By: Ezra N. Rich

As we celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) this entire month, we are proud to highlight someone who has made inclusion his life work globally, and increasingly here in Western New York. A pioneer in inclusive design, Edward H. Steinfeld, Arch. D., AIA, is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and the Director of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environment Access (IDEA Center) at the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning. Buffalo has been blessed to be Ed and his wife Ellen’s hometown since he joined the University at Buffalo faculty in 1978.

Ed is an influential thought leader who believes that architecture should, first and foremost, benefit the people who use buildings and make a positive contribution to the community. He’s been a trailblazer in the field of inclusive design since the 1970s when he led a transformational research project that established the first evidence base for accessibility standards. His impact has been furthered by the thousands of students he has taught, the buildings he’s designed and his work as an expert consultant, as well as his numerous colleagues he has mentored who are very successful in their own right. Furthermore, Ed has authored over 100 publications and holds three patents. Many of his publications are considered key references in the fields of accessible and universal design.

Universal Design

Over the years, Ed’s research has played a key role in federal regulations, including the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. For 20 years, he was the Principal Investigator of a federally funded center of excellence on universal design and the built environment and another on accessible public transportation.

One of his focus areas in recent years is Universal Design, an emerging new paradigm for socially responsible design. Universal Design (UD) is a design process that enables and empowers a diverse population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation. To quantify and recognize facilities that adhere to Universal Design principles, the IDEA Center launched its isUDTM certification program – Innovative Solutions for Universal Design.

This Sunday morning, Temple Beth Tzedek’s North Forest facility, where Ed has been a longtime member, will celebrate becoming the world’s first sacred space certified in Universal Design. Please join Ed and the community at the synagogue’s plaque dedication ceremony at 10:30 am. The synagogue recently marked five years in its new facility since its grand opening in November 2018. The official Universal Design certification process was subsequently delayed due to COVID and related disruptions.

Sacred Inclusion

Temple Beth Tzedek has been a welcoming congregation for many years and its culture is exemplified by the work of its Kesher Inclusion Committee among other elements of Temple life. When the congregation was envisioning what its new facility could be, Ed helped translate that ethos into the built environment. To enable this, Ed worked closely with TBT’s Project Beit Tefilah Committee (house of prayer), the building’s architect, Feingold Alexander, and construction manager, CannonDesign, to execute the 10,000-square-foot expansion, which features the main sanctuary, a community court, a library, a memorial plaque wall, a bridal room, a youth lounge, as well as a variety of office spaces for the temple’s staff. Through the glazed connection to the former B’nai Shalom wing, members of the congregation can access the social hall–supported by an industrial-grade kosher kitchen–and the Minyan room for weekday prayer services. Outdoor amenities including the Shuman Family Memorial Garden and a Sukkah, are also integrated into the design for congregants to use.

Before one experiences the Universal Design elements of the building’s interior, one walks past the inspiring sculpture “Fountain of Wishes” created by Ed’s beloved wife, internationally acclaimed artist Ellen Steinfeld, in loving memory of Leslie Shuman Kramer, Z”L.

With this certification, TBT joins a prominent cadre of Universal Design facilities in Western New York. Other isUD facilities include HANSA workspace, Uniland Development Company’s coworking center in downtown Buffalo, and Uniland’s Hampton Inn Buffalo-Amherst hotel at the Northtown Center athletic complex in Amherst. Nationally, the IDEA Center has also worked on Universal Design projects with clients including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Proctor & Gamble’s Innovation Building in Mason, Ohio, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, among others. To learn more about Universal Design, please visit thisisud.com.

Yasher Koach (kudos) and Mazel Tov to Ed and the entire TBT family!

Ezra N. Rich is the inaugural rebbetziner (rabbi’s husband) as the spouse of Temple Beth Tzedek’s first female rabbi, Rabbi Sara Rich. He also appreciates Universal Design in his role as marketing communications manager at Uniland Development Company.