https://www.archdaily.

com/799401/how-to-design-school-restrooms-for-increased-comfort-safety-and-
gender-inclusivity

How to Design School Restrooms for Increased Comfort,

Safety and Gender-Inclusivity

his article was originally published by Metropolis Magazine as "Why Architects Must Rethink
Restroom Design in Schools."
"Gang style" bathrooms, in which rows of stalls are installed opposite rows of wash basins and
designated only for males or for females, have been de rigueur in educational facilities for the last
hundred years. They involve predictable plumbing, mechanical exhaust, and fixture costs. Short
doors and divider walls allow for the passive monitoring of behavior.
Relinquishing this traditional bathroom model is daunting, since individual toilet rooms can
significantly increase costs through additional plumbing, ductwork, ventilation, partitions, doors
and hardware. These designs many times require additional space, trigger further ADA
compliance, and invalidate some USGBC LEED points. Moreover, school districts typically have
limited budgets, established facilities, and deep-rooted social practices.

Which is why the initiative shown by Grant High School in the Portland Public School District has
been so extraordinary. In 2013, the school had 10 students who openly identified as transgender.
To help combat the real possibility that they would drop out due to a perceived lack of safety,
administrators designated four student bathrooms and two staff bathrooms—each individual
rooms with a toilet, sink and mirror—as gender-inclusive. The bathrooms were immediately
popular with all students at Grant HS, transgender or not, who enjoyed the privacy afforded by
these enclosed facilities.

With a major renovation of the 1920s-era school on the horizon, the District realized that
providing equitable toilet facilities for all 1700 students would be essential.

Architecture firm Mahlum’s design solution for Grant HS centered around replacing all existing
"gang-style" bathrooms with individual toilet rooms with full doors opening to a shared space for
wash basins and drinking fountains. Urinals will not be installed. Two entrance and exit points
eliminate the feeling of going into a "dead-end" room, increasing safety and security. Signed with
a simple pictorial representation of a toilet, not the ubiquitous "his" (pants), "hers" (skirt), or
"their" (both), the toilet room is open for use by all. When the renovation is complete in 2019,
Grant HS will become the first in the District—and one of the few in the nation—to house one
hundred percent inclusive bathrooms.

Save this picture!

Mahlum’s design solution for Grant High School in the Portland Public School District. Image courtesy
ofMahlum

For the new Northwood Elementary School in the Mercer Island School District, the same
architectural team also abandoned gang style bathrooms, instead placing individual toilet rooms
in many places on each floor. This solution boosts program flexibility and reduces time lost to
toilet transitions. Since the District intends to keep the bathrooms unlocked and available to all
students, the solution maximizes restroom equity, which is especially helpful for young students
just learning to navigate social customs and keen to fit in with their peers.

Higher education institutions may more easily implement equitable bathroom designs because
users are older, more diverse, and tend toward open-mindedness. For a new residence hall
currently under construction at University of Oregon, Mahlum held student listening sessions,
which revealed a strong desire for gender-inclusive living units with private bathrooms, as well as
visibly inclusive public restrooms at the ground level and in common areas. However, residence
facilities are still typically grouped by gender per floor or per community, and although suite-style
bathrooms serving smaller clusters of students potentially mitigate gender-segregated
restrooms, they can cost more. Like school districts, college and university administrators fear
that enhanced design solutions will escalate costs, consume space, and drive up room rates.

Save this picture!

Inclusive restroom design at the University of Oregon. Image courtesy ofMahlum

The desire to create more equitable restroom design can also be stymied by building codes that
have not yet caught up to changing opinions. Local jurisdictions have limited legal authority to
enact code changes, so they usually have no other recourse but to uphold strict compliance. As
society calls for more equitable bathroom design, the design and construction industry must
demand large-scale code changes to allow "alternate paths" that comply with the intent of code
and, moreover, serve the public good.

While the transgender movement may be currently illuminating the issue, toilet privacy affects a
much broader group, including families with young children, adult caregivers, and people that are
mobility-challenged or have health issues. Enhancing equity through privacy is a basic human
right that primary, secondary and higher education institutions can uphold through thoughtful
design solutions. By rethinking bathroom design in retrofits or new facilities, what was once an
afterthought for architects can become a way to not just promote self-esteem, health and well-
being, but improve safety and security.

