The mixed-use complex in Warsaw’s Wola district, Norblin Factory, has received Barrier-Free Facility certificates awarded by the Integration Foundation. Both new and historic buildings of the complex owned by the Capital Park Group have been certified for architectural accessibility and adaptation to the needs of various users, including people with disabilities, the elderly, people with temporary disabilities, and parents with children.
Accessibility certificates have been granted to three new buildings (Galwan, Plater and Verit) and nine historic buildings (Drawing Room Hall, Administration and Housing Building, 1000T Press Shop, Administration Building and Furnace Charge Room, Forging Shop, Quenching Shop, Mechanical Laboratory Building, Finishing Shop, Foundry Hall). The documentation submitted for the architectural audit required arrangements regarding design solutions and acceptance of the spaces under review. Ultimately, two certificates were granted: one for the newly constructed buildings and the other one for the historic buildings of the former Norblin, Buch Brothers and T. Werner factories.
“We have been working with the Integration Foundation for many years, starting with our Call Centre Poland. We consult the Foundation on our projects to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. It was also the case of Norblin Factory. We started our cooperation with the Foundation at the design stage. Their recommendations allowed us to introduce a number of facilities at the implementation stage, which make it easier for people with different needs and requirements to move around our complex. We wanted everyone who visits Norblin Factory to feel comfortable here, and we have typical architectural barriers and introduced, among others, appropriate lighting, dedicated parking spaces located in close proximity or directly at the entrances to lifts, and wide lifts with lowered panels and voice and Braille notifications,” said Kinga Nowakowska, Chief Operations Officer and Member of the Management Board of Capital Park Group.
Today Norblin Factory is a modern facility with many amenities that serve people with various disabilities, as well as families with young children.
“Norblin Factory is a combination of history and modernity, which was why it was one of the most complicated investments to evaluate. The difficulty was mainly posed by the adaptation of the historic walls and space to modern requirements. The certification process took as long as four years. We are pleased that accessibility is supported throughout the project. Access across the complex is facilitated by lifts and escalators. Passageways are available on the major floors to connect the buildings and shorten the distance between them. The buildings feature a total of 19 toilets for people with disabilities in the retail area and 42 toilets in the office area, as well as 6 reception areas with lowered countertops. This success would not have been possible without the fantastic cooperation with the investor Capital Park and the designers from PRC Architekci,” said Jarosław Bogucki of the Integration Foundation.
The Barrier-Free Facility certificates have been awarded by the Integration Foundation since 2009. The Foundation’s founder and long-standing president was Piotr Pawłowski, journalist, social activist, ambassador for social change in Poland, working to eliminate architectural, digital, social and legal barriers.
