryway, the building had two accessible routes, but neither allowed for independence. People had to use a lift, navigate through an elevator and office space, or rely on someone with key access to use the elevator from the lower level.

“We have to think about how bodies move through space,” Gagnon noted. “When people meet or connect, it’s important they’re visible to others, so we emphasized using shared common areas. Even in the entryway, when people come and go, these casual interactions and ‘water cooler’ conversations are important.”

The new entrance aims to break down these types of barriers and unify the space, upgrading and enhancing the building’s aesthetics in the process.

“People are excited,” said Dixon. “I’ve been associated with the University of Windsor for nearly 25 years, first as a student and now faculty member, and I think it’s given the front of our building a facelift that brought us into the 21st century. I think it makes us a more welcoming place for all people to come and enjoy the activities and the programming that we have available to them.”