As architects struggle with understanding what communities need and how to meet and
overcome antiquated code regulations, we must quickly find a design vocabulary, inclusive of
iconography and code guidelines, to reflect best practices. And most of all, we must place equity
and human dignity at the center of these conversations.

JoAnn Hindmarsh Wilcox AIA LEED AP, Associate Principal is the Design Lead for the education
studio at Mahlum. JoAnn crafts nationally recognized buildings that prioritize student learning
and support student life, rooted in a multi-platform, collaborative engagement process.
Kurt Haapala AIA LEED AP, Partner, is an industry leader in the planning and design of student
life and housing facilities, and has helped build Mahlum’s higher education housing studio into a
nationally recognized practice.

https://www.greenlamsturdo.com/blog/key-factors-to-consider-when-designing-a-school-kids-
restroom/
Key Factors to Consider When Designing a School
Kids' Restroom
• November 10, 2023

• 6 Min Read

When designing a school kids' restroom, it's essential to strike a balance between
aesthetics and practicality. From vibrant colors and engaging visuals to durable
materials and easy maintenance, each decision influences the overall ambiance
and functionality of the space. Let’s dig deeper as we explore the key design
considerations that contribute to creating a welcoming and hygienic restroom
environment for school kids.

• Hygiene and Cleanliness

School toilets can be a hotbed for potential health issues among school kids and
staff. To address this concern, it is crucial to prioritize cleanliness and good
hygiene in school restroom facilities. Installing kids toilet cubicles and school
toilet partitions made from high-pressure laminates with antibacterial properties
is an essential first step. These specially designed cubicles and partitions help
combat the growth of disease-causing pathogens and promote hygienic practices.

Related: 4 Common Problems Faced By Public Restroom Users

• Safety
Designing a safe school kids' toilet is vital in ensuring the well-being of students
and promoting a secure environment. For instance, installing adequate lighting
both inside and outside the restroom area helps create a welcoming atmosphere
and encourages visibility. Similarly, it is important to ensure clear sightlines and
unobstructed views to minimize potential risks due to hidden areas. Also, secure
entry and exit points with reliable locking mechanisms offer controlled access and
help prevent unauthorized entry.

• Privacy and Comfort

Creating privacy and comfort is essential to ensure that students feel secure and
at ease in the restroom. Adequate partitions between stalls, proper door locks, and
well-designed layouts that allow for individual use contribute to a sense of privacy
and comfort.

• Accessibility
Designing the restroom with accessibility in mind involves incorporating features
like low-height sinks and toilets, clear pathways for wheelchair access, and
accessible handwashing stations. These considerations ensure that all students,
regardless of their physical abilities, can use the restroom independently and
comfortably. We, at Greenlam Sturdo, understand the importance of inclusive
restroom design and offer customized restroom solutions to meet the specific
accessibility needs of schools.

Related: A Simple Guide to Hygienic School Restrooms

• Durability
School toilets are subject to heavy traffic and acts of vandalism, leading to
significant wear and tear. As such, it is crucial to prioritize the installation of
durable toilet solutions when designing a school restroom. Greenlam's durable
and anti-graffiti restroom solutions are crafted using resilient materials that are
resistant to scratches, impact, and general wear, providing longevity and reducing
the need for frequent repairs or replacements.

• Maintenance and Upkeep

Ease of maintenance is a crucial factor to consider when designing school toilets,
as it directly impacts the cleanliness and hygiene of the facilities. In fact,
incorporating features such as easy-to-clean surfaces, efficient drainage systems,
and accessible maintenance access points also helps lessen the burden of the
cleaning staff and minimizes disruptions in the restroom's operation.

• Sustainability
Last but important, sustainability is another important factor to consider when
designing a school kids' toilet. Greenlam restroom solutions are thoughtfully
designed using eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices, ensuring a
positive contribution towards a greener future. When schools choose Greenlam,
they not only promote a healthy environment for students but also contribute to a
greener planet by minimizing the ecological footprint.

https://www.teachstarter.com/us/blog/school-bathroom-rules-fair/

How To Create School Bathroom Rules That Are Fair to Students

(And You!)

