J.E.D.I. Youth Mentoring and Engagement Opportunities
YOUTH MENTORING & ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The AIA CO J.E.D.I. Education Pipeline Committee is focused on introducing school-age students to architecture in an effort to expand career pathway exploration and diversify the profession. The following are upcoming opportunities for architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals to share their journey with middle and high school students in the Denver Public School (DPS) system. Time commitments are outlined under each opportunity. Please contact Sarah Goldblatt, AIA if you or your firm is interested in volunteering: sarah@sarahgoldblatt.com or the DPS contact listed below. Please share with your firm or colleagues who may be interested.
DPS Career Exploration SPARK summer programs are looking for the following:
Guest speakers for elementary and middle school students throughout the summer. They are looking for architects or allied professionals to share their experiences about their career journey and provide a related hands-on activity.
- Who: 20-25 elementary and middle school students per classroom
- What: In-person, classroom presentation of career journey and related hands-on activity to engage students. See slide deck for more information: Spark Summer Programming Info Session Slide Deck
- When: See sign up for locations and available time slots: Elementary Sign Up Sheet – Middle School Sign Up Sheet
- Commitment: Flexible- one class period or multiple classes each day at the times listed on the sign-up sheets.
- Note: Community based organizations have specifically asked for BIPOC speakers for the Middle School sessions.
DPS High School Architecture/Drafting Instructor – opening at DPS to teach high school students architecture and drafting
- Who: DPS High School – CEC Early College
- What: Full time architecture instructor for high school Students
- When: 2023-24 School Year
- Position Description: DPS HIgh School Architecture Instructor
- Commitment: Full Time position
- DPS Contact for questions : emilee_morgan@dpsk12.net
DPS CEC Early College Coach/ Mentor:
- Who: Seeking A/E and construction professionals to mentor high school students with specific interests in architecture
- What: One on one sessions with high school students, each meeting time is structured and facilitated by the Coach MentoringProgram Coordinator. Each mentor will receive a handbook with detailed curriculum per session. Outside of the structured session is a text/phone call check in once per week based on the preference of the mentor/mentee match. Note: Mentors can share the role with a colleague and co-coach a student.
- When: 2023-24 school year/ Nov. – April
- Commitment: One morning per month, 8:15-10:00, for six months: Dates TBD
- Deadline to apply: October 2023
- Application link: https://dpsk12.tfaforms.net/37
DPS Launch Internship program:
- Who: Architecture firms needed to provide career-shaping internships for high school students with specific interests in architecture and allied fields
- What: Additional info: DPS Launch Internship Program
- When: Summer 2023: June 12-July 21 / Fall 2023: datesTBD
- Commitment: Provide 100 -120 Hour engagement opportunity with your firm with DPS support
- DPS Contact: emily_takimoto@dpsk12.org
AIA Colorado National Representatives – Spring 2023
Sarah Broughton, FAIA, AIA Colorado President
Next week, I am attending the national conference on
architecture in San Francisco. As president, it is
humbling to represent all of our members in votes for
national officers, bylaws and resolutions at the annual
business meeting. I welcome your thoughts on the
candidates and issues. It is also inspiring to see so
many peers leading the profession as presenters,
award winners and new Fellows. For those also going
to the conference, we hope you can join us for
Colorado night – RSVP here.
One annual gathering does not come close to showing
the work. Did you know we have many Colorado
colleagues serving in national roles on your behalf?
Please take a moment to get to know these amazing
volunteers who I’ve asked to share their favorite
resource that their role has helped develop for the
membership.
National Architect Licensing Advisor
Kahyun Lee, AIA, National Architect Licensing Advisor, Fentress, Denver
Along with Mara Song, AIA, we want licensure candidates and architects to have access to every tool they need to navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity – and one of those is the community of Architect Licensing Advisors. Architect licensing advisors are local professionals, educators, and students who volunteer their time to help others pursue licensure and reciprocity. These volunteers often provide candidates with their first glimpse into the licensure process, lending help and guidance along the way.
- We have helped 10 candidates so far in 2023. 3 of them are internationals (including foreign architects and candidates with foreign degrees).
- Session at CU Boulder on 2/24, licensure
pathways and basics - Session at CU Denver on 4/17, licensure
pathways and basics
National Associates Committee
Kari Lawson, AIA, National Associate Committee, State/Territory Associate Representative, HDR Inc,
Denver
National Associate Committee (NAC) meets quarterly to discuss key topics that impact associates. There are 5 workgroups organized to assist with advocating on the behalf of associates: Advocacy, Strategic Partnership, VALUE, Knowledge: Professional Development, and Turquoise Agenda.
Our Q2 call focused on: Licensure (the ARE, Stop the Clock), Associate Resources & Engagement, Equity (Barriers, Pay, Work-Life Balance), Networking (Visibility & Awareness), and Mentorship.
