Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA)
Co-Director, RERC on Universal Design in the Built Environment (RERC-UD)
Co-Director, RERC on Accessible Public Transportation (RERC APT)
Distinguished Professor of Architecture, University at Buffalo (UB)
Board of Directors, Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC)
Edward Steinfeld, ArchD, AIA is a registered architect and gerontologist with special interests in universal design, accessibility, and design for the lifespan. At The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), he is a Professor of Architecture and Director of the IDeA Center. Dr. Steinfeld has directed over 30 sponsored research projects, including co-directing the RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment and the RERC on Accessible Public Transportation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Universal Design Commission, Inc. He has over 100 publications and 3 patents. Many of his publications are considered key references in the fields of accessible and universal design; he was a co-author of the seven Principles of Universal Design and the primary author of Universal Design: Creating an Inclusive Environment. He is internationally known for his research and has travelled widely to lecture in many countries.
In 2003 he received a Distinguished Professor Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and has also received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA), and Progressive Architecture. He received a Ron Mace, Designing for the 21st Century Award and in 2010 he was awarded the University at Buffalo’s second annual Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence. In 2012 he was awarded the rank of Distinguished SUNY Professor, the highest rank for faculty in the SUNY system. He is a frequent consultant to federal and state agencies, building owners and attorneys, and has designed several buildings that are home to many people with severe disabilities.
His current work includes projects on anthropometry of disability, development of universal design standards, design of a new demonstration bus and development of new wayfinding systems for buildings. Dr. Steinfeld is a member of RESNA, HFES, and the AIA.
Related links
- Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments
- Goals of Universal Design
- Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA)
- University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning (B/a+p)
- Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Universal Design and the Built Environment
- Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Accessible Public Transportation
- Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC)