Cheri Gerou was named State Architect in October of 2019 and has just completed her tenure in that role. It would be quite an understatement to say her time in office was eventful.
Just months into her role, COVID emerged as a pandemic which no one could have prepared for. In a matter of weeks, Cheri’s team constructed five acute care field hospitals in Denver, Grand Junction, Loveland, Pueblo and Westminster. They responded to new state statutes on climate impact and building performance, writing the rules with little additional support or headcount. They identified state owned assets to redeploy for workforce housing and still managed to present budgets to the legislature, work with user agencies, and improve processes and workflows for industry partners to keep the vertical infrastructure of our state in good working order.
Public service has been a hallmark of her career and this is just a capstone, having served in the state legislature and at the University of Colorado.
For all you have done, Cheri, we thank you and are pleased to present you with the Distinguished Achievement Award.
Cheri’s esteemed predecessor Larry Friedberg, FAIA aptly summed it up by saying that Cheri is “a force of nature and an outstanding champion of the profession, and the AIA, while serving in the legislature and state government.”
We heartily agree.