Designing for Accessibility and Sustainability: A Unified Approach

Explore how sustainable practices and ADA compliance intersect, focusing on creating environmentally conscious, accessible spaces for all users.

Sponsored by Inpro | Presented by Jazz Graves, and Ruben Van Colenberghe

Live Webinar Airing on May 28, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

This course is part of the ADA Academy

As the demand for inclusive and sustainable design grows, architects and design professionals must find innovative ways to integrate accessibility with environmental responsibility. Designing for Accessibility and Sustainability: A Unified Approach explores how ADA compliance and sustainable design strategies can work together to create functional, efficient, and inclusive spaces for all users.

This webinar will examine the intersection of accessibility and sustainability, demonstrating how universal design principles align with green building practices to enhance usability and environmental performance. Participants will explore strategies for selecting sustainable materials, incorporating energy-efficient systems, and utilizing biophilic design to improve accessibility and occupant well-being. Through real-world case studies, attendees will gain insight into navigating regulatory requirements and aligning projects with industry certifications.

By the end of this session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to implement adaptable design solutions that optimize resource efficiency, improve usability, and contribute to healthier, more resilient built environments. Whether you are an architect, designer, or industry professional, this webinar will provide the knowledge and tools to create spaces prioritizing accessibility and sustainability.

Jazz Graves, a principal at KieranTimberlake will present accessibility and sustainability as design drivers to prioritize futureproofing and inclusivity in a comprehensive renewal that values the past and seeks ways to ensure a future that crosses generations. Harvard University’s Undergraduate House Renewal Program aims to re-configure nine historic campus residences to meet the complex needs of today’s students with an emphasis on improved accessibility. KieranTimberlake has completed several of these renewals and is currently working on the interior and exterior renovation and restoration of Eliot House, a Neo-Georgian building built in 1931 and located along the Charles River in the heart of the River Houses. Eliot House will be the first of the River Houses to seek ILFI’s Living Building Challenge Core Certification.

Bell Design Group Ruben Van Colenberghe will present Balancing Accessibility and Creative Reuse. Accessibility and sustainability are often recognized for their individual importance, but not always considered for their symbiotic relationship. Bell Design Group, finds that achieving this balanced relationship is a central challenge in contemporary practice. Their approach to this challenge is to craft meaningful, inclusive environments that embody wholistic sustainable principles. This presentation showcases case studies in which accessibility and sustainability were the primary goals, often with limited budgets.

At the end of these dynamic presentations, a brief Q&A session will be to discuss key points from the webinar.

Photo courtesy of Kieran Timberlake

River House Renewal, Harvard University

	Jazz Graves , As a Principal at KieranTimberlake, Jazz brings a strong collaborative approach to deliver design solutions with ambitious technological and sustainability goals. Since joining the firm in 2012, she has been involved with a variety of projects, including the award-winning Engineering Research Center at Brown University, a cutting-edge laboratory facility that was designed and built using an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process. She also served as a project architect for Washington University in St. Louis’ East End Transformation, which included a new facility for the art and architecture school, an expansion of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, two new multi-use buildings, and an underground parking garage. At MIT, Jazz recently stewarded a comprehensive undergraduate housing roadmap study, thoroughly investigating renewal strategies for three large undergraduate residential facilities. She is currently the principal in charge of the historic renewal of the interior and exterior for two of Harvard University’s River Houses.

	Ruben Van Colenberghe , Ruben Van Colenberghe, Project Director, Associate, Bell Design Group is a passionate and driven architect with 20+ years of expertise with a focus on functionality, efficiency and quality. Ruben has built over 46 million square feet around the world. He brings a bevy of building construction techniques, BIM mastery, engineering coordination and architectural standards to BDG, where he leads the project management and quality control efforts of the firm.

Originally published in Architectural Record

Originally published in February 2025

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify Key Intersections Between Sustainability and Accessibility – Analyze how ADA compliance and sustainable design principles can be integrated to create spaces that promote environmental responsibility and universal access.
Apply Sustainable Strategies to Enhance Accessibility – Explore how sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and biophilic design contribute to accessible environments that support occupant health, safety, and well-being.
Evaluate Design Solutions for Compliance and Performance – Assess case studies demonstrating the successful implementation of ADA-compliant and sustainable design strategies, ensuring projects meet legal requirements while enhancing usability.
Incorporate Universal Design Principles for a Healthier Built Environment – Implement best practices in universal design to create adaptable, inclusive spaces that accommodate diverse user needs while optimizing resource efficiency and building performance.

1 AIA LU/HSW

0.1 ICC CEU

1 AIBD P-CE

0.1 IACET CEU*

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