What Are Common Areas in Condominiums?

We are getting some questions concerning what are the common areas in condominiums.  I always start by seeing if the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines have defined common areas.  The answer is they have defined common use.  Wait a minute, but who are they?  They are the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, a federal government agency in Washington, D.C. responsible for writing the guidelines for the Safe Harbor for Design and Construction to be in compliance with the ADA.

Common Use: "Interior or exterior circulation paths, rooms, spaces, or elements that ae not for public use and are made available for the shared use of two or more people."r

The interior circulation paths would be all hallways.  The exterior circulation paths would be sidewalks or any walkway starting from the public way and leading to the building entrance, all sidewalks from parking and all walkways through and around all exterior spaces and elements.  Rooms would be like laundry room, game rooms, managers office, exercise room, restrooms, etc. 

Spaces would be lobby, TV watching area, sitting areas both inside and outside, etc.Elements would be all recreational areas such as swimming pool, spa, tennis courts, all courts, vending areas, etc.

So, one can easily see there are many common use areas in a condominium project.

Give us your questions or thoughts on the above article.  You can post them here or on our FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Access-Technologies-Services-Inc/268659564730.  You can also reach us at hfalstad@accessts.net or call us at (702) 649-7575.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Hank


The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.