Our goal is to ensure that the community, including people with accessibility needs, can fully enjoy a sustainable, seamless, inclusive, and family-friendly lifestyle. Through our work, we aim to create a legacy that benefits future generations.
Why Jensen Hughes?
We partner with project, design, and operations teams to identify opportunities and address issues related to universal design and accessibility across retail, commercial, sporting, hospitality, landscape, civic, and events, globally. Our core services include accessibility design reviews, construction signoff, accessibility site audits, masterplan reviews, and performance solutions.
Our Methodology
Understanding the scope and project brief is key. Engaging our team early in the process allows us to identify and explore opportunities, principles, and innovations before key structural or planning decisions are finalised. We work closely with design and project management teams to thoroughly review all key design stages and specifications, focusing on meeting the basic requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) and identifying enhancements that improve cost efficiency and functionality.
By integrating universal design principles early in the design phase, we can create accessible, inclusive, and livable communities that accommodate everyone, including those with accessibility needs. This approach ensures that every project benefits from thoughtful, accessible, and innovative design solutions.
Accessibility Site Audits
To ensure optimal accessibility and inclusivity, we conduct a thorough site analysis to identify any barriers or challenges that could impact usability for users.
Our team of accessibility experts then collaborates closely with your project team to recommend practical, cost-effective solutions that address these issues and align with your desired project outcomes.
Accessibility Design Reviews
We work closely with design and project management teams to thoroughly review all key designs and specifications. Our focus extends beyond basic National Construction Code (NCC) compliance, as we actively identify enhancements and opportunities to improve cost efficiency and functionality.
We integrate universal design principles early in the design phase, to create accessible, inclusive, and livable communities that accommodate all people, including those with accessibility needs. This approach ensures that every project benefits from thoughtful, accessible, and innovative design solutions.
Accessibility Construction Signoff
The sign-off stage is a critical project milestone, where our accessibility consultants work closely with certification, design, and project management teams to ensure full compliance with all relevant standards, with a focus on accessibility and inclusion.
Our team is accredited to sign off on projects under the 'reasonable adjustment' provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and relevant sections of the National Construction Code (NCC). We also incorporate performance solutions as part of the signoff, demonstrating that projects not only meet the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the NCC but also reflect a collaborative effort by the project team to achieve practical and inclusive outcomes.
Accessibility Masterplan Reviews
When we are part of the masterplan team, we introduce universal design and accessibility principles early in the planning process, before structural decisions are finalised. This proactive approach allows us to seamlessly integrate accessible design features from the outset, addressing potential non-compliance issues and offering innovative design enhancements.
By incorporating key accessibility principles early, we ensure that the project exceeds minimum standards and is compliant with all relevant guidelines when the detailed design phase begins. This strategy not only elevates the project's quality but also avoids additional financial or operational costs that could arise from adjusting later in the design or construction phases.
Performance Solutions
Many projects encounter challenges in fully complying with the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC) due to factors such as existing conditions, environmental constraints, heritage requirements, or issues arising during the design and construction phase. In these cases, we work with compliance, design, and project teams to develop "performance briefs and performance solutions."
These solutions provide robust justifications, research, or operational plans to ensure that equivalent accessibility is achieved. An essential element of our service is that our team includes consultants with lived experience, which ensures that safety, functionality, and inclusivity are prioritised and effectively delivered.
RELATED INSIGHTS + RESOURCES
Blogs + Whitepapers
Accessibility Compliance vs Good Design
Understand the difference between the DDA and BCA. The DDA is a federal requirement for accessibility; the BCA sets minimum building standards. Both are essential for creating inclusive, accessible designs in architecture and construction.
MEET OUR EXPERTS
Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Graduate Diploma, Business Management, Member
Diploma of Access Consulting, Certificate IV in Access Consulting, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), Member, Past Treasurer, Leader, ACAA Victorian Network, Accredited Specialist Disability Accommodation Assessor
Diploma of Access Consulting, Diploma of Building Construction, (Building Inspection), Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Building Construction), Accredited Access Consultant, Accredited Changing Places Assessor, Accredited Specialist Disability Accommodation Assessor
Diploma of Access Consulting
Order of Australia Medal, Paralympic Medalist, Bachelor’s, Landscape Architecture, Certificate IV Access Consulting, Certificate in Access Appraisal
Associate Degree, Interior Decoration & Design, Diploma of Access Consulting
