Author: Jon Bell

Inaugural “Design Like a Girl” Workshop Series Concludes

Posted on by Jon Bell

AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. Committee is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the inaugural Colorado “Design Like a Girl” (DLAG) workshop series.

The program, originally founded in Washington, D.C., by the Washington Architectural Foundation and was brought to Colorado through the inspiration and hard work of Sarah Goldblatt, AIA, and Britany Soler, Assoc. AIA, with the support of the AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee. ‘Design Like a Girl’ aims to inspire the next generation of female-identifying designers by organizing full day design workshops for middle school students. Local architecture, design, and engineering professionals volunteer as mentors to guide, instruct, and inspire the young designers.

The first and second workshops in the three-part series focused on architecture and engineering. The final workshop, which focused on interior Architecture and sustainability, took place on Friday, April 19th at CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning.

model-building_2 |
teaching-moment |

The day began with an introduction to the role of Interior Architects and designers and how they shape space through creative uses of building elements, furniture, color, and materials. Aided by a diverse library of materials donated by mentors, the girls crafted their own color palette.

Following the color exploration, CAP alumna, Jenny Arzberger of JARZ Design Studio, whose work focuses on creating safe and calming spaces for neurodivergent children and teens, shared her design process, from selecting inspirational imagery to conveying her ideas to clients, and gave the girls a sneak peek of renderings for an upcoming interior design project at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Claire Messer, a CU Denver CAP student and president of the school’s All for Women in Architecture (AFWIA) chapter, provided an engaging tour of the School’s studios and fabrication labs, providing a glimpse into the future if the girls decide to pursue a design education.

After a quick introduction to sustainable materials and biophilic design, the second half of the day was dedicated to a wellness space design project. The girls first created inspiration boards and then moved to carefully constructing models of their chosen wellness program, using material, color, and furniture to define space. Some models featured elements of biophilic design using materials the girls had brought in from their own backyards. A final presentation allowed the girls to present their work in front of the group.

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model-building_1 |

This workshop series would not have been possible without the collaboration of Sondra Osif and the whole team at the Spark Early Career Exploration Program at Denver Public Schools, who recruited students through an application process, organized transportation for the girls, and provided on-site support. 

Get Involved

Planning is already underway for next year’s round of workshops. If you, or your firm, is interested in getting involved with the program, please reach out to Brittany Soler, Assoc. AIA, or Sarah Goldblatt, AIA.

Thank you

The leaders of the workshop would like to extend their gratitude to the mentors who helped make this final workshop a success:

  • Anna Friedrich, Assoc. AIA
  • Sarah Goldblatt, AIA
  • Brittany Soler, Assoc. AIA
  • Gabriella Wakulchik, AIA
  • Courtney Minter, AIA
  • Kitty Yuen, AIA
  • Claire Messer
  • Jenny Arzberger
  • Beth Cook

Special Thanks to:

AIA Colorado CKLDP 2024 – Spring Recap 

Posted on by Jon Bell

AIA’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program provides participants the opportunity to form a cohort with other emerging professionals in the field of architecture (sixteen are selected each year from a group of well-qualified applicants), developing their skills on several focused topics in the once-a-month sessions throughout the year. The program honors Christopher Kelley’s legacy, an influential architect in the Washington D.C. community and an advocate for furthering the profession through mentorship. The program originated in Washington D.C., however local chapters now exist across the country, with additional chapters continuing to be established each year (Colorado’s first program year was 2017). 

The program is well underway in its eighth year, with Bootcamp, Sessions 1 and 2 having occurred, where participants engaged in knowledge sharing from industry experts, team building and collaborative activities, and overall improving upon their professional skills. See below for a summary and highlights of the events thus far. 

Bootcamp

CKLDP 2024 | Bootcamp
CKLDP 2024 | Bootcamp

Date + Location

  • January 19, 2024
  • AlA Colorado – The Alliance Center

Speakers

  • Rachel Yee, AIA, NCARB, EDAC – Architect, Founder of CKLDP Colorado Chapter, and former President of AIA Colorado
  • Jamie Perkins – Communications Consultant, Jackalope Strategy
  • Rebekah Wagoner, AIA – Architect, CKLDP Colorado Alumni and Former Chair, AIA Colorado Young Architect of the Year 2024

Organizers

  • CKLDP Colorado Executive Committee

This year’s program started with the “bootcamp session” hosted by AIA Colorado at The Alliance Center. Scholars (program participants) introduced themselves PechaKucha style, met the executive committee and learned the program’s expectations and responsibilities for the year to come. They were joined by guest speakers Rachel Yee, AIA, and Rebekah Wagoner, AIA, who were both able to share their experiences with CKLDP, some history of the program, and their advice to emerging professionals in the field of architecture. The session also included a workshop led by Jame Perkins of Jackalope Strategy to set group norms around values, decisions making, conflict resolution, meetings and communication/tools to be applied throughout the year.

Session 1

Management + Mentorship

CKLDP 2024 | Session 1
CKLDP 2024 | Session 1

Date + Location

  • March 8, 2024
  • McCarthy Construction

Speakers:

  • Michele Raftery, FSMPS, CPSM, WELL AP – Principal and Partner 4240 Architecture
  • Rick Peterson, FAIA, LEED AP – Principal Oz Architecture; Geneva Kowalski, NCARB, LEED AP, CPHT – Principal and Partner Studio K2 Architecture
  • Todd Afflerbaugh, RA, LEED AP – Senior Associate BVH Architecture
  • Bob Binder, AIA, LEED AP BD + C – SW Region Leader DLR Group; Katelyn Wager, PE – Commercial Division Leader EVstudio Structural Engineering
  • Jordan Swisher – Commercial Real Estate Brue Baukol; Jason Coughlin – VP of Operations McCarthy Constructions

Organizers

  • Hannah Hobbs, AIA, and Mackenzie Huber, AIA

The first session hosted by scholar pairing Hannah Hobbs, AIA, and Mackenzie Huber, AIA, included presentations by architectural leaders and principals in our local community covering topics such as the importance of active listening in leadership, improving interpersonal connections, balancing the team, client and architectural design stakeholders in projects, creating a supportive environment, and informal/formal mentorship. The session wrapped up with a panel comprised of representatives from the A/E industry where participants discussed their experiences with mentorship, where the relationships and benefits to be had, go both ways. 

Session 2

Equity, Diversity + Inclusion

CKLDP 2024 | Session 2
CKLDP 2024 | Session 2

Date + Location

  • April 12, 2024
  • DLR Group

Speakers: 

  • Tom I. Romero II, Ph.D, J.D. – Director of Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality at the University of Denver
  • Brian J. Fagerstrom, AIA, Inupiaq – Founder and CEO Amaktoolik Studios
  • Adriana Medina-López-Portillo, Ph.D, CMC, ELI-MP Founder and CEO Pangea Training
  • Summer Westbrooks – Owner and CEO Aloha Spirit Marketing
  • Jessica Bantom – Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging DLR Group, Interior Design consultant

Organizers

  • Wei Zhao, AIA, and Ash Baldwin, AIA

The second session, hosted by Wei Zhao, AIA, and Ash Baldwin, AIA, focused on ways to be more inclusive as a design professional and how to better understand others’ perspectives, unpacking biases within ourselves and the industry. The session began with “A Brief History of the Color Line in Colorado” by Dr. Tom Romero, discussing architecture’s connection to the land, organization by law, the history and recognizing impacts. The second speaker, Brian Fagerstrom, AIA, shared the Native American land perspective, and one particular project, where a large effort was made to bring together more than 30 tribes from six states to be consulted prior to the start of design for Fishers Peak State Park. Adriana Medina-López-Portillo facilitated a workshop with Summer Westbrooks to unpack how explicit and implicit biases occur. Jessica Bantom presented “6 Habits of Culturally Competent Designers”, reminding the group that consistent effort is needed to embody cultural competence. Lastly, the session wrapped up with a Safe Place Discussion, asking “Where do we go from here?” joined by members of the AIA Colorado JEDI Committee.

