UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN PRACTICE
•THE SUNDERLAND HOUSE
A BEST PRACTICES CASE STUDY
AND TEACHING LAB

WHY SHOULD UNIVERSAL DESIGN BE IMPORTANT?
“BY THE YEAR 2000, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONE-THIRD OF
ALL AMERICANS WILL BE DISABLED, CHRONICALLY ILL,
OR OVER AGE 65.
HOWEVER, NOT EVEN 1 IN EVERY 10 HOMES IS DESIGNED
,
TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THIS GROWING
POPULATION”
TAKEN FROM HUDUSER.ORG

WHY SHOULD UNIVERSAL DESIGN BE IMPORTANT?
THE BABY BOOMERS – THE GENERATION BORN BETWEEN
1946 AND 1964 - WILL FUEL THE FASTEST GROWING
SEGEMENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS
IN 2001 THE FIRST WAVE OF THE BABY BOOMERS –
ABOUT 3.2 MILLION OF THEM – TURNS 55
32
THE NUMBER OF PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 55 WILL
GROW FROM 59 MILLION TO 97 MILLION IN 10 YEARS
HOUSING FACTS, FIGURES AND TRENDS
BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS

WHY SHOULD UNIVERSAL DESIGN BE IMPORTANT?
“UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES INCREASE THE
USABILITY OF THE HOME BY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, SIZES,
AND ABILITIES AND ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF ALL
RESIDENTS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN
HOMES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE”
AARP

WHO ELSE BENEFITS FROM UNIVERSAL DESIGN
BESIDES THE ELDERLY OR DISABLED?
MOST PEOP E
PEOPLE
UNIVERSAL DESIGN SERVES THE ENTIRE POPULATION
REGARDLESS OF AGE STATURE SIZE OR PHYSICAL ABILITY
AGE, STATURE, ABILITY.
KITCHEN COUNTERS ARE TOO LOW FOR VERY TALL
INDIVIDUALS AND TOO HIGH FOR SHORT PEOPLE
PEOPLE.
LIGHT SWITCHES ARE TOO HIGH FOR BOTH A 3-YEAR OLD AND
AN OLDER PERSON WITH LIMITED REACH.
STAIRS AND HIGH THRESHOLDS CAN BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO
PEOPLE TEMPORARILY USING CRUTCHES, CANES OR WALKERS
,
AS WELL AS TINY FEET.

HOW IS UNIVERSAL DESIGN
INCORPORATED INTO HOUSING?
1. SOME ITEMS ARE MADE MORE UNIVERSALLY USABLE BY THEIR PLACEMENT
A. LIGHT SWITCHES / OUTLETS AT MORE USABLE HEIGHTS
B. DISHWASHER / MICROWAVE HEIGHT
C. LIGHT ABOVE EXTERIOR DOOR HARDWARE
D. COVERED ENTRY AT EXTERIOR DOOR

HOW IS UNIVERSAL DESIGN
INCORPORATED INTO HOUSING?
2. SOME FEATURES ARE MADE MORE UNIVERSALLY USABLE BY MAKING
THEM ADJUSTABLE OR ADDITION OF FEATURES
A. CLOSET RODS
B. PULL OUT SHELVES AND PANTRIES
C. BLOCKING BEHIND TOILET / TUB / SHOWER

HOW IS UNIVERSAL DESIGN
INCORPORATED INTO HOUSING?
3. SOME UNIVERSALLY USABLE ITEMS MUST BE SELECTED
A. LEVER HANDLES ON DOORS AND FAUCETS & HAND HELD SHOWERS
B. 3’-0” DOORS WITH LEVER HARDWARE AND ENLARGED DEADBOLT
THUMBTURNS
C. DROP IN RANGE / SIDE BY SIDE REFRIGERATOR / FRONT LOADING
WASHER AND DRYER

HOW IS UNIVERSAL DESIGN
INCORPORATED INTO HOUSING?
4. SOME ITEMS MUST BE DELETED OR ALTERED TO BE MADE UNIVERSAL
A. ACCESSIBLE ENTRY TO RESIDENCE –
STAIRS REMOVED FROM PRIMARY ENTRANCE
B. MULTI LEVEL COUNTERTOPS
C. ACCESS THROUGH UNIT AND SURROUNDING PLUMBING FIXTURES
AND APPLIANCES

SUNDERLAND HOUSE

SUNDERLAND HOUSE
• DEVELOPER:
UNIVERSAL DESIGN HOUSING NETWORK
• PROJECT MANAGER:
KANSAS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE
• DESIGNER:
EDDIE TAPPER KANSAS CITY DESIGN BUILD
TAPPER,
• INTERIOR DESIGNER:
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS
MISSOURI WEST / KANSAS CHAPTER
• CONTRACTOR:
CITY VISION MINISTRIES CONSTRUCTION