Written by Jeanne Sager

Updated 7 months ago | 7 min read

How do you create bathroom rules for your classroom that fairly balance that need to go with the
need for kids to be in the classroom for instruction? And what do the laws say about bathroom
rights for students?
These are questions we hear regularly from teachers — after all, students are constantly asking to
go to the bathroom, interrupting their classmates and missing class time, and there’s not a lot of
good guidance out there for teachers. The school bathroom may be a favorite escape for students
who want to avoid classwork, but we’re well aware that kids need bathroom breaks during the
day for their health. So how do you balance their health against those disruptions?

The teachers on the Teach Starter team have all had to walk that delicate line between ensuring
students have potty breaks to relieve themselves and making sure kids don’t abuse the privilege
of ducking out of class.

We’ve taken a deep look at the laws on the books in the US, plus we pulled out some of the
bathroom rules that have worked in our own elementary and middle school classrooms to create
this bathroom break guide for you. Read on for ideas for ideas bathroom rules for your classroom
plus what the law says about how often kids need to use the bathroom in school.

How Often Should a Child Use the Bathroom?

Before you can even think about crafting rules for your class on how often they are allowed to
use the school bathroom, it’s worth looking at what’s normal for kids in elementary school.
While the number of times they have to head to the potty will vary based on age — a
kindergarten student will likely need to urinate more frequently than a 4th-grade student, for
example — and how much liquid they take in during the day, it’s generally accepted by medical
experts that kids will need to pee at least every 2 to 3 hours.

Suppose you’re teaching upper elementary or middle school. In that case, that number may
increase at certain times of the month for female students as they are often experiencing their
menstrual cycles for the first time and may need to make more frequent trips to the bathroom to
handle changing pads or simply to settle nerves about what’s going on with their bodies.

You’ll also want to be cognizant of students’ individual health when you’re considering if a
bathroom break is warranted. This is an important bodily function, and recognizing that is an
important part of preserving students’ dignity.

When the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) surveyed school nurses about school
bathroom policies back in 2019, they found that just 8 percent of schools had written policies,
and their health experts sounded the alarm on the matter.
As Rebecca Nebel, PhD, SWHR’s director of scientific programs, said at the time, “Restricting
access to the bathroom forces students into unhealthy toileting habits, such as holding in urine,
which may create health problems that will follow students into adulthood and decrease their
quality of life.”

Bathroom Laws for Schools

The news is often filled with talk about bathroom laws in schools, so surely there must be
information out there on what your state says about whether or not it’s OK to restrict how often
your students use the restroom, right? Surprisingly, lawmakers have been largely mum on this
particular component of school bathroom access.

Federal requirements exist for students whose 504 plans specifically outline bathroom break
requirements. These rights are protected by federal law, so make sure you stay on top of whose
plan involves what access.

As for the states, there isn’t much to guide you. In some places — like New York — guidance
from the state health department notes that restricting kids’ access to the bathroom can have a
negative impact on kids’ health.

Still, most laws are more focused on the number of facilities that must be made accessible,
whether or not schools must provide unisex bathrooms, and the minimum travel distances
required between classrooms and toilet facilities.

https://spaces4learning.com/articles/2015/08/01/school-restrooms.aspx

School Restrooms
• By Paula Worthing
• 08/01/15

With renewed focus on student health and

campus safety, many schools are planning to renovate existing and/or build new
restrooms. The design of these facilities must meet numerous national, state, and
local jurisdiction codes as well as be ADA compliant. These requisites can be found in
The International Building Code (IBC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
and the International Energy Conservation Code.

Once the layout of the space is completed, what about recommendations for types of
fixtures, floor materials, wall finishes, stall partitions, and overall sanitary and security
considerations? There is no exact, off-the-shelf formula for all situations but the
following School Restrooms 101 guideline of trends and recommendations should be
helpful in designing facilities that offer a better experience while addressing cost and
maintenance.

