Imagine two restrooms for public use. Imagine two restrooms in public. The other has a private trailhead surrounded by open land.

Both buildings offer the same service, however in the event that they were built as identical buildings, it would be impossible to understand how different these locations work.

Image credit: romtec.com

The selection of the location is vital to making excellent public restrooms. Who will be using the facilities? How many people can arrive in one go? What facilities are available? How far can visitors walk? What architectural style surrounds the building?

The answers to these questions will impact the majority of decisions that follow.

Start with the way people move Through the Site

The placement of restrooms should not be considered in isolation from the other parks. In a complex for sports, large crowds may congregate around events and games. The location of the restroom near a play area must be easy for families to access, but also secure and accessible for pedestrians. In a downtown area, it may be necessary to incorporate sidewalk restrooms in a smaller footprint while complementing nearby streetscape elements.

The structure itself isn’t the complete experience. Entrances, paths, activities and accessibility all impact whether its location works as intended.

Remote sites create a different Issue

Now move the project away from the paved streets and utility infrastructure. It may be impossible to connect a scenic overlook, campground or trailhead with an existing sewer system. When properly utilized, vault toilets can provide an alternative to conventional plumbing infrastructure in locations that are difficult or inaccessible.

The design conversation is now completely different. Project teams do not have to choose a building prior to looking at the site and deciding which bathroom system works most effectively.

Capacity should reflect actual usage

The visitor patterns of the quiet neighborhood park as well as regional sports facilities differ. Demand for peak times is crucial. Peak demand is important.

Planning around actual use helps owners think about restroom dimensions layout, layout, fixtures access for maintenance, and other operational demands prior to construction even begins.

For organizations researching prefabricated park restroom buildings, flexibility can be particularly valuable because the building can be configured around the project’s requirements instead of forcing the site to accommodate a predetermined model.

Architecture Still Belongs in the Conversation

An appearance isn’t ignored simply due to its function. The restroom is an important component of the public landscape. Forms of roofs, sidings, colors, masonry, fixtures and other architectural features can aid in establishing a connection with adjacent pavilions, concession structures and natural surroundings or a well-established design theme for the community.

Romtec’s unique approach permits project teams to mix different designs, materials, colors and exterior finishes rather than being limited to the same appearance.

Design for the Space It’s not just about the function.

Romtec collaborates with park operators, contractors, and landscape architects to create, design, and install public restrooms. Its expertise covers documents for building construction and code requirements, ADA considerations as well as engineering, selection of components and construction throughout the United States.

But, the most important starting point is quite easy. Start by deciding what type of bathroom you would like to build. First, you must understand what’s currently happening on the property such as people, activities and infrastructure. Then, design the structure that belongs there.