Colorado Architecture News | 05.01.24

Posted on by Jon Bell

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 05.01.24

In this Newsletter:

  • Licensing renewal bill heads to Governor
  • Practice Resources for Emerging Professionals
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions May 3rd
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions May 3rd
  • Jeopardy CEU and Happy Hour in Fort Collins May 16th
  • The Future of Local Sustainability Codes May 30th
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory Tour May 31st
  • Member News
  • Denver Art Museum events
  • National news
  • Premier Partner spotlight

AIA COLORADO NEWS

Licensing renewal bill for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Land Surveyors heads to Governor

We’re pleased to announce that the bill reauthorizing our practice act is on its way to Governor Polis for his signature! Changes between the new and current law are minimal, focusing on administrative procedures, cleaning up outdated language, and creating continuing education requirements for land surveyors. The practice of architecture itself (alongside the practices of engineering and land surveying) will retain current definitions and scope. Our next sunset review, required periodically for all licensed professionals in Colorado, will be in nine years.

Practice Resources for Emerging Professionals

Are you new to the profession and looking for tools and resources? The AIA Colorado website has new resource page specifically created for you. Use this page as an FAQ and resource listing to find questions and uncover answers and suggestions as you roll up your sleeves and dive in. If you have a question that isn’t answered or know of a resource that needs to be added, share it using the form at the bottom of the page!

View resource page.

Also, join a study group! Organized by the J.E.D.I. committee, meet up with others who are studying for the same tests. More info here.

AIA Colorado Events

Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the commercial provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will focus on those provisions that have the highest impact on a building’s energy efficiency as we look at what has changed in the code. Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.
RSVP here

Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the residential provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will look at the different ways to navigate through the code, highlighting all of the flexibility built in so that designers, builders, and homeowners have more options of how to meet the end goal of an energy efficient and resilient building.Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.
RSVP here

CEU jeopardy game and happy hour in Fort Collins

May 16th, join members in the North at Odell Brewing’s Community Room in Fort Collins for a fun and interactive jeopardy style game discussing basic hardware while earning 1 HSW|LU with Allegion. Followed by happy hour.
RSVP here

The Future of Local Sustainability Codes

Thursday May 30th, join members in the West for a panel discussion and Q&A opportunity with Roaring Fork building officials, construction industry leaders, and elected officials about the current state and future goals for sustainability codes. This panel event is a forum to discuss what’s working, and how construction industry professionals can be a part of the next steps.
RSVP here

National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory Private Group Tour

Friday May 31st, join AIA members in the North for a private tour covering the architectural history of the iconic NCAR Mesa Laboratory, designed by modernist architect, I.M. Pei. The building was completed in 1966, and in 1997 received the AIA Colorado Twenty-five Year Award. The tour will also cover the atmospheric science, climate science, and current research being conducted at the National Science Foundation NCAR.
RSVP here

Upcoming events in June:

RSVP to AIA Colorado Events
View Organization Calendar

Member News

Joey Pruett, AIA, of A21 Architecture, recently discussed how he got his start in the Swiss Alps and the influences that have shaped his work in an interview with Angelbau.

Anderson Hallas Architects announces that Laine McLaughlin, AIA, has been promoted to Senior Project Manager. Congrats, Laine!

PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS

Upcoming events at Denver Art Museum:

  • Talk with Dixon Lu, Associate Partner of MAD Architects. May 4, 2024 – 11am–12 pm. Dixon Lu serves as an Associate Partner at MAD Architects’ Los Angeles office and has overseen the management of the firm’s U.S. projects, including One River North, presently in construction in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. Buy tickets here.
  • Luncheon By Design 2024, May 9, 2024 – 11:30 am–1:30 pm, in celebration of the upcoming exhibition Biophilia: Nature Reimagined, features a presentation by Jeanne Gang, FAIA, founding partner of Studio Gang, whose projects include Denver’s new Populus hotel. Buy tickets here.

NEWS AT NATIONAL

AIA24

We often talk about the future. This conference is where the AEC industry gathers to define it, design it, and connect across industries to build it. Join us in Washington, D.C., June 5–8, 2024, for the architecture and design event of the year!

View conference website

Colorado Night at AIA24

Enjoy connecting with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni at Colorado Night at AIA24. Join us!

Architecture firm billings retreat further in March

The AIA/Deltek Architectural Billings Index (ABI) March score declined to 43.6. This marked the 14th consecutive month of declining billings at firms as inflation, supply chain issues, and other economic challenges continue to affect business. Read at AIA.

Premier Partner at AIA24

Discover the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), a leading authority in structural steel design and innovation since 1921. For over a century, AISC has set the standards for steel construction and continues to drive industry advancements. Visit us at booth 1319 during the AIA 24 conference in Washington, D.C., next month to explore our new Architecture Center and learn about the wealth of resources available to architects.

Have questions about designing with structural steel? Look no further! AISC’s Designing with Structural Steel: A Guide for Architects is a resource, straight from the technical experts who write Chapter 22 (Steel) of the International Building Code. It offers a comprehensive look at designing your next project with a structural steel framing system, from sound isolation and architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) to sustainability and resilience.

Elevate your projects with steel. Click here to learn more about AISC and the invaluable resources available to architects.

Premier Partner Events

Executing low-carbon concrete symposium

Explore currently available means and methods contractors and ready mix producers can take to achieve the project carbon targets set by developers architects, engineers, and policymakers to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete. Join National Ready Mixed Concrete Association for a day of education, discussion, and networking to explore the current state of the market and identify opportunities to collaborate on implementing low-carbon concrete solutions. Earn 6 AIA-CES HSW Learning Units.

Learn more here

Looking for Additional Resources?

Allied Members are better known as trusted industry colleagues and members of AIA Colorado—they’re the interior designers, the kitchen specialists, the engineering partners, and more who make up our AEC community in Colorado.
View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

Helpful Links:

Save the Dates:

  • 2024 Design + Honor Awards Event will be held September 12, 2024 at Mile High Station. View awards event sponsorship opportunities.
  • 2024 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference will take place November 13-15, 2024 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO. View conference sponsorship opportunities.

Colorado Architecture News | 04.17.24

Posted on by Jon Bell

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 04.17.24

In this Newsletter:

  • New Design Award Category
  • AEF announcing Travel Scholarships recipients
  • A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado April 18th
  • Farm and Market tour April 25th
  • Awards Information Session April 30th
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions May 3rd
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions May 3rd
  • The Future of Local Sustainability Codes May 30th
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory Tour May 31st
  • Architect-ing Podcast episodes
  • Denver Art Museum events
  • National news
  • Premier Partner spotlight
  • Premier Partner and Allied member events

AIA COLORADO NEWS

Announcing a new design award category!

Introduced and active in this 2024 awards cycle, the awards committee is pleased to announce the Research & Development Award! This new award seeks to celebrate the work that we do that doesn’t fall into traditional categories of built (or even unbuilt) projects. It recognizes the investigations that forward the art and science of Architecture.

“So what sort of things would fit into this category?” A comparative study of embodied carbon in your project. Pioneering a new product or material assembly. Creating original building forms or performance using cutting edge modeling technology. Studying or improving fire resistance in envelop design. Or creating a new building code to reflect those ignition resistant design strategies. More examples can include fabrication, building components or systems, sustainable strategies, construction details, design process, social/community impact, and research-focused faculty or student work.

