Janis Kent, CASp, Architect, FAIA

Janis Kent, CASp, FAIA

A pioneer of barrier-free design, architect Janis Kent, CASp, FAIA, has been elected by the 2015 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to its College of Fellows. According to a media release from Stepping Thru Accessibilty, Kent has also helped widen the implementation of accessible environments through her presentations, prolific writing, teaching, regulatory advocacy, and consulting.

As a frequent writer and speaker on the subject of accessibility, Kent has made presentations about accessibility a venues from Dwell On Design in Los Angeles, to Design DC in Washington, to the National AIA Conventions in Chicago, New Orleans, and upcoming in Atlanta. She conducts seminars for the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Residential Design; and has presented to business associations including numerous AIA Chapters, Chambers of Commerce, the US Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), Manufactured Housing Educational Trust (MHET), California Public Parking Association (CPPA), the Los Angeles Housing + CID, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Kent’s recent book is the second edition of Stepping Through Accessible Details. Richard Halloran, Secretary of the San Francisco Access Appeals Commission, reportedly describes the book as “The most comprehensive and thorough compilation of accessibility information I have encountered.”

The AIA Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession.

Kent is described by the Stepping Thru Accessibility media release as a licensed California architect for more than 30 years, who has been involved with access in the built environment since the beginning of her practice. She is further described as the founding president of the Certified Access Specialist Institute (CASI), a designated Subject Matter Expert (SME) by the California Division of the State Architect, a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), and serves on the committee to develop the California state CASp exams. In 2014 Kent was recognized for her contribution in access by the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA).

[Source: Stepping Thru Accessibility]