Ronald Mace

Ronald Lawrence Mace, FAIA (August 3, 1942 – June 29, 1998) was an American architect, product designer, educator, and consultant. He is best known for coining the term universal design and for his work advocating for people with disabilities.

Early life and education Ronald L. Mace was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was the youngest of 2 children. In 1950, at the age of nine, he contracted polio, which led to him spending a year in the hospital. After contracting polio, he used a wheelchair for the rest of his life. where he encountered inaccessible facilities that limited his ability to use campus facilities.

Architectural and design career After his graduation, Mace worked for four years as an architect before becoming involved in advocacy for accessibility in building design. which was the first accessibility-focused building code to be adopted in the United States. of Barrier Free Environments, Inc., which was founded in 1974.

Honors and awards Mace was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In 1996, Mace received a Presidential Citation from the American Institute of Architects.

Personal life Mace was married to Lockhart Follin-Mace, who served as the first executive director of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities Follin-Mace died in 1991 from cancer.

Mace was survived by his nephew William H. Mace, III and his partner Joy Weeber.

Death Ronald L. Mace died at his home in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 29, 1998. The cause of death was a heart arrhythmia caused by polio.