A Day In The Life . . .
Rochester Community and Technical College
A Day in the Life of an Intern at Urban Design Perspective
My first official day at Urban Design Perspective was far from ordinary, and I wouldn't have it any other way. For an unconventional intern like me, it felt like a dream come true. Picture this: a road trip to Rochester, catching the morning sunrise on an open road, and sharing a wonderful bonding experience with my inspirational boss. Our morning was filled with heartfelt conversations, plenty of laughter, and even some hair and skincare secrets exchanged. It was an overall beautiful vibe that set the tone for an exciting journey ahead.
Once we reached Rochester Community and Technical College, it was time for me to get focused. We were there for a Facility Assessment visit with the Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX teams, which initially sounded quite daunting. However, after going through the details, it started to feel more like we were contracted investigators on a mission to ensure compliance with ADA standards. Since this was a public building, it was essential to meet the needs of all students.
Upon our arrival, the campus struck us as beautiful, with its historic buildings and lush greenery. We began by carefully reviewing the maps to determine the best starting point and how to navigate the site efficiently. As we made our way through each building, my role was to take photographs and gather measurements. I found that, at times, a traditional tape measure is more dependable than the fancy digital ones, although I still lean toward the latter.
I gained valuable insights into what qualifies as ADA compliant. For instance, if an object is protruding from the wall without being anchored to the floor, a visually impaired person might not detect it with their walking cane. It’s both simple and mind-boggling how often such details are overlooked! Able-bodied individuals tend to unconsciously center their experiences around themselves, but thankfully, designers are advocating for universal design principles. Thoughtfully designed spaces enhance the overall experience for everyone.
An interesting moment occurred in the ladies’ restroom when we spotted water bottles beneath almost every sink. Noticing the large Muslim, Somali population here, we felt comfortable leaving those plastic bottles right where they were, as they are likely used for cleansing. This observation underscores the necessity for foot washing stations and bidets. We wrapped up our visit by tallying the number of ADA parking spots allocated in each parking lot.
After our visit wrapped up, we were pretty hungry, so we stopped by a sushi restaurant for lunch. We also picked up some Yemeni tea and hit the road back to Minneapolis. On the drive home, we reflected on our visit and discussed the next steps for our report. We had a great time bonding on the way back, and that, my friends, sums up my first official day at Urban Design Perspective.
