Author: Jon Bell

The Award

This award recognizes an individual architect who has made significant impact on the profession of architecture in Colorado. The criteria state they have developed a portfolio of notable, creative, and meaningful architecture that has positively impacted Colorado, they have pushed architecture toward the future while also honoring its past, become widely known for the quality of their work by architects, designers, educators, and the public, have advocated for fellow architects and advanced the community through their service and leadership, and have helped to address current issues in Colorado by using their expertise as a design professional. 

Adam Wagoner, AIA – as awarded by Anna Friedrich, Assoc. AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado Board Member, 2024 Honors Award Committee

Our 2024 recipient stands out not only for their exceptional design skills, but also for their dedication to uplifting the entire Colorado architecture community. You may have seen him moderating a panel, or listened to an interview on his podcast, Architect-ing. We are pleased to announce that the AIA Colorado 2024 Architect of the Year is Adam Wagoner. 

While rooted in the practice of creating functional spaces with meticulous details, Adam’s practice at Hi, Low, Buffalo encompasses a broad range of services, including multidisciplinary visioning, technology tutorials, and production assistance. Through his successful podcast, Adam has spotlighted the incredible designers we have working in the community, offering valuable insights into the joys and challenges of the architectural profession. When evaluating for this award, the jury was particularly impressed with how Adam has crafted a unique career path in the architectural industry, proving that Architecture is an ever-evolving profession.

The jury is pleased to award Adam Wagoner the 2024 AIA Colorado Architect of the Year. 

The Award

The AIA Colorado Young Architect Award recognizes the individual achievements of a young architect licensed to practice architecture fewer than 10 years. This individual will have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their career.

Maura Trumble, AIA – as awarded by Andi Korber, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado West Director, 2024 Honors Award Committee

A few words about Mo Trumble will follow, but perhaps the first note on this award is to note just how competitive and incredible the candidate field was for this award. This award included a packed field and an embarrassment of riches for the jury to deliberate. It was a fun problem to have, and one that left all of us impressed. Thank you to the folks in the audience who may have applied we hope you reapply! 

Maura Trumble’s nomination was a stand-out even in a fantastic race and it’s an honor to give her this well-deserved accolade. 

Mo is the first woman to be a partner at CCY architects. She is a leader inside and outside of her architectural company. She is deeply involved in the design and arts community with an impressive list of volunteer board positions and speaking engagements that all support community design. Her work with USGBC and ULI underscores a commitment to improving the built environment for climate sustainability, and her work within CCY to wholeheartedly engage the 2030 commitment at her firm shows this commitment is rooted in her day-to-day studio work as well. Climate equity has not been her only mark. Mo is also a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at CCY – leading recruiting and firm retreats with this goal.

The jury would like to wrap up our congratulations to Maura with some words about the architecture that she has made in Colorado. Your combination of beauty, practicality, and whimsy shows in all your projects. And we were particularly taken with the incredible breadth of the portfolio from a small forest folly to sizable multifamily projects that all showcase a sense of individuality. Nothing in Mo’s submission was boring. It was full of personality and memorable moments. Looking forward to seeing your contributions in the future. Congratulations!

The jury was challenged with a number of excellent submissions and Maura’s submittal rose to the top for a number of reasons, Congratulations!

The Award

This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a firm that has produced notable architecture for at least a decade. Award-winning firms have set an example both in design and leadership in the state. Criteria include an outstanding portfolio as a product of the firm’s collaborative environment. Through its work it has made a significant impact on its community and/or the architecture profession. Demonstrates a commitment to training future architects. Additionally, they exhibit a culture that embraces diversity and is widely known for the quality of its work, ability to work with clients and collaboration as a team by architects, designers, educators, and the public. They are known for the application of innovative technologies and/or progressive methodologies and developed works to achieve resilient and sustainable design goals. 

Arch11 – as awarded by Scott Rodwin, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado President-Elect, Honor Award Jury Chair

This year, AIA Colorado is proud to award Arch 11 as our Firm of the year. Founded 30 years ago by EJ Meade and led by EJ and Principals Ken Andrews & Linnaea Stuart, the firm’s highly collaborative approach has consistently produced a portfolio of outstanding work that exemplifies an artistic and environmentally focused ethos.  The firm is known for its innovative designs for homes, schools, libraries, offices, hospitality, and public pavilions, and a passion for a distinctly modern architectural expression that is firmly rooted in the Colorado landscape. And their commitment to mentorship, teaching, and volunteering have given back richly to the next generation of architects. 

