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cKittrick Homes, the area’s expert in buildingUniversal Design homes, has been recognized bythe National Association of Home Builders’(NAHB) Best of Seniors Housing Awards

Program with their Platinum Achievement Award forAging In Place homes.

The Best of Seniors Housing Awards Program, institutedin 1992 by the NAHB Seniors Housing Council, celebratesthe best and most successful seniors projects as well as recognizing visionary projects still “on the boards”. Theprogram showcases the finest projects from active adult communities and senior apartments to CCRCs and assisted living communities.

A distinguished panel of experienced architects,marketing experts and other industry professionals judgeprojects in 108 categories of seniors housing design and marketing. Platinum, Gold and Silver awards are presented, as well as special awards for innovation.

McKittrick Homes specializes in building UniversalDesign homes that concentrate on the designing ofproducts and spaces to make them usable by all people tothe greatest extent possible. There are many features ofUniversal Design that can be incorporated into a home asit is being built that will eliminate the need for makingadaptations at a future time. These accommodations make daily life considerably easier for many seniors and/or physically challenged people.

Universal Design provides many thoughtful, stylishsolutions to help people comfortably stay in their homes,such as:

• Lever handles on doors allowing for one-handedoperation.

• Lever handles on faucets and no-step shower entriesfor safe, easy use.

• No-step porches and ramps.

• Wider hallways and doorways for easy maneuvering.

• Stratiegic placement ofwall outlets and light switches.

• Multi-level kitchen counters and removable cabinet fronts.

• Elevators.

• First-floor master bedrooms, baths and laundry rooms.

• Adjusted appliance heights, controls, openings, andmany more.

“What we really love about Randy McKittrick’sUniversal Design home, is how it doesn’t appear to be anydifferent than any other typical new home,” says Judy andJerry Bateman, owners of a McKittrick home sinceOctober of last year. “Our home is simply a beautifullybuilt, very livable new home.”

According to Randy McKittrick, building the idealhome is the result of thoughtful planning, constant communication and a loyal commitment to the home-owner. McKittrick is a third-generation home builder andis steadfast in his belief that providing quality and performance is a responsibility shared by everyoneinvolved in the building of each new home. This philosophy holds true for the beautiful, traditional customhomes McKittrick is also known for.

“By customizing a home with Universal Design features, all members of the household will benefit from asafer home that imposes fewer constraints on daily activities,” explains McKittrick. “Many of us are faced withthe challenge of caring for an elderly family member.Universal Design allows a family to live together in preferred places, instead of facing the emotional and economic cost of moving or institutionalizing a familymember. Households can ‘age in place’ over their lifecyclewithout incurring significant remodeling expenses.”

Winning this Platinum Award has allowed McKittrickHomes to position their products among the finest on the market today. The seniors housing market is the new thoroughbred of the housing industry. It’s rapid growth isfueled by the millions of baby boomers who are enteringthe hot, active adult market. Their influx has forced theindustry to design and develop new products and servicesfor the 55+ consumer as well as revamp their marketingstrategies.

For more information about Universal Design or otherMcKittrick Homes, call 913-402-1961, or visit

www.mckittrickhomes.com. Many UniversalDesign features are showcased in McKittrick

Homes’ award winning model home located inSt. James Court at 11108 West 132nd Place inOverland Park.

Quality Homes Built With Good Sense To Last A Lifetime,McKittrick Homes Is Universal Design In Kansas City

he process of building a new home demandsthat a myriad of decisions be made before and

during construction. Once the home is completed,how comfortable and user-friendly the home is tothe homeowner is ultimately determined by thosedecisions.

Not surprisingly, many new home buyers’ initialdecisions involve the basic floor plan and generalaesthetics of the home; ranch or multi-story, walk-out or daylight, colors, treatments, finishes,etc. But as a large segment of the population inches towards retirement age, more considerationmust be given to making decisions based on definite and predictable future needs and lifestylechanges.

This forward thinking is the driving force behindthe concept of Universal Design, the art of designing products and spaces to make themusable by all people to the greatest extent possible.There are many features of Universal Design thatcan be incorporated into a home as it is being builtthat will eliminate the need for making adaptations at a future time. These accommoda-tions make daily life considerably easier for manypeople, including seniors and/or physically challenged people.

In the Kansas City Metro area, Randy McKittrickof McKittrick Homes, is the torch bearer forUniversal Design. McKittrick, a third generationhome builder, operates from the steadfast beliefthat building the ideal home is a direct result ofthoughtful planning, constant communicationand loyal commitment to the homeowner.

“Customizing a home with Universal Design features makes a home safer and easier to live inregardless of age or physical challenges,” explainsMcKittrick. “Universal Design affords individualsthe opportunity to ‘age in place’ rather than being

forced to move to another home or going to a carefacility. We strive to build the home the homeownerreally wants, not a home based on a preconceivednotion of what someone else thinks they shouldhave.”

In October of last year, Jerry and Judy Batemanmoved into their Universal Design home in St.Andrews Court. Jerry has lived with MS for 20-years and loves how the new home that RandyMcKittrick built for them allows him to live muchmore independently. Because of wider hallways,front entry ramp, elevator, specially designedappliances and many other features, Jerry is ableto easily move around thehouse on his scooter whileperforming routine dailychores such as laundry andcooking.

“We considered retirementliving,” Jerry said. “But Idecided I wanted a new homewhere I could maintain myindependence. We looked ina 100 mile radius of KansasCity, and Randy is the onlybuilder who could offer us ahome with Universal Design.The instant we looked at hismodel home, we knew it wasthe solution to our needs.”

The concept of UniversalDesign concentrates on spe-cific “zones” in residentialhomes. The “Whole HouseZone” incorporates such items as strategicallyplaced switches, wall outlets and window sills aswell as adjustable rods in the closets. The “Entry and Transition Zone” is wherelow thresholds, door widths and handles, ramps,hallway widths, wheelchair turning space andother items are taken into consideration. The “Kitchen Zone” deals withappliances, counters andcabinets, and the“BathroomZone” iswhere special

designs in plumbing are prevalent.

McKittrick Homes’ expertise in building UniversalDesign homes is not only appreciated and enjoyedby homeowners such as the Batemans, it hasrecently been recognized with the “PlatinumAchievement Award” for Aging In Place homes bythe National Association of Home Builders’Seniors Housing Council. The NAHB SeniorsHousing Awards program celebrates the best andmost successful seniors’ projects and recognizesvisionary projects still on the boards. This national recognition of McKittrick Homes comesas no surprise to the Batemans.

“You won’t find a more sincereand caring person thanRandy,” says Judy Bateman.“We educated him on whatour specific needs were and hebuilt our home to those exacting details. We had agreat building experience withRandy. If something neededfixing or adjusted, he immediatelysaw that it was taken care of.”

McKittrick Homes believesthat the successful completionof any new home begins withlistening to the wants andneeds of their customers.“Only then can we deliverwell-designed living environ-ments that create comfortable

lifestyles with remarkablevalue,” says Randy McKittrick.

“Expanding customer satisfaction comes fromyears of progressive and responsible building.Knowing the right vendors, utilizing the bestmaterials and offering consistent follow-throughdrives our company. Build It Right. Build It To Last.”

For more information about Universal Design and McKittrick Homes,

call 913-402-1961, or visitwww.mckittrickhomes.com.

Jerry Bateman enjoys the elevator because hecan now manuver around the house with ease.

Jerry and Judy Bateman doing the dishes

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AS SEEN IN NEW HOMES JOURNAL • MARCH 2005