Universal Designed "Smart" Homes for the 21st Century

Universal Designed "Smart" Homes for the 21st Century.
Mr. Schwab's contact info., bio. & the services offered are listed below.

Our Mission:

Provide aesthetically pleasing, quality building design and additions that are universal designed including human-centric sustainable building technology and products. Homes and buildings that provide lifetime, independent living, conserve natural resources with attention to health and wellness in the built environment.
Our Vision:

Is that by the year 2025, all new homes in America will include lifetime and healthy design based on the principles of universal design. All buildings will be built with human centered sustainability for real health, safety and economic welfare. Homes will create health care savings and prevention of injuries and encourage chronic rehabilitation / recovery for people in their own home.

Designations held by Mr. Schwab:

Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP) a NARI designation. (Ntl. Assoc. of the remodeling Industry)

Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS), 

Certified Green Professional  (CGP), Both NAHB designations. 

The Services we offer:

Custom Home design: consultation, construction documents, construction administration  for both new homes, renovations and home-modifications for universal designed and sustainability. 

Stock home plans: included in the plan book titled above. Revisions per your building site, and particular requirements.

Home-Modifications: remodels and additions with universal design and energy efficient construction. We can work with photos and dimensions and often are able to do this long distance without visiting.for larger projects a site trip makes sense.

Commercial building design: that includes universal designed and sustainable building practices. Complete design and consultation services are available.

Rent my Brain: Phone or meeting consultations pertaining to your specific project. This will depend on how complete your drawings are to date. Call for an estimate and how to communicate electronically or to meet to review drawings. 

For cost of services information e-mail charlesschwab@universaldesignonline.com 

 Education and Experience:

     Charles is a graduate from The College of Environmental Design at the University of Colorado in Boulder with an emphasis on Architecture. He also studied for 12 months at The University of Regensburg, (in the former West Germany). He traveled throughout Europe studying Renaissance Art and Architecture. He spent much of his time sketching and watercolor painting while traveling. While attending the University of Regensburg all courses were studied in the German language.
     Upon graduation from CU Boulder Co.in 1984, Charles lived and was mentored by some of Colorado's best and well known Architects as an intern architect in Aspen. He assisted in custom residential, and hotel design and detailing and construction administration. He also gained significant experience with historical remodels and working with neighborhood and local approval processes.
     In 1987 while working as an Architect in training for the award winning Aspen firm of Hagman -Yaw Architects. He worked with the team for several years completing construction documents for The Aspen Ski Company Hotel. It still remains Aspen's only five star hotel.
     Mr. Schwab's first complete set of construction and detail drawings and while a project manager was created while working as the Architect intern on the Aspen Center for Environmental studies (ACES), under award winning Architect Tim Hagman.  www.Hagmanarchitects.com  This project is located on Hallam Lake in the heart of Aspen. This is now an AIA Colorado, award winning building and features sustainable and passive solar design and construction as well as other green products and details. It is open to the public daily in Aspen as an environmental and wildlife sanctuary. In  1987 Charles worked under the employ of Charles Cunniffe Architects AIA. as an Intern Architect.  www.cunniffe.com  Mr. Schwab worked with Mr. Cunniffe for several years on various new homes and remodels as well as light commercial projects.  In 1992 he returned to the Midwest to study for his NCARB Architect exams and eventually begin his own practice. Upon his return, he lived with and was a caregiver for his Grandfather. It was after his Grandfather suffered a series of strokes that Charles realized most American homes do not meet the needs of the elderly or most anybody with a physical disability. He came to believe it was nearly impossible to live one's entire life in their own home. Since 1992, Charles has been specializing in universal designing process implementation for the home and green ,sustainable housing. He is an active proponent of sustainable building practices, clean air in buildings, water conservation and energy saving  building design .

 These experiences motivated Charles to create the concept of The Universal Designed "Smart" Home: the merging of  including the design process of universal design and sustainability in construction as homes for the 21st Century.

     While completing the written portions of Universal Designed Smart Homes for the 21st Century  in February 2003, Charles had a bike accident that left him with a shattered left humorous and an eventual prosthetic implant. He found his own home (not of his design) to be not at all accessible even with this type of sports injury.This experience, along with being a caregiver for his Grandfather, has convinced Mr. Schwab of the importance of Universal Design and housing that encourages easy living for people of all ages and abilities. 
     His experience with energy efficient building and green building practices has convinced him that the combination of the two traditionally separate schools of design and practice is the prefered housing model for the 21st Century.
      In 2003 Charles wrote, designed and published America's (and the world's) first universal designed and sustainable home plans book ( 1st edition, 52 plans, 2004, 2nd edition 72 plans)  The 3rd eddition was published in 2005 with 102 plans. He is working to design, educate and inform so that these homes will work into the 21st Century. He enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities and anyone who wants to stay home for a life span at with complete independent living.
    Charles continues to be an advocate and design Universal Design and energy efficient housing. He contributes to Special Living magazine,  EP/ Exceptional Parent magazine and PN/Paraplegia News Magazine on a bi-monthly basis in a column titled Around the House. ( The official magazine of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. ( www.pvamagazines.com )  The plan book has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New Mobility Magazine, Ultimate Home Design Magazine, Quest Magazine, Canada's Abilities magazine and dozens of newsletters.   
 Charles Schwab Architect and Schwab Publishers is not affiliated or related to the Schwab brokerage company.

Professional Disclosure Statement
      Many states may require Architect seals in their state. Most states do not require an Architect's seal to design a home. However, in the states that do,we can help you find and Architect or Structural Engineer  that can review and or provide additional drawings and specifications if required. We work with various professionals around the country. With custom home projects, we will contact your local building inspector to research your building codes. Home plans are designed per the 2009 or 2012 IRC. We prefer the most current energy codes but with that may come higher construction cost. 

Life Span Home Designs LLC retains its own sales Iowa tax number. The home plans have Life Span Home Designs LLC/ Universal Design "Smart "Homes on the title block imprint. The plans do not include the word "Architect" as these plans are not sealed as that is not required in Iowa as noted above and in most states around the USA.