Plumbing fixtures
For ease of floor cleaning, sinks and toilets should be wall mounted if possible.
Ceramic fixtures are fine in most situations but for the heaviest use locations, provide
stainless steel sinks. Sink counters accumulate standing water so adding a shallow
shelf will keep personal items dry while hand washing. Low flow, pressure assisted
toilets reduce water usage and alleviate plumbing backups. Hands-free faucets,
automatic soap dispensers and toilets with motion detectors reduce the spread of
disease and cut cost by controlling product usage. These sensor-operated devices
save water and heating costs, improve hygiene, and help control vandalism. Sensor-
operated hand dryers complete the touch-less, lower maintenance budget effort while
also providing an environmentally friendly option.

Stall partitions

Install partitions made of solid polymer,

phenolic, or solid color reinforced composite (SCRC) material. These partitions are
easy to clean, durable, rust proof, and withstand vandalism. Special coatings make
graffiti removal easier. Ceiling mounted partitions are best for floor cleaning but for
extreme traffic and vandal prone areas floor anchored with overhead bracing is
advised. Stall doors often lose alignment over time and should have sufficient
clearance and lock latch length to function.
Wall finishes
Some jurisdictions and codes require a nonabsorbent wall finish to a specific height
above the floor within two feet of sinks, urinals, and water closets. With many wall
finishes, issues arise where moisture and bacteria penetrate joints or seams. Layers of
epoxy paint may be accepted as a minimum but for better long term wear and
cleaning ceramic wall tile is still the best choice. The fairly recent introduction of
porcelain tile now offers an even better solution. Porcelains are stronger and available
in larger sizes so there are fewer grout seams in which to collect dirt. For wall areas
above the tile, a scrubbable epoxy or polyurethane paint is usually recommended.

Floor finishes

Floor finishes should have tractability yet be

smooth enough for easy cleaning. Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) and sheet vinyl have
not proven to be a good choice due to cracking, tearing, and the inability to keep
bacteria and odor from accumulating in seams. Ceramic mosaic tiles had been a
popular choice in the past but newer larger porcelain tile available in larger format
and assorted sizes are more durable and add to the design of the space. Because
grout will become darker with age, darker color grout is a good selection. Providing
curved tiles where walls meet the floor also prevents dirt build-up and facilitates
cleaning.

Ceilings
Most restroom ceilings consist of a hung grid and ceiling tiles, which are porous.
Ceiling tile surfaces should be treated with an antimicrobial additive or have a
substrate that is inherently resistant to the growth of mildew and bacteria. The surface
should be cleanable with water and a mild detergent. Since most restroom finishes are
hard, restroom ceilings should have as high an acoustical NRC rating as possible to
absorb sound and provide privacy.
Restroom entry and exit

Restroom doors should swing outward and

be configured to avoid hitting passing hallway traffic. Exit should be possible by using
a shoulder without touching any other surface. Research has shown that 200 million
bacteria can populate a single hand after using a public restroom. Even if a person has
thoroughly washed their hands, touching a door handle negates their efforts. If this
type of exit is not possible, then a wall mounted hand sanitizer or a trashcan for paper
towels used to open the door should be offered at the exit. Labyrinth entrances, which
are door-less and do not offer sight lines into the restroom from the corridor, also
avoid the door swing and sanitation issues. This design is also less conducive to
unwanted activity such as bullying and vandalism since monitoring from the corridor
is easier.

Lighting the bathroom properly is important. Daylight, offered with skylights or

clerestory glass, can improve ambience, help the area appear cleaner, and reduce
lighting requirements. Installing motion sensors to turn off lighting when no one is
occupying the restroom will also reduce electrical demands.

Poor design and maintenance can contribute to misbehavior, vandalism, and

accidents.

Planning your renovation or new facility with an interior designer or architect and
manufacturers that specialize in restroom products will ensure that all aspects of a
successful design are incorporated.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

https://thewashfountain.bradleycorp.com/post/durable-school-restroom-design
DURABLE S CHOOL
RESTROOM DES IGN
Posted by abby on October 24th 2022, 2:26 pm

Unfortunately, many K-12 school restrooms succumb to germs, mess and abuse. Between tight
school budgets, overextended maintenance staffs and heavy facility usage, restrooms are hard to
renovate, and keep clean and maintained.

