Kolbe windows & doors

Designing for the elderly and disabled is a large part of universal design, otherwise known as accessible design. Did you know that the 85 and older age group is now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population? It is expected to double by 2020, then double again by 2040. And, about 80% of seniors have at least one chronic health condition and 50% have at least two. Chronic health conditions are some of the leading causes of activity limitations among older people.*

Did you know that in 2006, the prevalence of disability in the U.S was 15% for people under age 5, 6.5% for people ages 5 to 15, 6.9% for ages 16 to 20, 12.9% for adult ages 21 to 64, 30.2% for people in the 65 to 74 age group, and 52.6% for people age 75 or over.**

Clearly, there is a need for products and spaces that are designed for use by a wide variety of individuals – whether young or old, healthy & strong, or weak and full of pain. That's what universal design is about. Kolbe windows and doors are as beneficial as they are beautiful in universal design projects. Please visit often to review projects which incorporate Kolbe windows and doors.

*Aging in the United States, published by the Bureau of the Census
**2006 Disability Status Report, United States, published by Cornell University A Model Home Provides Inspiration for Accessible Design

Americans' life spans are longer than ever. Yet, the longer we live, the more likely we are to develop physical limitations. In fact, one out of six Americans will experience a major disability during his/her lifetime. And, America is aging. By 2012, there will be more people over age 65 than in all the other age categories combined. As a result, there is a growing need for universally accessible homes that enable people to live independently. Surprisingly, the growing need for accessible housing has not resulted in a proliferation of accessible single-family residences. That's what prompted Wayne Geurink and his nonprofit group, Chairs & Cares, to develop a model home to demonstrate accessible design in Wausau, Wisconsin.

A retired Wausau Insurance executive, Geurink suffered paralyzing injuries from a car accident in 1991. In 2001, the idea for the Chairs & Cares Model Home for Accessible Design came to him during discussions among members of a spinal cord injury group in which someone would inevitably say, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a place where people could see, or get information about, accessible housing?"

Geurink discovered that there wasn't even one universally designed accessible residence model in the central Wisconsin area. "I felt very strongly that this area needed a demonstration home that would highlight ways for people to keep their independence if they become disabled, or as they age or become less agile," he said. The home is intended to inspire architects and builders with ideas for making new or remodeled homes more functional for people with physical limitations.

Virtually all of the model home's design elements and building components were donated. Committed to the project from its earliest stages, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. contributed 51 windows and 21 interior and entry doors. "Kolbe was the very first contributor to sign on to the project," says Geurink. "We were very impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment, and their superior products provide the design and operation flexibility that accessible design demands."

"To people with low strength and/or less control of their upper body, an inch here or there can make the difference between dependence and independence," says Geurink. Navigating doors and doorways, and opening and closing windows are among the biggest challenges for people with limited mobility. Throughout the model home, longer-than-usual manual cranks make Kolbe casement windows easier to open and close. Oversized lever locks are located near window bottoms for easier access. Bay window locks are closer to the interior, giving ready access to people in wheelchairs. The dining room's bay window operates with a push-button, electronic opener. Many options are available to enable the operation of Kolbe windows and doors for a person with limited strength.

Geurink adds that accessible windows go beyond functionality, to include convenience and enjoyment. The windows have a maximum sill height of 33 inches, which allows viewing from a seated position. "Variety in window types is also important, which is why the home has some floor to ceiling windows. These allow for an unobstructed view, as well as letting lots of light in. The large southern exposure windows create a passive solar effect, and make the rooms bright and sunny," he said.

To make entry and exit easier, door sills are engineered into the door frames as integral components, and ensure that the threshold is flush with the floor. This is beneficial for wheelchair accessiblity, as well as for people using crutches, canes and walkers.

All of the exterior and interior Kolbe doors are wider than usual (36 inches) to comfortably accommodate passage by people in wheelchairs. Interior swinging doors are fitted with lever handles, making them easier for people with limited dexterity to operate than doors with knobs or latch handles. The utility closet door is not only oversized, it has an additional pull bar mounted to its surface to make it easier to close.

The windows and exterior doors all feature energy-efficient LoE²-270 glass with double glazing and weatherstripping to prevent draft and temperature variations. For minimal exterior maintenance, Kolbe's Ultra Series extruded aluminum clad windows were finished in a Hartford Green 70% fluoropolymer finish, which has a 30-year limited finish warranty.

The Chairs & Cares Model Home for Accessible Design officially opened in October of 2007. It was designed by Roger Plamann, an architectural instructor at Wausau's Northcentral Technical College (NTC), with input from a 16 person advisory board. In Spring of 2006, Keller Builders started construction on the $1.2 million project, which is sited on the NTC campus. The prototype home is operated by Midstate Independent Living Consultants, a nonprofit agency that serves people with disabilities in north-central and northeastern Wisconsin.

"Surveys show that most of us want to remain in our own homes as we age... [which] means huge dollar savings..." says Geurink. Statistics from AARP showing that in 2006, the average annual cost for nursing home care in the U.S. was $68,800. "Our vision is to have the Chairs & Cares Model Home for Accessible Design to be successful enough to influence other parts of the country to develop similar properties," says Geurink.