Let me depart from the official jury comments and share a personal note. We have a tight knit design community in Boulder. As a friendly rival working in the same market, EJ and I have come up through the profession together. Even when we compete for the same jobs, I can graciously accept when Arch11 is chosen out of respect for their practice. And I believe the feeling is mutually shared among all of the local firms. Through triumph and tragedy, the work endures and the firm perseveres which makes this even more special.

The Award

AIA Colorado is excited to identify and present the award for Young Firm of the Year for 2024. This award targets new firms already making a lasting contribution to the advancement of architecture and design in Colorado. The Honor Awards Committee is confident that this firm is only getting started and we’re very optimistic that this firm will continue to achieve great heights in the future by synthesizing sustainability with great design. 

Shape Architecture – as awarded by John Glen, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado Board Secretary, 2024 Honors Award Committee

Founded by Morgan Law, AIA, and Steve Scribner, AIA, both are passionate about advancing the ideals of Passive House and rigorous sustainability within every facet of their practice. The practices, passion, and talents come through in every project they embark on. Their designs are award-winning and fully respond to context and resiliency. This ethos carries through to every detail of their projects no matter the scale. 

This award is not just dedicated to firms that design pretty buildings; we seek to look for exemplary offices that have a strong desire to advance practice, advocate for the future and profession, and retain and attract excellent talent. While there is technically an ‘I’ in Architecture, we all know that it takes the collaboration of talented staff to achieve what Shape is seeking to do.  

Shape always strives to use practice as a mechanism for positive change by fusing great design with a high level of sustainability and resiliency. Their process puts great emphasis on collaboration from initial conception to CofO. Their commitment to balancing varied interests sets them apart. They try to turn constraints into assets for their clients. 

The Honor Awards committee is excited to see what the next chapter portends for this up-and-coming firm.

The Award

This Award recognizes a community member in Colorado who has significantly contributed to the advancement of architecture from a vantage point outside of a firm or a traditional practice career.

Dr. Lydia Prado, PhD – as awarded by Julianne Scherer, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado President

The official title of our recipient is Executive Director of Lifespan Local, but her unofficial role is place maker. Under her leadership, Lifespan Local is revolutionizing mental health care in Colorado, centering services in the context of community well-being and addressing connections between physical health, mental health and–of special relevance to this audience–creating spaces that enable people to influence the decisions that affect their own lives. 

An accidental developer, she saw that the social determinants of health are primarily architecture challenges: lack of dignified housing, unsafe community gathering spaces, under-resourced healthy eating and living options, developments that don’t engage neighbors or end users. Rather than issue a challenge or publish research, she committed to testing whether better outcomes are possible through better places, partnering with architects to make it happen at the Dahlia Campus and Westwood Redeemer. 

Sometimes it takes a non-architect to remind us of the power we have been given and the impact our decisions have on the health of communities. For proving that design makes a difference in the lives of Southwest Denver residents, I’m humbled and honored to recognize Dr. Lydia Prado with the 2024 AIA Colorado Presidents Award. 

Dr. Lydia Prado is the Executive Director of Lifespan Local, which activates community-driven solutions to collectively identified challenges by partnering across sectors, breaking barriers and elevating community voices. By maximizing sustainable assets within a neighborhood, Lifespan Local is able to reimagine what is possible, creating community spaces where health and wellness thrive.

Dr. Prado approaches her work from a systems and strengths-based perspective, with an emphasis on diversity, equity and community-based leadership. Dr. Prado is a place-maker, convening partners with a shared commitment to healthy living and social change.

Before starting Lifespan Local, Dr. Prado spent 17 years with the Mental Health Center of Denver as the Vice President of Child & Family Services. She is the project visionary behind the Mental Health Center of Denver’s Dahlia Campus for Health & Well-Being, an innovative community center in Northeast Park Hill that promotes well-being across the lifespan. The site features an inclusive preschool, a full service dental clinic for children, a one acre urban farm, 5,400 sq ft aquaponics greenhouse, horticultural therapy spaces, community gardens, teaching kitchen, community room, gymnasium and a full array of mental health services for all ages.

