IPC headquarters launches indoor navigation with Intel and GoodMaps

The International Paralympic Committee’s Bonn headquarters has become the first building in Germany to offer indoor navigation via a smartphone app, making its offices even more accessible for employees and visitors.

In April 2024, the IPC moved into new premises which are amongst the most accessible offices in Germany. Now, thanks to support from Intel, in collaboration with GoodMaps, people with limited vision or mobility can download the GoodMaps phone app to provide them with an incredibly accurate and barrier-free navigation experience giving them the freedom and autonomy to move around the IPC’s headquarters.

Creation of this barrier-free and user-friendly experience involved detailed scanning of the whole premises. Using AI-driven indoor navigation, the GoodMaps app enables and empowers employees and visitors to the IPC to find their way around the headquarters independently, confidently, and with increased safety.

Mike Peters, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are grateful to Intel and the support it has offered with GoodMaps to add a new layer of accessibility to our headquarters. In addition to being incredibly useful and easy to implement, this cutting-edge technology will show our visitors and stakeholders what is now possible in the world of accessible design for people with vision impairment. We are thrilled that everyone coming to our headquarters can independently navigate the space with comfort and confidence.”

The IPC’s headquarters already boasts an array of accessible features including 157 fully accessible workstations, six elevators, accessible bathrooms, and mini kitchens throughout the building on every floor, automatic doors for ease of access, and tactile paving – including throughout the garden - for those with a vision impairment.