using link I can set properties to each type of control in a control class

using OfType<>() you can pass in a type of control, like panel, and then iterate over the collection.  The example below iterates over all Panels's in an update panel control and sets all but the one passed in to visiable = false.

private void SetDisplay(string panelName)
        {
            //List<Panel> panels = (List<Panel>)this.Controls.OfType<Panel>();
            var pnls = from control in UpdatePanel1.Controls[0].Controls.OfType<Panel>()                     
                       select control;

            foreach (Panel pn in pnls)
            {
                if (pn.ID == panelName)
                    pn.Visible = true;
                else
                    pn.Visible = false;
            }

        }