Visit Lifespan Local

The Award

This award recognizes a group or organization in Colorado that has made a positive impact on Colorado communities and significantly contributed to the advancement of architecture and/or enhanced the role of practitioners. 

ACE Mentorship Program of Colorado – as awarded by Joey Bahnsen, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado Board Member and South Director

Vanessa Valerio accepted the award on behalf of ACE Mentorship Program of Colorado.

This year, ACE Mentor Program of Colorado was selected as the standout nomination for their continued involvement, engagement, and inspiration of high school students hoping to enter the AEC industry. Through organizations like ACE, the architecture industry continues to have a pipeline of innovative leaders and designers entering college programs throughout the United States, but especially right here in Colorado. 

It goes without saying that the Jury had a difficult time deliberating between several deserving organizations but the impact that ACE Colorado has made locally and on a national level is truly amazing. ACE Mentor Program of Colorado gave out over $50,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in 2024, hosted students from across the country at CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning for 2 weeks of summer camps and continues to engage industry professionals and AIA Colorado members to create connections with high school students, teachers, and families that will last a lifetime. 

ACE Colorado has continued to be a leader in virtual teaching sessions to reach students in rural areas of the state and extend opportunities to students in other states that don’t have ACE. Often an example for excellence to other ACE affiliates, ACE Colorado continues to innovate and inspire high school students and the industry professionals that act as mentors. 

ACE Mentor Program of Colorado has proven that the reach and impact of local architects, designers, engineers, and contractors can be felt across the entire country. Please give a round of applause for ACE Mentor Program of Colorado for being selected as this year’s AIA Colorado Impact Award recipient.

ACE Mentor Program of Colorado serves high school students who want to explore careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Throughout the year, the ACE program, which meets two hours per week for 17 weeks introduces participants to building industry professions by having them plan and design mock projects on real sites and work with professionals in the design and build industries.

Visit ACE Mentorship Program of Colorado

The Award

This award showcases buildings that set a precedent and stand the test of time. Recognizing a built structure that has catalyzed, reimagined, and advanced communities in Colorado, enhancing the public’s appreciation and beneficial use of architecture. These honorees continue to set standards of design excellence and architectural significance. Eligible nominations must be: located in Colorado, built at least 25 years prior to the date of submittal, and still in active use.

Coors Field – as awarded by Scott Rodwin, AIA, 2024 AIA Colorado President-Elect.

Kevin Kahn, Chief Customer Officer & Vice President, Ballpark Operations, Colorado Rockies, accepted the award on behalf of the Colorado Rockies.

We’ve had many examples of truly remarkable projects since first giving this award in 1994. On this 30th anniversary of the AIA Colorado 25 Year Award, we honor an organization that themselves just celebrated 30 years in business in 2023. But this is no ordinary business, and their headquarters is anything but a traditional corporate campus. It may be one of the most successful recruiting wins to locate a national expansion franchise that this state has ever seen and changed its neighborhood for generations to come.  

This year’s award goes to Coors Field. Opened April 1995 and designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), it set the precedent for the “Modern Retro” baseball park movement along with Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1992. Like Camden Yards, Coors Field set itself in the heart of the urban environment instead of in a sea of parking lots, and thoroughly integrated brick and traditional building materials instead of the sterile “concrete donut” multipurpose stadiums which were the precedent.

The design hearkens back to beloved historic ballparks like Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Ebbets Field in Brooklyn while creating new fan experiences like the introduction of a field level “open concourse” that allowed viewing of the field while at concession stands or just circulating in the stadium. A design feature now ubiquitous in sports stadium and arena design.

A late decision was made to keep LoDo’s Student Movers building standing and link it into the ballpark to house Major League Baseball’s first in-stadium brewpub (where brewers later created the first Blue Moon wheat beer, now a Coors flagship brand).

Perhaps more important than the design attributes and first of its kind innovations is the positive neighborhood impact we take for granted today. Before Coors Field, there was no Lower Downtown as we now know it. The area was a largely neglected and notoriously run-down swath of viaducts bypassing crumbling brick warehouses.

