On the 15 October 2024, CEUD hosted the third in a series of lunch time webinars as part of the Universal Design in the Build Environment series. This webinar, Inclusive Steps: Universal Design for Stairs was presented by Nicola Ryan, who highlighted the difficulties that stairs can cause for a wide range of users, design considerations for making stairs easier to access and use and the spatial implications for Universal Design of stairs.

You can watch the recording of this webinar below. ISL interpretation and captions are included. 

Following this webinar, you should have:

  • Improved awareness of the diversity of users impacted by stairs design
  • Knowledge of stairs features that can improve the accessibility and usability of stairs for a wide range of users
  • Understanding of the spatial and detail design implications for taking a Universal Design approach to stairs

Nicola Ryan, Studio Red Architects 

Nicola Ryan headshot
Nicola Ryan, Studio Red 

Nicola Ryan is co-director of Studio Red Architects. She is a Grade 2 Conservation Architect. She has a special interest in inclusive housing solutions - including development of existing buildings, infill plots and backland sites in established communities. She is a member of the RIAI Universal Design Task Force and the NSAI Technical Committee for the new national standard for Universal Design Homes in Ireland.

Nicola’s son has autism, epilepsy, and mobility issues. She recently completed a co-housing build with her business partner, Gráinne Dunne – to provide 3 family homes on a backland site in the village of Chapelizod, Dublin. Her family’s home, designed around the specific needs of her son, was highly commended in RIAI Awards 2022 under the Universal Design category.

Watch the webinar below. 

Inclusive Steps: Universal Design for Stairs