As a team member of the Strategic Partnership NAC work group, our mission is to amplify visibility of the NAC by providing a clear framework to raise associate member awareness and provide a repository of information to leverage leadership opportunities. The Advocacy Work Group recently completed a research sprint of the specific jurisdictional impediments blocking the full adoption of NCARB’s newest score validity policy. See the presentation deck that provides in-depth information for jurisdictions with regulatory or statutory impediments.
Here are several A’23 Sessions featuring NAC Members or Topics:
- Building Leadership Through Volunteerism. Featuring NAC Committee Members: Katie Cherrier, Zachary Henry-Litchliter, Arthur Sheffield
- Table Topic Conversations: Looking at the Bigger Picture—A Bias Free Future
- Drawn Out: Ideation & Sketching Solutions for Mental Health Environments. Featuring NAC CACE Liaison, Shahad Sadeq
- Book Signing – “City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers”. Featuring NAC CACE Liaison, Shahad Sadeq. Friday, June 9th, 11:30 AM to 12:30 AM at the ‘A23 Bookstore
AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx)
Emily Adams, AIA, Small Firm Exchange Representative, Neoera, Inc. Denver
The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. As more than 75% of all firms within the AIA are small firms, including my own, I’m invested in finding ways to leverage that size for collaboration and influence, just like the individual large firms do. Additionally, as a member of the AIA Colorado Business of Architecture Knowledge Community, I’ve been focusing more internal effort on understanding when/how to hire talent into small firms.
To learn more about the work of the Small Firm Exchange (SFx), visit here. If you’re planning to attend A’23, here’s the SFx picks we think you should check out.
State Disaster Assistance
Brett Hartle, AIA, Colorado State Disaster Assistance Coordinator, Director of Design – Denver International Airport, Denver
Brett acts as AIA Colorado’s liaison/primary point of contact with other State Disaster Assistance Coordinators across the United States and AIA National Office. Additionally, Brett is certified by Cal OES as a Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator.
Home Innovation Research Labs (Home Innovation) was tasked by HUD to develop a set of practical, actionable guidelines to assist builders and developers in designing and constructing residential buildings, neighborhoods, and accessory structures in a manner that could improve residential resilience to natural hazards and integrate resiliency throughout the community. The resilience guides provide technical content in a straightforward way that is easy for a layperson to understand, while also providing references through which design professionals, builders, developers, and public officials can obtain full details. The guide consists of five volumes. Each volume focuses on a major category of hazard that may pertain to a given project: wind, water, fire, earth (seismic, earthslides, sinkholes), and auxiliary (other hazards such as volcanoes, hail, and temperature extremes). These resilience guides are not intended to substitute for engineering or architectural project design work; rather, the technical guidance identifies components that can be enhanced or improved to achieve above code performance to make residential buildings and other community assets more resilient.
View Designing for Natural Hazards Series Volumes 1 – 5
AIA Strategic Council
Zachary Taylor, AIA, Strategic Council Representative, Taylor Architecture Design, Colorado Springs
The AIA Strategic Council, formed in 2015 from the national repositioning, has changed in the last two years as Councilors were previously chosen at the Region level to serve the membership. With the dissolution of the regions, states now have direct representation on the Strategic Council. It has been my privilege to serve as the first AIA CO representative to the Council.
The Strategic Council is charged to be the forward-looking body within the AIA that informs the national Board of Directors of important issues relevant to the profession through the lens of the Strategic Plan’s core values, imperatives, and strategies. More information about the Strategic Council can be found here.
This year the Council is focusing on five areas of study: Carbon, Design, Economy, Equity, and Health Wellness. Personally, I have been involved with the Carbon Study Group where we’ve been diving into the topic of “Climate-Positive Practice”. We are building on past Council work/reports of Scalable Climate Action and Carbon Literacy (both of which can be found at the link above). I’d like to thank Rodwin Architecture, Fentress Architects, and Shape Architecture for allowing me to pick the brains of their team members on how they’re currently pushing this topic forward within their practices.
AIA Young Architect Forum
Kaylyn Kirby, AIA, Young Architect Forum Representative, Semple Brown Design, PC, Denver
As the Young Architect Rep for CO, I represent the state at the National level within the Young Architects Forum. The YAF is the voice of recently licensed architects (licensed less than 10 years) and a catalyst for progress within the Institute. The 2023-2027 Strategic Initiative is: Architects in Action, Catalyzing for Change. The group meets as a full committee as well as is organized into Focus Groups, which allow us to provide more focused attention on certain initiatives. The 2023 focus groups include: Communications, Community, Advocacy, Knowledge, Strategic Vision, and Special Projects.