Learn more about this new design award category today as you continue working on your own submissions. If you have questions about your own submissions, join us April 30th for an informational session. The deadline to apply for the Design + Honor Awards is rapidly approaching and we can’t encourage you enough to not wait until the last minute!

Design Award Submission Instructions
Honor Awards Submission Instructions
Start Your Submissions

The Architectural Education Foundation, in partnership with AIA Colorado, offers traveling and professional development scholarships to support educational and experiential endeavors. While academic awards will be announced by the respective campuses, we would like to congratulate the following recipients of the 2024 Architectural Educational Foundation Travel Scholarships:

  • Pratiksha Achari, Assoc. AIA – Virginia E. and Robert K. Fuller, AIA, Traveling Scholarship and Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA, Traveling Scholarship
  • Joel Miller, AIA – Virginia E. and Robert K. Fuller, AIA, Traveling Scholarship
  • Jenny Smith, AIA – Florence G. and Arthur A. Fisher, FAIA, Traveling Scholarship 
  • Bunny Tucker, AIA – Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA, Traveling Scholarship
20240411_160957 |
20240411_161945 |

Last week, members enjoyed a tour of Louie Louie’s Piano Bar in Colorado Springs. Thank you to Echo Architecture + Interiors for leading the tour as well as our South Advisors Joey Bahnsen, AIA, and Tyler Wurr, AIA!

AIA Colorado Events

A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado

Thursday, April 18th, attend an overview of the process of decarbonizing buildings, with a focus on meeting benchmarking and building performance standards requirements for Denver and Colorado. Discussion will include the workflow needed to provide the planning, analysis, funding, and scheduling required to meet 2030 targets for energy-use and/or greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
RSVP here

Farm and Market tour

Thursday, April 25th, join Denver AIA members, OZ Architecture, and Farm and Market owners for a tour of the unique neighborhood farm, restaurant, and market.
RSVP here

2024 Awards Information Session

Have questions about the Awards submission process? Join us Tuesday, April 30th at Noon, for an informational session to answer questions you may have about the submission process.
RSVP here

Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the commercial provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will focus on those provisions that have the highest impact on a building’s energy efficiency as we look at what has changed in the code. Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.
RSVP here

Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the residential provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will look at the different ways to navigate through the code, highlighting all of the flexibility built in so that designers, builders, and homeowners have more options of how to meet the end goal of an energy efficient and resilient building.Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.
RSVP here

The Future of Local Sustainability Codes

Thursday May 30th, join members in the West for a panel discussion and Q&A opportunity with Roaring Fork building officials, construction industry leaders, and elected officials about the current state and future goals for sustainability codes. This panel event is a forum to discuss what’s working, and how construction industry professionals can be a part of the next steps.
RSVP here

National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory Private Group Tour

Friday May 31st, join AIA members in the North for a private tour covering the architectural history of the iconic NCAR Mesa Laboratory, designed by modernist architect, I.M. Pei. The building was completed in 1966, and in 1997 received the AIA Colorado Twenty-five Year Award. The tour will also cover the atmospheric science, climate science, and current research being conducted at the National Science Foundation NCAR.
RSVP here

Upcoming events in June:

RSVP to AIA Colorado Events
View Organization Calendar

Member News

Recent Architect-ing Podcasts

  • Harvey Hine, AIA, of HMH Architecture + Interiors joins host and Colorado architect Adam Wagoner, AIA, on a recent episode. Harvey shares about his life experiences that have led him to his career in architecture, including his experiences growing up in Vienna, Austria, and emphasizes the importance of intuition in architecture and shares his thoughts on the role of artificial intelligence in the industry.
  • Morgan Law and Steve Scribner, AIA, of Shape Architecture join Adam Wagoner, AIA, discussing their unique approach to sustainability, including Passive House and Net Zero concepts. The two delve into their personal and professional journeys sharing their unique paths from construction to architecture.
  • Listen to episodes at: Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music • Pandora • Castbox

“If downtown Denver building owners convert empty offices to residential, will people move in?” Gensler’s Denver office has worked with the City of Denver towards converting underutilized offices into apartments and you can read about it at the Colorado Sun.

PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS

Upcoming events at Denver Art Museum:

  • Talk with Dixon Lu, Associate Partner of MAD Architects. May 4, 2024 – 11am–12 pm. Dixon Lu serves as an Associate Partner at MAD Architects’ Los Angeles office and has overseen the management of the firm’s U.S. projects, including One River North, presently in construction in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. Buy tickets here.
  • Luncheon By Design 2024, May 9, 2024 – 11:30 am–1:30 pm, in celebration of the upcoming exhibition Biophilia: Nature Reimagined, features a presentation by Jeanne Gang, FAIA, founding partner of Studio Gang, whose projects include Denver’s new Populus hotel. Buy tickets here.

NEWS AT NATIONAL

AIA24

We often talk about the future. This conference is where the AEC industry gathers to define it, design it, and connect across industries to build it. Join us in Washington, D.C., June 5–8, 2024, for the architecture and design event of the year!

View conference website

Colorado Night at AIA24

Enjoy connecting with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni at Colorado Night at AIA24. Join us!

Young Architects Forum April Newsletter

A newsletter from the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). Look out for important news, AIA updates, and ways to engage, no biggie. Read more

Premier Partner Spotlight

We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, KL&A Engineers and Builders, and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.

KL&A is a firm built around the idea that structural engineers should return to a master builder role by taking ownership of structural systems. A collaborative approach and project centric behaviors are our differentiators, facilitating a more engaging design and construction process. Our philosophy of personal responsibility has generated a corporate culture of problem solving and innovation. We are engineers first and foremost, which we leverage on our steel detailing and steel construction projects. We also take great pride in our sustainability efforts, utilizing mass timber to minimize embodied carbon in our structures, and providing Life Cycle Assessments on our committed projects.

Learn More about KL&A Engineers and Builders.

Premier Partner Events

Executing low-carbon concrete symposium

Explore currently available means and methods contractors and ready mix producers can take to achieve the project carbon targets set by developers architects, engineers, and policymakers to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete. Join National Ready Mixed Concrete Association for a day of education, discussion, and networking to explore the current state of the market and identify opportunities to collaborate on implementing low-carbon concrete solutions. Earn 6 AIA-CES HSW Learning Units.

Learn more here

Active shooter tabletop exercise

Wednesday, April 24th from 1 – 5pm, join IMEG for an Active Shooter Tabletop Exercise, where you’ll collaborate with colleagues to navigate through a scenario, identifying roles, evaluating response plans, and creating personalized crisis management roadmaps. This AIA-approved event aims to enhance safety and preparedness in emergent situations, offering 3.5 LU/HSWs credits.

RSVP here

Looking for Additional Resources?

View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

Helpful Links:

Save the Dates:

  • 2024 Design + Honor Awards Event will be held September 12, 2024 at Mile High Station. View awards event sponsorship opportunities.
  • 2024 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference will take place November 13-15, 2024 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO. View conference sponsorship opportunities.

Colorado Architecture News | 04.03.24

Posted on by Jon Bell

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 04.03.24

In this Newsletter:

  • Membership Matters
  • New Housing Committee applications available
  • AAH/ACHA Summer Leadership Summit – call for project tour nominations
  • Meet the Jurors for the 2024 Design Awards
  • Code Class: Accessibility Update April 5th
  • Louie Louie’s Piano Bar tour April 11th
  • A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado April 18th
  • Farm and Market tour
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions May 3rd
  • Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions May 3rd
  • CAP Spring lecture series
  • National news
  • Premier Partner spotlight
  • Premier Partner events

The Week in Words

Thank You for making 2023 such a great year, as well as for your continued involvement into this year. We had a record number of members, allied members, and premier partners last year and we’re grateful for your commitment to AIA Colorado’s mission: Elevating the architecture profession to design a more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful Colorado.