Joining Larimer Square, the Buell Theatre and the Wynkoop Brewery as development pioneers, the decision to construct Coors Field brought more infrastructure investment which eventually encompassed Union Station.

A growth cycle with loft-living warehouse redevelopments breaking ground simultaneous with the ballpark’s construction suggested the hint of a potentially viable new 24-hour urban neighborhood.

But the critical piece of the puzzle was 10s of thousands of fans that began flooding into LoDo once the Rockies started playing at Coors Field in 1995, crowding the now thriving hub of bars, restaurants and retail establishments on Blake Street and beyond.

Without Coors Field, Denver would not have the spark which brought new life to LoDo.

Without LoDo, we wouldn’t enjoy the vibrancy of adjacent neighborhoods—with their alphabet soup names–like LoHi, RiNo, SoBo, SloHi. 

Coors Field is a shining example of the everyday extraordinary—a building for playing baseball that became a catalyst for city building.  

Home of the Colorado Rockies, Coors Field is a 50,000 seat baseball stadium, situated in the now-revitalized LoDo neighborhood of Denver.

Visit Coors Field Ballpark History

The Award

This Award recognizes a community member in Colorado who has significantly contributed to the advancement of architecture throughout their career and professional life.

This was presented on behalf of AIA Colorado by Steve Loos, FAIA and accepting on behalf of Marvin, Mark Sparn and Marla Sparn Meehl.

At the time of Marvin’s passing, several Fellows shared with the AIA Colorado community:

“I had the good fortune to work with Marvin for about 40 years through AIA Colorado. As many know, Marv was elected president in 1991 and shortly after, due to great staffing difficulties, he and his wife, Yvonne, took over the day-to-day operation of the organization. For nearly a year, they basically ran AIA Colorado, a daunting task, especially as a volunteer! Marv was elevated to Fellowship in 1996 in recognition of his Service to the Profession. He was instrumental in helping start the AIA Colorado College of Fellows Scholarship Fund, which just recently awarded its first two student scholarships from its $100,000 endowment. From 1998 through 2001, Marvin represent the AIA Western Mountain Region as a Director on the National AIA Board. And in 2001 was awarded the AIA/WMR Silver Medal, the highest honor the six-state region of the AIA can bestow. Marvin was a great personal friend and a prodigious friend to the AIA. His passing should be a reminder of the example he set as a tireless advocate of the profession.” — Phil Gerou, FAIA

“Marvin was the most prolific supporter and attendee of Fellows and AIA activities I have known. He was always there. For those that don’t know even a little about him historically, AIA Colorado was on the verge of bankruptcy when he was president decades ago. He essentially “gave up” his practice to save it and did so successfully when there were only two staff people, one full time, and did it almost alone. Marvin is a true example of selflessness for the benefit of many. One of many examples.” — Gary Desmond, FAIA

“I will always miss his generous and welcoming friendship. His dedication to a more balanced and equitable architectural presence throughout our communities will be missed.” — Blake Chambliss, FAIA

Utilizing the GI Bill, Marv attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a BS in Architectural Engineering/Architecture in 1957/1959. His career in architecture began with his presidency of the Student Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) at the University of Colorado. While in that leadership position, he arranged for Frank Lloyd Wright’s campus visit, thus foreshadowing his lifelong dedication to the architectural profession. Marv was a recognized architect in Colorado and a Fellow of the AIA. He was honored as a ‘Living Treasure’ for his extensive involvement in the AIA and the architectural profession. Marv served as the Treasurer and President of the Colorado North Chapter of the AIA, holding each position twice. He was also a former President of AIA Colorado and a former Treasurer of the AIA Western Mountain Region (WMR). Marv was elected as Regional Director for the WMR Board of Directors. A founding member and former Chairman, Marv was a long-standing active participant on the AIA Colorado Governmental Affairs Committee. He served as Chair of the AIA Colorado Legislative Subcommittee and the Education Fund Board of Trustees. Additionally, Marv coordinated the AIA Colorado Education Fund’s Devon M. Carlson Lectureship and co-chaired the AIA Colorado Fellowship Task Force.

Marvin Sparn, FAIA (1930 – 2024)