TRS is proud to have staff certification in Universal Design by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)! 

NARI’s UDCP program recognizes professionals who have demonstrated a dedication to assisting clients with making their home safer and more accessible, while employing the latest design trends. This prestigious certification is reserved for professionals who have demonstrated tenure in the industry, satisfied continuing education requirements, and abide by the NARI Code of Ethics and the NARI Standards of Practice. Achieving certification requires that professionals demonstrate expertise in the areas of Universal Design Fundamentals, Client Needs Assessments, Design, Construction Techniques, Electrical Systems and Assistive Technology, Plumbing Systems, and Exterior Universal Design Considerations. 

There are a lot of terms in the industry that pertain to building and remodeling homes and commercial buildings to improve access. Universal Design (closely related to but broader than Aging in Place) is a design perspective that focuses on ensuring residential environments and products can be used by all members of the family, regardless of their age, size, or physical abilities, throughout each person’s life span. 

More and more of our clients have growing families with children being born, young people added through blended families, and older parents moving in with their adult children. Many of today’s households contain members of widely varying ages, sizes and abilities, a Universal Design approach helps us to think through how spaces will be and can be used by all members of the household. Having a staff member certified in Universal Design helps us to be able to educate our teams and clients on options which can make homes safer and more accessible for everyone.

The core principles of Universal Design include equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, ensuring information is perceptible, minimizing hazards, ease of physical effort, and thinking through size and space from a lens of accessibility. 

Contact us to learn more about how the concepts of Universal Design can be used to optimize functionality without compromising beauty in your new home build or remodel!

See more on Universal Design Certification at the NARI (National Association of Remodeling Industry) website