Safety is one of the most important values at Latika: ensuring the protection of our children and staff at all times is key to everything we do. 

Our ramp is a work of art, an example of iconic design and a practical means both of access and escape in the event of an emergency. The ramp’s design creates an atrium which is the centrepiece of our campus: a place where art, music, games and friendship thrive. Beauty and fun are at its heart, underpinned by the joy and security of knowing that every child is also safe here.

Children can usually be kept safe simply by limiting access to dangerous or risky things. A ramp, however, is not one of them. Locking the doors that lead to it would defeat the entire purpose of having a ramp in the first place – who knows when catastrophe might strike? And yet, to maintain its beauty and openness, standard bars along its walls have several drawbacks. Our architects first suggested a low fence just behind the two handrails – a deterrent, if you will. 

But a fence that low is just crying out to be climbed, as I demonstrated. It was convincing enough to make us realize we needed a better idea.

Our quest for beauty, access and safety (our three non-negotiables) led to the discovery of Invisible Fencing, an innovative approach to protective railings in high rise buildings. Cushman and Wakefield, our project management partners, arranged for a vendor to come and install a sample in one segment of the ramp and we loved the slim, almost elegant look of the surprisingly strong wires. Actually invisible when viewed from the ground, up close, the view to the ground was also unimpeded. Magical!

It’s a little more costly than our original budget, but we can’t afford to compromise either on safety or on beauty. It goes without saying: we’re now working hard to raise the small additional amount we need to make it happen.