AIA COLORADO NEWS

Update on HB24-1329: Sunset Architects Engineers & Land Surveyors

We’re pleased to announce that our sunset bill has passed in the House where it was introduced. During the bill’s committee hearing, 2024 president Julianne Scherer, AIA, offered testimony in support of the bill from the perspective of a firm principal. Past AIA Colorado board member and current National Associates Committee representative, Kari Lawson, AIA, spoke to her experience as a recently licensed architect. Government Affairs Committee secretary Brittany Goldsmith, Assoc. AIA, spoke to how one qualifies to begin taking the licensing exams. This strong team of members effectively covered all the points we wanted to make on the importance of licensing architects. Now, we have to repeat the same process in the Senate where the next committee hearing is scheduled later this month.

Seeking applicants for new Housing Committee

A new AIA Colorado Housing Committee is launching this Spring that will focus on Colorado’s unprecedented and complex housing crisis. This new committee will meet regularly and seek to lay the groundwork so our association can lead and be responsive to equitable housing solutions. The deadline to apply is April 14th. Read more about the committee, its goals for 2024, and apply today!

2024 Housing Committee

AAH/ACHA Summer Leadership Summit – call for project tour nominations

The AIA Academy of Architecture for Health is pleased to announce that for the first time, the annual Summer Leadership Summit (SLS) will be held in Denver this year from July 26-28th. This conference, jointly hosted by the AAH and ACHA (American College of Healthcare Architects), brings together approximately 200 leaders in healthcare design from the U.S. and around the world for two days of presentations and panel discussions addressing the forces that shape the future of healthcare. Each year, the final day of the conference (Sunday, July 28th) is reserved for project tours of healthcare facilities in the area. If your firm would like to submit a project for consideration, please follow the link to learn more and submit an application. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 12th, at 5pm.

SLS 2024 Tour Application

Meet the Jurors for the 2024 Design Awards

The Awards Committee is thrilled to introduce our esteemed 2024 Design Awards jury lineup and we anticipate their review of your exceptional work during AIA24 in Washington, D.C. this June. We’ve assembled a dynamic group of industry leaders renowned for their expertise, diversity of practices, and global perspectives. Their unwavering commitment to excellence and shared values sets a remarkable standard.

2024 Design Award Jury

AIA Colorado Events

Code Class: 2021 Accessibility Update

Friday, April 5th, join this seminar that will discuss the changes to Chapter 11 of the 2021 IBC and the 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard. Class will meet at Galvanize Boulder and please sign up through Eventbrite in advance.

RSVP here

Louie’s Louie’s Piano Bar tour

Thursday, April 11th, join members in the South for a tour in the “Trolley Block”, a recent rehabilitation of the historic trolley maintenance facility located on South Tejon between Cimmaron and Moreno. Tour led by Echo Architecture.

RSVP here

A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado

Thursday, April 18th, attend an overview of the process of decarbonizing buildings, with a focus on meeting benchmarking and building performance standards requirements for Denver and Colorado. Discussion will include the workflow needed to provide the planning, analysis, funding, and scheduling required to meet 2030 targets for energy-use and/or greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

RSVP here

Farm and Market tour

Thursday, April 25th, join Denver AIA members, OZ Architecture, and Farm and Market owners for a tour of the unique neighborhood farm, restaurant, and market.

RSVP here

Code Class: IECC Overview – Commercial Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the commercial provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will focus on those provisions that have the highest impact on a building’s energy efficiency as we look at what has changed in the code. Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.

RSVP here

Code Class: IECC Overview – Residential Provisions

May 3rd, this free webinar, sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, will take a high level overview of the residential provisions of the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. We will look at the different ways to navigate through the code, highlighting all of the flexibility built in so that designers, builders, and homeowners have more options of how to meet the end goal of an energy efficient and resilient building.Course submitted for 1.5 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hour.

RSVP here

RSVP to AIA Colorado Events
View Organization Calendar

PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS

Upcoming CAP Spring lecture series

  • Ken Andrews, AIA, Arch11, Principal Architect Monday April 8, 12pm
  • Amaia Sanchez-Velasco, Jorge Valiente Oriol, and Gonzalo Valiente Oriol, Grandeza Studio, Co-Principals Wednesday April 17, 12pm

Lectures are held at the Second Floor Gallery, CU Denver. More info and RSVP here.

NEWS AT NATIONAL

AIA’s Year in Review 2023

Explore important AIA firsts, expanded membership demographics, community developments, advocacy wins, key organization milestones, awards given and received, and more in AIA’s annual review. See at AIA

ABI February 2024: Pace of billings decline continues to slow

Although architecture firm billings declined for the thirteenth consecutive month in February, the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 49.5 for the month means that the share of firms reporting a decline in billings was nearly equal to the share of firms that reported an increase in billings. Read more at AIA

2024 AIA Future Forward grant

Presented by the Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) and the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF), this grant supports students, emerging professionals, and early career architects in the testing of new ideas that disrupt the traditional conception of practice, process, and product in the field of architecture. Application deadline is April 19th. Learn more

AIA announces winners of the 2024 Associates Award

AIA has selected five recipients for the AIA Associates Award. The Associates Award is given to individual Associate AIA members to recognize outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession. Read more at AIA

AIA announces recipients for the Young Architects Award 2024

AIA has selected 30 recipients for the AIA Young Architects Award. The AIA Young Architects Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers.  Complete details for each recipient are available online. Read more at AIA

AIA24

Early registration is available through April 10th for this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture Design, taking place June 5–8. AIA24 will bring together the often-siloed AEC industry in Washington, D.C. to network, share knowledge, gain exposure, and find multidisciplinary solutions to today’s most pressing issues. View conference website

Colorado Night at AIA24

Enjoy connecting with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni at Colorado Night at AIA24. Join us!

Premier Partner Spotlight

We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), headquartered in Chicago, is a non-partisan, not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, market development, and advocacy. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information.

Learn More about The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

Premier Partner Events

Active shooter tabletop exercise

Wednesday, April 24th from 1 – 5pm, join IMEG for an Active Shooter Tabletop Exercise, where you’ll collaborate with colleagues to navigate through a scenario, identifying roles, evaluating response plans, and creating personalized crisis management roadmaps. This AIA-approved event aims to enhance safety and preparedness in emergent situations, offering 3.5 LU/HSWs credits.

RSVP here

Looking for Additional Resources?

View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

Helpful Links:

Save the Dates:

  • 2024 Design + Honor Awards Event will be held September 12, 2024 at Mile High Station. 
  • 2024 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference will take place November 13-15, 2024 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO.

Meet the 2024 Design Award Jury

Posted on by Jon Bell

Jury Chair

Marlon Blackwell, FAIA

Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, is the founding partner of Marlon Blackwell Architects (MBA) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas, and the Spring 2024 John Portman Chair at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Blackwell is the recipient of the 2020 AIA Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honor recognizing those whose work has had an enduring impact on the theory and practice of architecture. Blackwell is a lifetime member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a 2023 inductee of the American Academy of Arts and Science, a 2019 Resident Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and a 2014 United States Artists Ford Fellow. Work produced in his professional office, MBA, has received recognition with significant publication and more than 180 design awards including the 2016 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in Architecture. A monograph of Marlon’s early work, “An Architecture of the Ozarks: The Works of Marlon Blackwell”, was published in 2005 and a new monograph titled “Radical Practice”, was published in 2022.

