Beautiful, functional spaces that empower everyone to participate fully
Most practicing architects and builders are taught ADA Code Compliance. Some view the exercise as adding cost to a design without adding value. For these uninspired builders, the final designs are often so poor that they serve no one well. Building just to the minimum standards of ADA Code makes disability an afterthought, a compliance checkbox. Conventional ADA-compliant construction often includes unsightly ramps and inconvenient entrances. By contrast, Universal Design assumes nothing, welcomes all, and promotes inclusion.
Universal Design is a design philosophy that creates built environments and products that can be used, accessed, and understood by everyone to the greatest extent possible, regardless of age, size, or disability. It goes beyond basic ADA compliance to create physical and digital spaces that are equally welcoming to all people.
Since our founding, Starkloff has been a leading expert in Universal Design. On a biennial basis, we host the Universal Design Summit, North America’s premier conference on Universal Design. The Summit brings together architects, engineers, builders, developers, interior designers, disability advocates, and interested community members from across the world. Presenters showcase universally designed facilities and products and share design strategies and innovations to push the field of Universal Design forward.
Thanks to the efforts of Universal Design advocates, St. Louis landmarks like the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum and Gateway Arch Museum have been masterfully renovated according to the principles of Universal Design, offering a far more complete and rewarding experience for guests of all abilities.
Watch: Recordings of Recent UD Events
You can find a playlist of all of our Universal Design video content on our YouTube channel, along with content from across all of our programs.
Recent UD Content
Your Voice, Your Workplace, Your Solutions! Solve for Success: The Workplace Barrier Design Challenge is a competition cohosted by Starkloff Disability Institute and MO Better Foundation to tackle real workplace barriers faced by people with disabilities: Professionals with disabilities submit their own workplace challenge—the barrier impacting them [...]
by Rachel Goldmeier "It's Wait-for-Me Power!" The first time I shouted those words, I was sprinting past my family on a sidewalk. We were on vacation, walking to our next activity, and I’d fallen far behind. That happened a lot when I was [...]
We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our Universal Design (UD) program from our biennial global conference to a dynamic, year-round initiative! This evolution reflects our commitment to making inclusive design a continuous conversation, fostering accessibility and usability for all where we live, learn, work, and play. [...]
