News
North Carolina State University (NC State) and Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) are excited to announce a transformative partnership to revitalize the Center for Universal Design. After nearly 15 years of dormancy, the center is being reborn with a new mission: to support all stakeholders and users in creating accessible, inclusive environments that serve people of all abilities and backgrounds.
The newly formed Alliance for Inclusive Design Practice and Research (the Alliance), co-directed by Traci Rose Rider, Ph.D, associate professor of architecture at NC State University, and Victoria Lanteigne, Ph.D., principal of research at SWA, represents a major leap forward in advancing equity in the built environment.
For decades, the Center for Universal Design at NC State was at the forefront of universal design, a global movement focused on making products and spaces accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Despite its significant impact, the center became inactive due to funding challenges and leadership gaps. Now, with a fresh vision, the Alliance is poised to re-engage the movement as a leading hub for inclusive design expertise. As part of this rebranding, the Alliance will continue to champion disability inclusion while also evolving concepts of universal design towards greater equity considerations for all individuals and groups traditionally marginalized by design.
“The College of Design is thrilled to once again be in the position to drive cutting-edge research and resources for universal design,” said Rider. “We are committed to shaping a future where our buildings and spaces are designed with regard to all aspects of human diversity to create environments that truly work for all.”
The relaunch of the Center for Universal Design comes after the team was awarded a grant from the NC State Foundation. This funding made it possible to understand the current needs around universal design and inclusion, to rebrand the center and reinvigorate its mission. In March 2024, the co-directors hosted a landmark public symposium that brought together experts, practitioners, and advocates to lay the groundwork for the center’s future. Key insights included the need for diversified funding, increased collaboration, and a greater role for design practitioners in shaping inclusive spaces.
A full research brief summarizing the symposium’s outcomes is available here: In Pursuit of Equity: A Symposium to Reenvision the Center for Universal Design.
The Alliance’s updated mission is to advance inclusive design as an approach to reducing barriers in the built environment for all groups traditionally underrepresented in design. The Alliance aims to support the design of spaces, products, and systems that are inclusive across race, culture, gender identity, age, disability, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ identity, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of human diversity.
“The equity lens reflected in the Alliance’s mission is intended to bring an updated perspective to inclusive design,” says Lanteigne. “We are excited in this new iteration to focus on collaborative efforts to shape the built environment in ways that meet the needs of people with disabilities as well as all groups traditionally marginalized by design.”
The Alliance’s strategic plan revolves around five central aims:
The Alliance is housed within NC State’s College of Design and operates through a collaborative research agreement with SWA. It is designed to include a diverse consortium of experts, industry leaders, and advocates working together to create environments that are not only functional but equitable for all. Together, this collaborative team is “the Alliance.”
The Alliance is pursuing current research efforts such as archiving universal design resources, revising the Seven Principles of Universal Design, and framing an infrastructure of support offering modern, on-demand Inclusive Design support through a reimagined “call center.” In addition to research initiatives, the Alliance is supporting The Building Equity Standard, a new program that supports architects, designers, owners, managers, and communities in gathering insights from end-users and translating data into tangible design solutions. Partner with the Alliance
The Alliance has outlined tiered partnership opportunities for engagement and support at a variety of levels including an annual convening to discuss trends and needs seen in practice; the opportunity to provide input on new research directions; the opportunity to provide research cases of buildings and products; and a chance to participate as partners in dissemination as appropriate. The Alliance is also seeking expert advisors to represent a range of disciplines and emerging areas of inclusive design. Learn how to get involved here or for more information, please contact allianceidpr@ncsu.edu.
