Episode 7: Chris Downey

Architect, planner, consultant, and founder
(Architect for the Blind)

Article written by Sophia_Eve

Episode 7: Chris Downey

Christopher Downey is an architect, consultant, and planner who also founded Architect for the Blind. He has made significant contributions to the field of accessible design via the work that he has done. In 2008, he was blinded by a traumatic encounter that led to the rest of his life being turned upside down. Downey did not let this handicap hamper his career; rather, he embraced the challenge and committed himself to design places that were enriching and useful for those who were blind or visually impaired. Because of his remarkable leadership in accessible design and his dedication to making other people's lives better, he is now widely recognized as a prominent person in this area of study.
 

Background and Career

Before Chris Downey began having issues with his vision, he enjoyed a successful career as an architect that spanned more than twenty years. He was well-known for his abilities to create unique homes as well as cultural organizations that won awards for their architecture. His designs garnered praise from a variety of sources.

Unfortunately, in 2008, Downey underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, which caused him to lose his vision. The procedure was successful in removing the tumor. The technique did not yield the desired results. In spite of this enormous challenge, he persisted and finally became one of the extremely few blind architects who is now working anywhere in the world; as a result of this, he has made an unforgettable imprint on the community of architects.

Accessible Design and Its Impact

As a result of the exceptional experiences that Downey has had in his capacity as a blind architect, the concept of accessibility in architectural design has undergone a fundamental transformation. He collaborates with clients and design teams to create environments that not only increase physical accessibility but also offer a multi-sensory experience to those who have visual impairments. These environments may be improved via his efforts.

His objective is to make these settings as welcoming to people of all backgrounds as they can be. Because of the combination of sensory stimuli and clever design, those who struggle with their vision will have access to what Downey hopes will seem like a welcoming and engaging architectural experience.
 

Projects and Contributions

Downey, in his position as a consultant for architectural firms, has worked on a range of projects with the purpose of aiding persons who are blind or visually challenged. This work has been done with the intention of making life easier for these individuals. As part of his employment at HOK, he was responsible for the design of facilities that are navigable by people with impaired eyesight.

The Duke Eye Center and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Vision and Rehabilitation Tower are two examples of the kind of facilities that fall under this category. Both of these institutions can be found in Pittsburgh. The integration of design features such as lighting, visible signage, and textured strips helped to make these projects more accessible to users of wheelchairs and other assistive devices.

Additionally, Downey has developed facilities that are accessible to those who are either sighted or visually impaired, which is a commitment that the city has made toward the extension of public access. Because of his work with Gensler, a corporate technology campus in the Pacific Northwest was able to get tactile maps, signage, and other amenities designed for it. These aspects, which encourage diversity, were developed to be accessible to persons with a variety of sensory capacities in order to maximize their effectiveness.

Additionally, Downey had a significant part in the design of the bus deck at the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, which is four blocks long. He made the adoption of textured pathways his top priority and worked to reduce the number of interactions that might be startling for persons with a variety of impairments.