Nicole Hilton, AIA

Nicole is the founding principal and design architect at Cole Hil, an emerging full-service architectural design firm focused on education, community development, and commercial project types. She has been honored for a multitude of professional awards including being recognized as the Louisiana State University’s first licensed African American female Architect. Nicole has found her passion in continuing the competitive evolution of the architectural profession in relevance, creativity and financial wellness. She demonstrates Equity, and looks forward to evolving her architectural practices and leadership.

Chad Oppenheim, FAIA

Chad Oppenheim founded Oppenheim Architecture in 1999 to design a new kind of sensory, site-specific architecture. Working across scale, typology, and geography, every Oppenheim project is a sensitive contextual response guided by the philosophy that design follows life and form follows feeling.

A graduate of Cornell University and a Fellow of the AIA, Oppenheim has served as lead designer for countless place-making assignments around the world. Working closely with clients to realize and amplify their vision, he is backed by strong technical and project teams in Miami and Basel who execute large and complex projects on any continent.

A traveler and cultural nomad from a young age, Oppenheim uncovers the power of a place to optimize how people live, play, or work in that particular environment. His monumental, timeless architecture enhances lives, realizes a site’s full potential, and protects and celebrates the natural environment. He shapes buildings and places to achieve the optimal balance between creativity and pragmatism, function and experience, construction and aesthetics.

Oppenheim has lectured widely and taught at various architecture schools, including Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and, most recently, Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He has published two books – Spirit of Place (2018), a monograph about the practice featuring seven award-winning projects, and Lair: Radical Homes and Hideouts of Movie Villains (2019), an academic investigation into the cultural associations of modernist design with villainy in cinema.
Oppenheim’s international design practice has received over 90 industry awards, with more than 60 from the AIA, including the AIA’s highest distinction, the Silver Medal, as well as a 2018 National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and the 2023 American Prize for Architecture from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

Amber Wirth, AIA

Amber Wirth is the Director of Sustainability at HKS with 20 years of industry experience. She leads the HKS Design Green team of sustainable design leaders working to improve the firm’s environmental impact through design excellence and performance on projects. She believes it is our fundamental responsibility to care for our common home, and the ripple effects of individual acts of service, sustainability, and stewardship. Amber is the founder of HKS’ global Month of Service initiative that encourages employees in every office to connect with their local communities, through which employees have volunteered more than 32,700 hours of service in the past 9 years. Amber is also the chair of the AIA AAH Sustainability Committee working to elevate social and environmental impacts industry wide.

Anosha Zanjani, Assoc. AIA

Anosha Zanjani is the Principal Behavioral Health Consultant and the heart and mind behind Mindful Insights Consulting, a vanguard enterprise dedicated to revolutionizing mental health environments through architectural ingenuity. Her role encompasses design, planning, research, strategy, and assisting clients in developing an overarching vision for creating impactful mental health facilities and healing spaces. She also specializes in integrating mental health and regenerative design principles across a wide array of architectural projects beyond the traditional mental health continuum of care. Her journey into this specialized field is underpinned by extensive experience in psychiatric facilities, academic environments, and private practice. Engaging in clinical research and offering direct support to individuals dealing with severe mental health disorders and neurocognitive conditions has deepened her understanding of the vital role physical spaces play in both recovery and workplace well-being. This realization prompted a career shift toward architecture, fueled by a mission to improve these environments. Her time at HDR’s renowned Healthcare Studio was pivotal, allowing her to contribute to behavioral health projects along the continuum of care and grow her thought leadership in mental health design, workplace well-being and environmental psychology. Her dedication to redefining mental health spaces stems from a firm belief that thoughtfully designed environments can significantly affect the lives of those facing mental health challenges. This belief forms the foundation of Mindful Insights Consulting, reflecting a commitment to promoting healing, supporting recovery, and enhancing well-being through the built environment.

AWARDS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Renée del Gaudio, AIA

Renée del Gaudio is a nationally-recognized architect for her buildings that convey a strong connection to place. Her work has been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Dwell, and the Thames & Hudson book Off the Grid: Houses for Escape. She is the recipient of fourteen prestigious American Institute of Architecture Awards, including 2022 AIA National Housing and Small Project Awards.

Renée received a B.A. from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in Architecture from the University of Washington. In the San Francisco Bay area, she worked with the ecological design firm of Leger Wanaselja Architecture, and the residential and winery design firm of Backen Gillam Architects. Before opening her own practice in 2011, she worked with Semple Brown Design in Denver, Colorado. Renee’s work is also influenced by her design-build work in Cuba, Mexico, and Kenya.

Renée is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, NCARB Certified, and a Registered Architect in Colorado. She has been a juror on numerous architecture and design awards programs, as well as a studio critic at the University of Colorado Department of Environmental Design. She has recently been a lecturer for Colorado Month of Modern, Boulder Women In Design, and the University of Colorado.

AWARDS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Brad Tomecek, FAIA

The founder of Tomecek Studio Architecture, Brad graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Design and Masters of Architecture. He worked in smaller award winning firms in Colorado and Florida before launching the studio in 2003. His work has been featured in Architectural Record, Architect, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, international books and local magazines.

Brad is actively involved with the local AIA and has served on the AIA Denver Board of Directors. His outreach takes the form of speaking nationally on methods and manifestation of meaningful projects. Currently Brad combines full-time practice with intermittent teaching at the University of Colorado College of Architecture and Planning. His explorations blur the boundaries between poetic solutions and innovative building systems. Tomecek Studio is an Architectural Record Next Progressive and has been presented with over 70 design awards including the AIA National Young Architect Award, AIA Colorado Innovative Practice Award & AIA Colorado Young Firm Award. Brad was recently named the 2022 AIA Colorado Architect of the Year and elevated to Fellowship in 2023.

Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program: Session 1 Recap

Posted on by Jon Bell

Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program
Session Date: 3/8/2024 
Location: McCarthy Construction Denver Office 
Hosted by: Hannah Hobbs &  Mackenzie Huber 
Recap written up by: Kari Lawson & Caleb Leftin 

Recap

Session 1: Management & Mentorship

Session Description

  • Define elements & importance of active listening 
  • Describe key ways to manage an effective team 
  • Define importance of mentorship 
  • Discuss different ways mentorship can show up throughout the A/E industry 

Key Takeaways

  • Key Takeaway 1
    • Active listening, crucial for job success and relationship quality, involves attentiveness and understanding verbal and non-verbal cues to foster trust and empathy. Overcoming barriers and adopting strategies for effective listening can enhance communication and interpersonal connections. 
  • Key Takeaway 2
    • Effective team management hinges on fostering empathy, agency, and accountability, along with clear expectations and goals, to cultivate ownership and pride. Addressing common issues like unmet expectations and role mismatches through strategic communication and empowerment is crucial for creating a supportive and successful team environment. 
  • Key Takeaway 3
    • Mentorship can show up in many different forms. It is up to the individual seeking mentorship to know what is right for them, and to be dedicated to learning, personal, and career growth. A mentor is an invaluable resource throughout one’s career. 

