Inclusive Design in Action: Ottawa City Hall’s Gender-Neutral Washrooms

LWG Architectural Interiors had the opportunity to work with the City of Ottawa in transforming their public washroom facilities into the first fully inclusive gender-neutral washrooms in City Hall.

Interior Designers: David Gibbons, ARIDO, Melanie Tracey, ARIDO and Lori Trask, ARIDO
Design Firm: LWG Architectural Interiors

The traditional male and female washrooms, original to the building which opened in 1990, were integrated into one single gender-neutral facility, incorporating fully private individual toilet rooms, universal washroom facilities and a nursing lounge.

These washrooms have been well-received by City of Ottawa staff and the public alike, and have been referenced numerous times by public washroom advocates on CBC radio as an excellent example of what a public washroom facility should aspire to be.

The LWG design team, led by Principal/Interior Designer David Gibbons and designed by Associate/Interior Designer Melanie Tracey and Interior Designer Lori Trask, paid close attention to the lighting design, with the intent of creating a warm, welcoming respite from the hustle and bustle of the very busy City Hall. Materials, finishing and detailing were carefully selected and articulated with longevity in mind, both aesthetically and practically.