DESIGN REPORT
1.4 The Client
1.4.4 Accommodation Schedule
The schedule of accommodation was derived from interviews with teachers of children who have ASD's, as well as through various international precedent of similar facilities. The schedule of accommodation on the following pages lists in detail the spaces to be provided, the size of the spaces and the specific requirements of each space.
Function Room
Description
Activities/functions No. Size Total Area
Specific Requireme nts
Entrance Foyer/
Reception
Point of arrival, includes reception and waiting area
1 120 120
120 Administration Principal's
Office
1 26 26 Enclosed
office with ample space for storage and meetings.
Finance Office 1 14 14 Enclosed
office with an installed safe.
Interview/Scree ning room
Room where children can be assessed and their parents interviewed before enrolment in the centre.
1 16 16
File Room Storage room for all school records and files
1 12 12 Requires
Security, linked to principal's office.
Copy Room Photocopier and printer room.
1 9 9
Meeting Room Staff and business meeting room
1 18 18 6 seater
Staff Room For teaching and 1 90 90
91 administration staff, includes lounge area and kitchenette.
Storage Rooms 2 9 18
Sick Room 1 18 18 2 x bed for
sick children.
Linked to nurses office Nurses Office For consultations
with parents.
1 12 12
233 Teaching Classrooms Includes transitional
space, group activity area, individual workstation area, time out area, office, toilet and kitchenette.
12 140 1680 4
Classrooms per age group: 4, 5- 6years and 7-8years.
Computer Room 3 30 90 Space for 7
x computer workstation s, includes store room.
Time Out Rooms
An enclosed room separate from the classrooms where teachers can remove distressed children.
3 9 27 Minimal
stimuli, small and enclosed.
Library For children's use, includes stack area, reading areas, librarian office and store room.
1 100 100
1897 Therapy Physical therapy
centre
For physical therapy improving children's gross motor skills.
1 210 210 Includes
gymnasium, change rooms, offices and store room.
Speech Therapy Centre
Dealing with children's specific communication issues.
1 80 80 Includes
consultation rooms, group therapy room and store rooms Occupational
Therapy Centre
Occupational therapy room dealing with children's fine motor skills
1 82 82 Includes
therapy room, offices and store rooms Play Therapy Play therapy used to 1 60 60 Includes
92 Centre enhance children's
social and
imagination skills.
consultation rooms and store room Sensory
Integration Therapy
Sensory therapy which arouses and calms the various senses to teach children to deal with stimuli in a more adaptive manner.
1 40 40 Sensory
room and sensory pods
Hydro Therapy Centre
Provides physical, tactile, social, cognitive and recreational therapy.
1 275 275 Indoor
shallow heated pool and outdoor deep lap pool.
Change rooms to double up with gym.
Additional sensory technology of sound and lights.
Enclosed space Provides a dark enclosed space which children with ASD enjoy and feel safe in.
1 60 60 Minimal
natural light
807 Medical GP doctor's
rooms
Doctor's rooms providing treatment and diagnosis by doctors who are trained to deal with the difficulties of children with ASD.
1 150 150 Includes
reception, waiting area, 2 consultation rooms, procedure room, exam room and laboratory.
Dentist's rooms Dentists rooms providing treatment by dentists who are trained to deal with the difficulties of children with ASD.
1 1 150 Includes
reception, waiting area, 2 x treatment rooms hygienist and laboratory 300
Community Community function hall
For community presentations, meetings, as well as
1 375 375 Includes
reception area, public
93 use by the school if needed.
access as well as school access, good acoustic treatment.
Parent resource library/study lounge
Educational material for parents, educators and community members.
1 150 150 Includes
small rooms to view digital media.
Assessment Centre
Facility for the assessment and diagnosis of ASD sufferers.
1 70 70 Includes test
and
observation room.
Hairdresser Providing haircuts by hairdressers who are trained to deal with the difficulties of children with ASD.
1 60 60 Includes
wash basins, cutting area and waiting area.
Teachers training centre
Dedicated area for teacher training on aspects of ASD
1 145 145 Includes
seminar room, classroom, group discussion room, kitchen and foyer areas.
800 Residential Staff residential
units (Bachelor)
For staff to stay on site
2 45 90 Requires
privacy Staff Residential
units (2bed)
For staff and their family to stay on site
3 90 270 Requires
privacy Children's
accommodation
For children who stay far from the school and children who need additional attention.
4 150 600 Includes 6
bedrooms, games room/living room, bathroom and staff room Children's
communal dining facility
1 100 100 Includes
kitchen 1060
Services Refuse area 1 60 60 Area for
compost, recyclable materials and waste, needs access by small
94
trucks.
Workshop Space for garden equipment storage and grounds maintenance.
1 70 70
202
Ablutions Males WHB 6
Urinal 7
WC 4
Females WHB 6
WC 11
Paraplegic 6
150 Sports Facility Soccer field Soccer field which
can be rented out as additional income for the centre.
1 7850 7850
Administration For administration of the soccer field.
1 170 170 Includes
booking office, manager's office and meeting/
conference centre.
Change rooms 2 80 160 Includes
change area, lockers, showers and toilets Public Toilets For peak load of 500
people
1 145 145
Storage For storage of field and maintenance equipment
1 145 145
Public stands Grass seating for spectators
4 240 240 Roof
covering 8710
TOTAL 14279 External Playgrounds Individual
playgrounds for each of the three age groups
3 330 990 Accessed
directly from the classrooms Sensory garden Various different
plant textures, colours and smells
1 N/A N/A
Break out space Linked to community hall as spill out space for community functions and gatherings.
1 500 500 Grassed
area with minimal slope 1490
95
Parking Drop off Zone N/
A
N/A N/A
Staff Parking 50 1435 1435
Visitors Parking 15 425 425
1860
TOTAL 17557 1.4.5 Project Funding
Action in Autism have secured various sponsors to fund the initiation and design of the Autism Life Learning Centre. The sponsors of this funding are:
• The Association for Autism, a South African based association aimed at promoting a better understanding and awareness of Autism, working towards the de-stigmatisation of the disorder. The association provides autism-specific services for people suffering from ASD's, offering guidance and support.
• The Autism Research Institute (ARI) of America supports and sponsors research on the underlying causes of, treatments for and environmental influences of ASD's. ARI collaborates with non-profit organisations worldwide in an attempt to improve methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing autism.
• The iCare4Autism Foundation provides funds to a global network of organisations in support of collaborative efforts to enhance education, advocacy and treatment of ASD's worldwide. The foundation gathers research, promotes awareness, provides information, develops educational programs and provides training for teachers and therapists. The foundation's mission is to act as a catalyst, driving worldwide autism research.
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