Resources

  • Edgar Dales Cone of Experience 
  • Maslow Hierachy of Needs 
  • Linda Phillips-Jones Meente’s Guide & Mentor’s Guide 
  • Emotional Intelligence 2.0 

Key ways to manage an effective team 

  • Build empathy. Care about who you are working with – and for.
  • Agency + accountability = Ownership.
  • Clearly state expectations. People can’t read minds.
  • Clearly state goals. Design parti, project vision, and defining principles.
IMG_2817 |

Listening to Learn: A Pathway to Rewarding Leadership

Michele Raftery, a partner/principal at 4240 Architecture, shared her insight and wisdom on active listening. Effective listening is key to job performance and enhancing relationships. It’s a critical but often overlooked skill necessary for information gathering, understanding, and learning. Edgar Dale’s ‘Cone of Experience’ shows we remember only 20%-50% of what we hear, underlining the importance of active listening. This involves attentiveness, minimizing distractions, understanding verbal and nonverbal cues, and engaging with the speaker through questions and clarifications. 

Active listening fosters trust and empathy, essential for building strong relationships. Recognizing and overcoming barriers like environmental distractions and personal biases can improve listening skills. Strategies to enhance active listening include embracing positive habits, conducting self-checks, and actively seeking feedback to foster a culture of open communication. 

Addressing personal needs as outlined in Maslow’s Hierarchy can also prepare individuals for better listening, making it a cornerstone of effective teamwork and interpersonal connections. 

IMG_2818 |

Managing the Trifecta: Teams, Projects, and Clients

Rick Peterson, FAIA, Principal at OZ Architecture, led a presentation with refreshing candor on what it takes to balance the moving targets of project relationships. Managing a successful team requires a balance of empathy, agency, and accountability, fostering a sense of ownership among team members. Setting clear expectations and goals is essential. Addressing issues. Effectively involves taking responsibility, careful scheduling to avoid overcommitment, and empowering team members to take ownership and feel proud of their work. Effective communication and collaboration, especially in person, create an atmosphere of opportunity and enjoyment, aiming to make everyone successful. Common challenges include misplaced optimism by architects, unmet expectations, and mismatches of roles or team dynamics, such as having the right people in the wrong seats or incompatible team members. Overcoming these hurdles through strategic management and a supportive environment is key to team effectiveness. 

IMG_2819 |

The Importance of Mentorship

Geneva Kowalski, the principal and majority partner at Studio K2 Architecture highlighted the importance of mentorship by telling her story of different mentors she’s had over the years. 

Mentorship can show up in many different ways – it can be a formal program set up by a workplace or it can be sought out and doesn’t have to be as defined or rigid of a relationship. Relationships outside of the mentee’s firm can be equally or more important, and can be someone in a professional organization, or someone the mentee has worked with in the past.Sometimes a mentor can be someone that you are frequently meeting with and can help you with day-to-day question. Other times, a mentor can be someone that is only met with on occasion and can help with bigger-picture ideas and long-term career growth.Mentorship can have many benefits including knowledge transfer, help networking, giving constructive feedback, and helping with career and personal growth. 

IMG_2821 |

Panel: Differing Perspectives on Mentorship in the A/E Industry

The Panel consisted of 4 representatives of different aspects of the A/E industry: an architecture firm, A/E firm, General Contractor, and Developer. The panel was led by Todd Afflerbaugh, an architect at BVH. Todd asked many pointed questions about how mentorship showed up in each panelist’s own experience. The responses of panelists often paralleled each other, highlighting the importance of having someone to lean on during your career. Mentorship is not an everyday task, but something that is periodic. It differs from career management in the sense that it can provide personal guidance and a mentor can be an advocate for a mentee within their firm. Within firms, it can be important to have a formal structure in place, and a timeline established for the relationship so there can be a clean break if necessary, or the relationship can continue if desired. Important qualities of a mentee are being able to define their needs, asking critical questions, seeking honest feedback, and a desire to learn.A mentor-mentee relationship is always two-ways, and the mentor can learn from the mentee as well. 

Colorado Architecture News | 03.20.24

Posted on by Jon Bell

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 03.20.24

In this Newsletter:

  • Design + Honor Awards call for entries now open
  • New Housing Committee applications available
  • AAH/ACHA Summer Leadership Summit – call for project tour nominations
  • Design Like A Girl Workshop
  • 1900 Lawrence tour March 21st
  • High School Internship roundtable discussion April 3rd
  • Code Class April 5th
  • Louie Louie’s Piano Bar tour April 11th
  • A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado April 18th
  • Mayor’s Design Awards
  • Apply to join the Denver Code Board of Appeals
  • CAP Spring lecture series
  • National news
  • Premier Partner spotlight and allied member news

AIA COLORADO NEWS

2024 Design + Honor Awards call for entries is now open!

The annual AIA Colorado Design + Honor Awards recognize the most outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ positive contributions to the community.

The 2024 Design + Honor Awards call for entries is now open! Learn more about submission requirements for both the Design Awards and Honor Awards and begin your 2024 Award submission. Submission window closes at 5pm, Friday, May 17th.

2024 Awards

Applications now available for new Housing Committee

A new AIA Colorado Housing Committee is launching this Spring that will focus on Colorado’s unprecedented and complex housing crisis. This new committee will meet regularly and seek to lay the groundwork so our association can lead and be responsive to equitable housing solutions. Read more about the committee, its goals for 2024, and apply today!

2024 Housing Committee

AAH/ACHA Summer Leadership Summit – call for project tour nominations

The AIA Academy of Architecture for Health is pleased to announce that for the first time, the annual Summer Leadership Summit (SLS) will be held in Denver this year from July 26-28th. This conference, jointly hosted by the AAH and ACHA (American College of Healthcare Architects), brings together approximately 200 leaders in healthcare design from the U.S. and around the world for two days of presentations and panel discussions addressing the forces that shape the future of healthcare. Each year, the final day of the conference (Sunday, July 28th) is reserved for project tours of healthcare facilities in the area. If your firm would like to submit a project for consideration, please follow the link to learn more and submit an application.

SLS 2024 Tour Application

Design Like A Girl workshop

AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. committee and NOMA Colorado held a second “Design Like a Girl” workshop on February 16th. A group of 19 aspiring middle school designers from various Denver Public Schools were paired with female mentors from the Colorado architecture and engineering community. The day also included a tour of Populus Hotel. Read more about the workshop, those who led and volunteered, well as contact info to get involved for the next workshop, taking place April 19th.

Design Like A Girl workshop

AIA Colorado Events

1900 Lawrence Tour

1900 Lawrence tour

The Denver Local Advisors will be hosting a tour of 1900 Lawrence on Thursday, March 21st. This construction tour of the new skyline altering 30-story building offering Class-AA office space that will redefine the work environment in Denver.

Tour is currently at capacity, but a wait list is currently open in case someone cancel’s their RSVP.

Join Waitlist

High School Internship roundtable discussion

At Noon on Wednesday, April 3rd, the AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee invites you to learn how your firm, large or small, can host internships for High School students who are enrolled in architecture coursework and interested in pursuing architecture careers. Discussion participants will include representatives from HDR, Denver Public Schools, and CEC Early College High School.

RSVP here

Code Class: 2021 Accessibility Update

Friday, April 5th, join this seminar that will discuss the changes to Chapter 11 of the 2021 IBC and the 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard and sign up through Eventbrite in advance.

RSVP here

Louie’s Louie’s Piano Bar tour

Thursday, April 11th, join members in the South for a tour in the “Trolley Block”, a recent rehabilitation of the historic trolley maintenance facility located on South Tejon between Cimmaron and Moreno. Tour led by Echo Architecture.

RSVP here

A Roadmap for Decarbonizing Building Assets in Denver and Colorado

Thursday, April 18th, attend an overview of the process of decarbonizing buildings, with a focus on meeting benchmarking and building performance standards requirements for Denver and Colorado. Discussion will include the workflow needed to provide the planning, analysis, funding, and scheduling required to meet 2030 targets for energy-use and/or greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

RSVP here

RSVP to AIA Colorado Events
View Organization Calendar

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to the following firms who are recipients of this year’s Mayor’s Design Awards!

PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS

Join the Denver Building Code Board of Appeals

The City and County of Denver is seeking qualified individuals to apply for a seat on the Denver Building Code Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals plays a crucial checks-and-balances role in the application of adopted and amended building codes. The Board consists of six members and three alternates, all appointed by the mayor, with one board member and one alternate need to be architects licensed in the State of Colorado. Apply here

Upcoming CAP Spring lecture series

  • Lior Galili, CU Denver CAP, Visiting Assistant Professor Thursday March 28, 12pm
  • Ken Andrews, AIA, Arch11, Principal Architect Monday April 8, 12pm
  • Amaia Sanchez-Velasco, Jorge Valiente Oriol, and Gonzalo Valiente Oriol, Grandeza Studio, Co-Principals Wednesday April 17, 12pm

Lectures are held at the Second Floor Gallery, CU Denver. More info and RSVP here.

NEWS AT NATIONAL

Small Firm Exchange

February’s presentation covered how to leverage small firm’s technology and creativity using AI for renderings and presentations to clients as well as architect’s use of AI for productivity and efficiency when generating images. Follow the link to read key takeaways as well as access the link to the presentation. View 1 page summary and link to recorded presentation

2024 AIA Future Forward Grant

Presented by the Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) and the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF), this grant supports students, emerging professionals, and early career architects in the testing of new ideas that disrupt the traditional conception of practice, process, and product in the field of architecture. Join the info session March 28th. Application deadline is April 19th. Learn more

Young Architects Forum March Newsletter

A newsletter from the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). Look out for important news, AIA updates, and ways to engage, no biggie. Read more

AIA24

Early registration is available through April 10th for this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture Design, taking place June 5–8. AIA24 will bring together the often-siloed AEC industry in Washington, D.C. to network, share knowledge, gain exposure, and find multidisciplinary solutions to today’s most pressing issues. View conference website

Premier Partner Spotlight

We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, IMEG and look forward totheir ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.

With a history that dates back over 100 years, IMEG Corp. grew from several firms coming together under one uniting vision: people-centered engineering. As a national engineering and design consulting company they have intentionally localized a focus to serve carefully chosen regions and markets, allowing them to put relationships and communities first, without sacrificing expertise.

View IMEG company website

Allied Member News

SGH is hosting a continuing education webinar on how institutions can best manage portfolios of aging buildings and infrastructure Tuesday, March 26th. Course is approved for 1 HSW. Learn more and register here.

Tremco CPG, Inc. is hosting an educational lunch event in Durango, Thursday, March 28th, from 10am – 2 pm. Offering 3 AIA course approved HSW Credits on the Full Building Enclosure, learn about the topics and RSVP here.

Creative Living Modern Outdoor Decor is hosting a 1 hour AIA approved course titled “Outdoor Kitchen Design with Stainless Steel Cabinetry” to explore the design of safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor kitchen and living areas. Course is being offered April 3rd in Basalt, April 4th in Edwards, and again April 10th at 9am in Boulder. For more information and to RSVP, contact info@clden.com

Looking for Additional Resources?

View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

Helpful Links:

Save the Dates:

  • 2024 Design + Honor Awards Event will be held September 12, 2024 at Mile High Station. 
  • 2024 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference will take place November 13-15, 2024 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO.

Design Like A Girl Workshop

Posted on by Jon Bell

AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. committee and NOMA Colorado are proud to announce the success of the second “Design Like a Girl” (DLAG) workshop held on February 16th, 2024.

Originally founded in Washington, DC by the Washington Architectural Foundation, DLAG began as a mentoring program for young women interested in the design and construction fields. Joanna Schmickel, FAIA, has been directing the program since its inception. AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. Committee, NOMA Colorado, and Denver Public Schools collaborated with Joanna to bring the program to Colorado, hosting the first of three planned workshops in October 2023.

Design Like A Girl |
Design Like A Girl |

For the second workshop, a group of 19 aspiring middle school designers from varied Denver Public Schools were paired with female mentors from the Colorado architecture and engineering community. This workshop was designed to build upon the lessons learned in the first workshop. The topic of the day was “Engineering and Construction,” which aimed to introduce participants to critical, yet often less glamorous and visible elements of design.

Activities of the day involved lessons in how the different engineering specialties contribute to a successful building design, acting out structural concepts, and attempting to build the tallest tower out of spaghetti sticks and tape to support a single marshmallow. Other workshop highlights included a construction site tour of Studio Gang’s Populus Hotel and a lunchtime zoom conversation with the project’s architect, Kristina Eldrenkamp. 

Design Like A Girl |
Design Like A Girl |

For the Populus tour, students and mentors walked a few chilly blocks from CU Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning to the construction office of The Beck Group, the GC for the project. Beck Group representatives led the tour and provided PPE and lunch for the girls and mentors.

While on site, the girls were able to witness the energy and occasional chaos of an active construction site. They observed the unique tear-shaped windows and noted the fantastic city views available from the sky deck.  They could see exposed structural and mechanical systems and watch the huge exterior panels lifted into place. 

Design Like A Girl |
Design Like A Girl |

For the final challenge of the day, the young designers were provided with a wealth of donated materials to choose from and instructed to incorporate at least one structural element they had learned about that day into a pavilion design. Some pavilions were designed to shelter from the elements while others provided a certain quality of light. One pavilion was designed as a place to connect and browse the internet. Columns were the most common structural element, but several used arches. At the end of the day, the girls presented their designs in front of their parents, mentors, and fellow designers.

The next workshop is scheduled for April 19th. If you are interested in being a mentor or learning more about Design Like a Girl please reach out to Brittany Soler solerbrittany@gmail.com or Sarah Goldblatt sarah@sarahgoldblatt.com.

The lead organizers of the workshop, Sarah Goldblatt, AIA, Brittany Soler, Assoc. AIA, and Ely Merheb, AIA, would like to extend their gratitude to the many mentors who donated their time to make connections with these future designers and offer advice, support, and instruction.

Carrie Cardona, AIA
Sarah Goldblatt, AIA
Ely Merheb, AIA
Kendall Ruder, Assoc. AIA
Brooke Schubert, AIA
Rachel Lee, AIA
Cherie Goff, AIA
Gabriela Culak Wakulchik, AIA
Katie Spicer, AIA
Kate Thomas, Assoc. AIA
Kelly Rayon, AIA
Dania Morelli, AIAS
Mallory Esselman, AIA
Courtney Minter, AIA
Maggie Hua, AIA
Jenna Michieli, AIA
Noel Michel, Assoc. AIA
S.J. Acin, Assoc. AIA
Kelly Garrett, AIA
Cynthia Ottenbrite, AIA
Skylar Potts
Katelyn Wager
Samantha Hurst
Beth Cook
Christine Britton
Jamie Park
Caitlin Charlet
Claire Padilla
Claire Messer
Abbey Woods
Sarah Fisher
Kayla McDougle
Stephanie Scott
Renee Azerbegi

Special Thanks to:

  • Joanna Schmickel, FAIA, CGS Architects (DLAG Program Founder)
  • Our Guest Speakers: 
    • Christine Britton, PE, JVA
    • Katelyn Wager, PE, EVstudio
    • Noel Michel, Assoc. AIA, Anderson Hallas Architect
    • Kristina Eldrenkamp, Architect, Project Leader, Studio Gang
  • AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee
  • Sondra Osif with Spark Early Career Exploration Program, Denver Public Schools 
  • Washington Architectural Foundation (WAF)
  • District Architectural Center (DAC) 
  • CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning 
  • Evan Palmer, Assoc. AIA, The Beck Group
  • Adam Perkins, Eric Rymarz, & Jack Ross with Urban Villages

Colorado Architecture News | 03.06.24

Posted on by Jon Bell

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 03.06.24

In this Newsletter:

  • AIA Colorado in D.C.
  • 2024 Colorado Legislative Update
  • 2023 Legislative Awards
  • West Virtual Connect March 12th
  • oLiv Boulder Tour March 13th
  • Happy Hour in Colorado Springs March 15th
  • 1900 Lawrence Tour March 21st
  • Code Class April 5th
  • Will Babbington, FAIA
  • Apply to join the Denver Code Board of Appeals
  • CAP Spring lecture series
  • National news
  • Premier Partner and allied member news

The Week in Words

“Architects can change the course of history. On fly-in day in February, hundreds of architects convene and flood the Capitol halls visiting congressional members, all discussing three important legislative bills to elicit support. Not only was inside baseball shared, bill support was gained and a bonus topic was planted. A future visioning session with legislators on imagining housing added to the 36% of federally owned buildings and property in Colorado. A sure win for the future!”

