Joseph CascianiGeropsychologist, Consultant, Public Speaking, Freelance · Podcast Host of the Living to 100 Club | Clinical Strategies for Senior Residential Settings & Lifestyle Directors | Geropsychologist | Keynote Speaker

Why Current Housing is not Conducive to Longevity with Aaron Murphy

12 Feb 2024 · 1 min

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In this segment, Aaron Murphy explains that most residential construction ignores universal design, aging‑in‑place, and ADA considerations. He contrasts this with commercial and public buildings, where ADA requirements are enforced and features like wheelchair‑turn‑around bathrooms are standard. Murphy notes that housing has no accessibility mandates until a building reaches four or more units, at which point the International Residential Code (IRC) gives way to the International Building Code (IBC), which incorporates ADA standards. He draws on his experience designing two million square feet of commercial space to illustrate the disparity.

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built by a builder that is not thinking about universal design, not thinking about aging in place, not thinking about ADA. I've designed 2 million square feet of commercial buildings in my life. Yes, the bathroom in that building, you can turn a wheelchair around and you can have a walker and still wash your hands. And right, that's normal at the bank. That's normal at the stadium. That's Those are your public spaces. The ADA made a fantastic first step start in 1990. There is no such thing as accessibility requirement for housing, period. Until you get up to, you know, 4 units and commercial or public, you switch from the IRC, the International Residential Code, into the IBC, the International Building Code. That's where the ADA lives.