Dignity by Design: DND’s new infrastructure standards

May 29, 2025 - Defence Stories

The Directorate of Architecture and Engineering Services (DAES) within Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) is responsible for providing architectural and engineering technical support for Department of National Defence (DND) infrastructure projects and initiatives. While technical changes to architectural policies may seem to matter to only a few specialists, but recent modifications to built infrastructure requirements impact everyone in the Defence Team.

On February 28, 2025, the Office of the Chief Architect at DND’s Infrastructure and Environment brought the Standard for Accessible and Inclusive Design (SAID) into force. In line with the Accessible Canada Act, this Standard has been developed to help create “a Canada without barriers, on or before January 1, 2040.”

The SAID, in conjunction with DND’s Accessibility Plan, and in alignment with Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC) continues to develop. It is part of a suite of programs and initiatives delivering on the core of DND/CAF’s Code of Values and Ethics, the first of which is to “Respect the dignity of all persons.”

The SAID will impact all new construction projects at Defence, as well as particular renovations and leases. It contains some exemptions and there is a process to submit an exemption request with a committee who will review each submission.

Much consultation with Defence Advisory Groups (DAGs) has gone into the SAID’s specific design rationales to make them consistent with the Canada Human Rights Act, which states that “[…] all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society […]”

The SAID’s principles include:

• Design for everyone, regardless of ability, sex, language, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, culture, religion, age and other forms of human difference, without undue effort or separation
• Reduce and prevent risk to personal safety while maintaining comfort, dignity and privacy
• Offer choice and flexibility so different people can use the facilities in different ways
• Ensure requirements are adaptable to the various environments found within the Defence Team infrastructure portfolio and can be adapted to accommodate future needs

Defence Team members, contractors and site visitors may all have different demographic profiles, but their commonality is equality under the Canadian Human Rights and other Acts. The SAID will ensure, as far as possible, that the DND/CAF Code of Values and Ethics are built into the work environment, by design.