SUNDERLAND HOUSE
HOUSE STATS:
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,400 S.F. (1,254 S.F. INSIDE ARXX WALLS)
CONSTRUCTION COST $ 130,000
$ / SQUARE FOOT $ 92 ($ 78)
BEDROOMS 3
BATHROOMS 1
BASEMENT NO (SLAB ON GRADE)
( )
ROOF INSULATION R38
WALL INSULATION R45
BEDROOM SIZES M- 16’ x 12’; #1- 11’-3” x 10’-6; #2- 10’-5” x 10’-6”
STORAGE 3 WALK-IN CLOSETS, COAT & LINEN

LIGHTING ABOVE
ADDRESS
LEVER DOOR
HARDWARE
DOORBELL
WITH LIGHT
ZERO STEP ENTRY

LEVER DOOR ROCKER
HARDWARE LIGHT
SWITCHES
LOWERED
WINDOW
SILLS
ZERO STEP ENTRY NON-SLIP
NON SLIP FLOORING
LOW FLOORING TRANSITION

THRESHOLD TRANSITION
LESS THAN ½”
NON-SLIP FLOORING

LOWERED
ROCKER
SWITCHES
RAISED
ELECTRICAL /
CABLE /
DIGITAL
OUTLETS

SUNDERLAND HOUSE

SUNDERLAND HOUSE

RAISED DISHWASHER
LOWERED SINK WITH
LEVER FAUCET AND
RETRACTABLE DOORS
ACCESSIBLE
DISPOSAL
SWITCH

SUNDERLAND HOUSE
FULL ACCESS
PULL OUT
PANTRY
34” LOWERED
COUNTERTOPS

PULL OUT
SHELVING

LOWERED UPPER
CABINETRY
MULTIPLE HEIGHT
COUNTERTOPS
LOOP STYLE
CABINET HARDWARE
LOWERED
MICROWAVE
SIDE BY SIDE
REFRIGERATOR

PULL DOWN
UPPER CABINET
SHELVING

LOWERED
2x10
2 10 BLOCKING MIRROR
INSTALLED IN
WALLS ACCESSIBLE
LAVATORY
ACCESSIBLE
WATERCLOSET REMOVABLE
BASE CABINET
FRONT WITH
CONTINUOUS
FLOORING AND
INSULATED
NON-SLIP
WATER / WASTE
FLOORING
PIPES (FRONT
REMOVED FOR
PHOTO)

SUNDERLAND HOUSE
RAISED FRONT LOADING
WASHER AND DRYER WITH
FRONT MOUNTED CONTROLS

ADJUSTABLE
CLOSET ROD
MULTIPLE
HEIGHT
SHELVES

UNIVERSAL DESIGN COST PRIOR TO
AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION?
COST EXAMPLES:
WIDER DOORWAYS TYPICAL 2’-6” DOOR $ 62.00
FULL 3’-0” DOOR $ 64.00
COST DIFFERENCE $ 2 00
2.00
WORK ASSOCIATED WITH REHAB OF 2’-6” DOOR TO BE 3’-0” DOOR
REMOVAL OF DOOR, HARDWARE AND FRAME
,
DEMO OF FRAMING AND DRYWALL
DEMO OF ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL IF REQUIRED
INSTALLATION OF NEW DOOR HEADER
DRYWALL, TAPE AND PAINTING AFFECTED AREAS
REINSTALLATION OF NEW DOOR, HARDWARE AND FRAME
TOTAL APPROXIMATE RENOVATION COST $ 1 000 00
1,000.00

COST EXAMPLES:
RAISING ELECTICAL OUTLETS AND LOWERING SWITCHES $ 0.00
BLOCKING BEHIND TOILET AND AROUND TUB $ 0.00
NO STEP ENTRY $ 0.00
OTHER COST ADDITIONS:
DOOR HDWR DEFIANT $ 6.49 KNOB $ 9.97 LEVER
SCHLEGE $14.91 KNOB $ 20.87 LEVER
LIGHT SWITCH $ 0 45 TOGGLE
0.45 $ 2 19 DECORA
2.19
DOORBELL $ 2.47 UNLIT $ 3.50 W/ LIGHT
FAUCET DELTA $59.00 NON-ADA $59.00 ADA
SOME ADDITIONAL COST FOR ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IN KITCHEN AND BATH
TOTAL TYPICAL COST DIFFERENCE IS 2% TO 3% CONSTRUCTION COST

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
THE SUNDERLAND FOUNDATION
MISSOURI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HUD
KANSAS CITY MISSOURI DEPT. OF
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
KANSAS CITY MISSOURI POLICE
DEPARTMENT
KANSAS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE
CITY VISION MINISTRIES CONSTRUCTION
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS
MISSOURI WEST / KANSAS CHAPTER
MAJOR CONTRIBUTERS:
LAFARGE CONCRETE / ARXX SYSTEMS
JAMES HARDI PRODUCTS
THE CABINET LADY / MIDWEST LAMINANTS
GENERAL ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
HAFELE
SUNDERLAND BROTHERS COMPANY
WESTERN CHANDELIER
KOHLER
H. LYNN WHITE INC.