Founder and Executive Director Concrete Change
Concrete Change is the national leading advocacy organization for Visitability. In 1986, Eleanor Smith, founder and Executive Director, began a widespread, ongoing campaign to advocatefor Visitability to every new home. She drafted the first model Visitability ordinances adopted in Atlanta and Austin and disseminates the concept through a web site, videotape and various publications. Ms. Smith received a Best Practices award from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
In 1998 Concrete Change led the development of the Easy Living Home concept, a commitment labeling program for homebuilders. The program is now being implemented in Georgia and several other states. Ms. Smith helped write the federal Inclusive Home Design Act. Between 1999-2004, she collaborated with the IDEA Center on its Visitability Initiative, a project of the RERC on Universal Design at Buffalo (RERC-UD). Since 2005, she has served as an Advisory Board Chairperson of the RERC-UD. She recently co-authored "Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visitability" with Jordana Maisel and Edward Steinfeld for the AARP Public Policy Institute.
Professor Smith pursued an education at the University at Buffalo–State University of New York, where he earned a BPS in architecture as well as a professional M.Arch. degree with a concentration in architectural theory and design. Upon completion of his graduate studies, Smith was awarded the Henry Adams Certificate, the Matthew W. Del Gaudio Award, and the Department of Architecture Chair’s Award. In addition, he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education. In 2003 Smith was named one of 30 nominees from the University of Arkansas faculty (from a pool of 849 candidates) for “Best Teacher,” and received the department of architecture’s Ralph O. Mott Outstanding Teacher Award in 2005 and 2006 and the School of Architecture Outstanding Academic Advisor Award in 2006.