— Sarah Broughton, FAIA, Past President
Bennet |
DeGette |

AIA Colorado was in Washington, D.C. for the AIA Leadership Summit and on the Hill discussing issues that are important to Colorado architects. Julianne Scherer, AIA, President, Sarah Broughton, FAIA, Past-President, Kaylyn Kirby, AIA, Young Architects Forum Representative, Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA, CEO, and Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Advancement Director visited the offices of Sen. Bennet, Sen. Hickenlooper, Rep. DeGette, Rep. Pettersen, and Rep. Boebert.

Read more including the issue documents from both AIA National and AIA Colorado.

AIA COLORADO NEWS

2024 Colorado Legislative Bills Tracked To Date

This legislative session is one of the most interesting for architects we’ve seen in years and we’ve only just hit the halfway point. Right now, we are actively tracking 11 bills, including the big one, HB24-1329: the state’s review of our profession’s practice act. Catch up on each of the bills with a brief overview of the bill, the position that AIA has taken thus far, and the bills’ current status.

Read here

Government Affairs Committee member Sean Jursnick, AIA, discussed HB24-1239: Single-Exit Stairway Multifamily Structure, the measure to allow taller single stair developments, with the Denver Post.

Outstanding_New_Legislator_Award-1 |

2023 Legislative Awards

AIA Colorado recently presented our 2023 legislators awards to Senator Dylan Roberts as our 2023 Legislator of the Year and Representative Jenny Willford as our 2023 Outstanding New Legislator.

Read more

ARE Study Groups

What do you need to reach your ARE goals? Access to study materials? A group of peers studying for the same exam as you? We all have the same goal, so why do it alone?

The J.E.D.I. Committee would like to assist in creating a strong network of people, study materials, accountability, and resources beyond what is offered at individual firms. We’re also interested in knowing where everyone is on their exam journey.

Sign up here

AIA Colorado Events

oLiv Boulder Tour

Wednesday, March 13th, join AIA members and prospective members in the North to tour oLiv Boulder, a new mixed-use development in the heart of Boulder.

RSVP here

Happy Hour in Colorado Springs

Friday, March 15th, join the AIA Colorado Board, fellow members, and prospective members for a social time at Local Relic.

RSVP here

1900 Lawrence Tour

The Denver Local Advisors will be hosting a tour of 1900 Lawrence on Thursday, March 21st. This construction tour of the new skyline altering 30-story building offering Class-AA office space that will redefine the work environment in Denver.

RSVP here

Code Class: 2021 Accessibility Update

Friday, April 5th, join this seminar that will discuss the changes to Chapter 11 of the 2021 IBC and the 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard and sign up through Eventbrite in advance.

RSVP here

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MEMBER NEWS

AIA elevates Will Babbington, FAIA, to the College of Fellows

Will Babbington, FAIA, of Studio NYL, has been newly elevated to the College of Fellows, one of the highest honors bestowed by AIA.

“Will Babbington shares technologically-advanced strategies for architectural enclosures, enabling collaborators award-winning latitude in their design vision and advancing the Profession’s insight into sustainability and energy efficiency.”
— Fellows Jury Statement

Read more about Will’s recent elevation to the College of Fellows. Congrats!

PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS

Join the Denver Building Code Board of Appeals

The City and County of Denver is seeking qualified individuals to apply for a seat on the Denver Building Code Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals plays a crucial checks-and-balances role in the application of adopted and amended building codes. The Board consists of six members and three alternates, all appointed by the mayor, with one board member and one alternate need to be architects licensed in the State of Colorado. Apply here

Upcoming CAP Spring lecture series

  • Lior Galili, CU Denver CAP, Visiting Assistant Professor Thursday March 28, 12pm
  • Ken Andrews, AIA, Arch11, Principal Architect Monday April 8, 12pm
  • Amaia Sanchez-Velasco, Jorge Valiente Oriol, and Gonzalo Valiente Oriol, Grandeza Studio, Co-Principals Wednesday April 17, 12pm

Lectures are held at the Second Floor Gallery, CU Denver. More info and RSVP here.

NEWS AT NATIONAL

AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index

The AIA/Deltek Architectural Billings Index (ABI) January score came in at 46.2. This marks the lengthiest period of declining billings since 2010-2011, although the pace of decline is slower. Read more at AIA

Why Firms Need Sustainability Leads

AIA Colorado’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) Chair, Marisol Foreman, AIA, writes about why a dedicated sustainability manager plays a key role in navigating the complex intersection of architectural creativity and environmental responsibility. Read here

Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator Training 2024

Taking place March 20-21, this course is Intended for licensed architects, engineers, or certified building inspectors, this training certifies attendees as Building Evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP). View at AIAU

Five key takeaways from 2024 AIA Leadership Summit

Bringing questions, curiosity, and courage, AIA members from coast to coast traveled to Washington, DC, for the chapter leaders’ premier advocacy and leadership training. Here’s a snapshot of what attendees learned and experienced. Read at AIA

“41% of architects now using AI”

The survey, which is the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) first examination of the industry’s use of artificial intelligence (AI), revealed that 41 per cent of UK architects are already employing the technology “on at least the occasional project”. Read at Dezeen

AIA24

Early registration is available through April 10th for this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture  Design, taking place June 5–8. AIA24 will bring together the often-siloed AEC industry in Washington, D.C. to network, share knowledge, gain exposure, and find multidisciplinary solutions to today’s most pressing issues. View conference website

Premier Partner Spotlight

We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, IMEG and look forward totheir ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.

With a history that dates back over 100 years, IMEG Corp. grew from several firms coming together under one uniting vision: people-centered engineering. As a national engineering and design consulting company they have intentionally localized a focus to serve carefully chosen regions and markets, allowing them to put relationships and communities first, without sacrificing expertise.

View IMEG company website

Allied Member News

DesignPro Insurance supports the David W. Lakamp Architect Scholarship awarding $5,000 each to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Application closes March 15th.

Join Creative Living Modern Outdoor Decor for a 1 hour AIA approved course titled “Outdoor Kitchen Design with Stainless Steel Cabinetry” to explore the design of safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor kitchen and living areas. Course is being offered April 3rd in Basalt, and April 4th in Edwards, both dates at the Decorative Materials showroom, and again April 10th at 9am at Highland City Club in Boulder. For more information and RSVP: info@clden.com

Looking for Additional Resources?

View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

Helpful Links:

Save the Dates:

  • 2024 Design + Honor Awards Event will be held September 12, 2024 at Mile High Station. 
  • 2024 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference will take place November 13-15, 2024 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO.
© AIA Colorado 2026