Plus, vandalism attempts continue to plague schools. In fact, one of last year’s viral “TikTok
Challenges” was centered on vandalizing school restrooms. The month-long “devious licks”
campaign encouraged kids to deface school bathrooms, capture it on video, and share it on social
media.

According to a spokesman for the Canyons School District in Salt Lake City, where bathroom
mirrors had been shattered and toilets flooded last fall:

“Our custodians mostly end up responsible for cleaning up. In this day and age, we’ve asked our
custodians to be on the front lines, asking them to make sure our schools are as clean as possible.
And every time they have to clean up this mess, it takes time away from making our schools a safe
and welcoming environment.”

Common frustrations with school restrooms

Compounding the problem is that students are critical of restroom spaces in schools. About half of
high school students rate their schools’ restrooms as “fair” or “poor.” Only 23% describe them as
“excellent” or “very good,” according to Bradley’s Healthy Handwashing Survey™.

This is concerning, since students’ low opinion of their school restrooms can dilute their overall
opinion of their school. For many students, the unclean restrooms they encounter translates into a
perception that their school is poorly managed – and that the school doesn’t care about its students.
Among students’ biggest frustrations with school restrooms:

• Unpleasant smells (35%)

• Toilets clogged/unflushed/broken (35%)
• Soap dispenser empty/broken (32%)
• Too many people crowding the area (26%)
• Towel dispenser empty/jammed/broken (24%)

Four strategies for vandal resistance and better restroom design

• Specify touchless fixtures. With so many touchpoints, school restrooms attract lots of
germs. Touch-free handwashing fixtures eliminate hand-to-surface contact, messy
fingerprints and cross contamination. There are no-touch options for faucets, soap
dispensers, hand dryers, paper towel dispensers and flush valves.

Specifically, Bradley’s matching Verge™ soap dispenser and faucet sets have hidden sensors to
discourage tampering. They are also made with durable cast brass spout construction with popular
PVD finishes that are highly resilient and withstand wear and tear. Bradley’s all-in-one
WashBar® and Foam soap dispensers also provide high-quality no-touch solutions for schools.
 • Install tough-to-damage washbasins. Using non-porous and seamless materials like
Bradley’s Terreon® solid surface and Evero® natural quartz stand up to vandalism
attempts, naturally deter germs and are very easy to clean. Natural quartz and solid surface
resist stains, chemicals, scratches and heat, reducing the likelihood of repairs and need for
replacements.

Perfect for schools is Bradley’s expanded suite of Express® lavatory decks including
Express® GLX, TLX and ELX Series. Express lavs are a breeze to specify and install because they
come ready in one simple and comprehensive package – from end to end. They also deliver a fresh,
modern, hygienic and cost-effective alternative to high-maintenance china sinks and laminate
countertops.

Other single-station units like Bradley’s Frequency lavatory systems made of Terreon combine a
taller sink with a lower sink in an interesting wave design. This model enhances accessibility for both
adults and children and meets ADA requirements.

• Select sturdier toilet partitions. Partitions made of Bradmar Solid Plastic – an

advanced formula of at least 30% pre-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
– are highly durable. HDPE is hard to scratch and dent and graffiti is easily removed.

Mills® No-Site Partitions made of durable and maintainable Phenolic LT material are also highly
resilient and easy to clean. The partitions’ integral No-Site construction comes standard for all
models to eliminate gaps between doors and pilasters for maximum privacy in schools.

• Choose stainless steel washroom accessories. Bradley’s stainless steel washroom

accessories are made with the industry average 25% post-consumer and 35% pre-consumer
content stainless. These products are long-lasting and vandal resistant and won’t have to be
replaced for years to come. Bradley offers the widest assortment of models with a modern
dual curve design or standard series design with clean lines.
Check out Bradley’s full line of Commercial Washroom Solutions for making your school’s
restrooms resilient, low maintenance and easy to keep clean.