Available Resources:
- Recent AIA YAF Connection Issue – All Issues
- The Culture of Architecture – A Multicultural Perspective on Design Through the Lens of Diverse Storytelling
- Young Architect Toolkit – How to Facilitate the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Program
AIA College of Fellows
Gregory M. Friesen, FAIA, AIA College of Fellows Western Mountain Region (COF WMR) Representative Member, CSNA Architects, Colorado Springs Colorado, Springboard Preservation Studio, Colorado Springs | Montrose
Although AIA National no longer recognizes it, the College of Fellows retains the Western Mountain Region and considers it to be vital. The seven-state Region includes Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. There are 184 Fellows in the Western Mountain Region, which is 5% of all AIA Fellows.
There are two Regional Representatives – Jonathan Sparer, FAIA Las Vegas Nevada, and Gregory M. Friesen, FAIA Colorado Springs Colorado. In addition to the Regional Representatives, there are State representatives:
Jack DeBartolo, FAIA – Arizona with 62 Fellows
Glen Berry FAIA, – Idaho with 3 Fellows
Jonathan Sparer, FAIA – Nevada with 16 Fellows
Glenn Fellows, FAIA – New Mexico with 25 Fellows
Roger Jackson, FAIA – Utah with 23 Fellows
John Carney, FAIA – Wyoming with 4 Fellows
Currently Colorado – with 70 Fellows – does not have an official representative; I am
serving in that role de facto.
The COF WMR Representatives meet monthly. At our last meeting, we agreed to form a COF WMR Fellows Committee to promote candidates for Fellowship within the Region, and to review and strengthen their submittals to the AIA College of Fellows Jury.
2022 Legislator Awards Presentation
Both Rep. Bird and Sen. Simpson approach issues as problems to be solved, choose issues that will help the constituents and communities they serve, while avoiding ideological battles. They are smart, decent people, and fair in their approach to issues. AIA Colorado is lucky to have them as champions.
Jerry Johnson, lobbyist and Honorary Member of AIA Colorado
After an eventful campaign season last Fall and a highly productive legislative session this year, we were thrilled to honor Senator Cleave Simpson as AIA Colorado’s exceptional new legislator for 2022, alongside Representative Shannon Bird, our 2022 legislator of the year.
Senator Simpson was acknowledged for his instrumental role in sponsoring the 2021 continuing education bill and his persistent commitment to tackling Colorado’s pressing water issues.
Representative Bird has been an invaluable advocate for licensing bills, recognizing the importance of incorporating precise language in legislation that impacts professions and occupations regulated within Colorado, in alignment with nationwide standards and reciprocity systems.
Both legislators, AIA Colorado Board Members, and members of the Government Affairs Committee gathered for a luncheon at SAR+ to honor the recipients on May 12, 2023.
From Left to Right:
- Senator Cleave Simpson
- Nikolaus Remus, AIA, AIA Colorado Advocacy Engagement Director
- Representative Shannon Bird
- Mike Waldinger, Honorary AIA, AIA Colorado CEO
- Sarah Broughton, FAIA, AIA Colorado Board President
- Jerry Johnson
Past Presidents Gathering
The presidency is a “milestone moment” in each one’s career and many of us are at the point where the perspective of time distills the service down to the essence of what lasts.
Wells Squier, AIA
Wells Squier, AIA, AIA Colorado President 2022, gathered the past presidents for a time to reminisce as well as share in the future direction of the organization. Held at rowland & broughton last week, stories were shared by all and there are plans to make this gathering a new annual tradition.
Listed from Left to Right and the year they served as President:
- Phil Gerou, FAIA 1986
- Wells Squier, AIA 2022
- Zachary Taylor, AIA 2019
- Ron Abo, FAIA 1998
- Kevin Eronimous, AIA 2014
- Cheri Gerou, FAIA 2006
- Curt Fentress, FAIA 1993
- Marvin Sparn, FAIA 1991
- Julianne Scherer, AIA 2024
- Sarah Broughton, FAIA 2023
- Steve Loos, FAIA 2000
Not Pictured:
- Kin DuBois, FAIA 2007
- Adam Harding, AIA 2020
- Mary Morissette, FAIA 2010
Colorado Architecture News | 05.17.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 05.17.23
THE WEEK IN WORDS
“Both Rep. Bird and Sen. Simpson approach issues as problems to be solved, choose issues that will help the constituents and communities they serve, while avoiding ideological battles. They are smart, decent people, and fair in their approach to issues. AIA Colorado is lucky to have them as champions.”
— Jerry Johnson, lobbyist and Honorary Member of AIA Colorado
After an eventful campaign season last Fall and a highly productive legislative session this year, we were thrilled to honor Senator Cleave Simpson as AIA Colorado’s exceptional new legislator for 2022, alongside Representative Shannon Bird, our 2022 legislator of the year.
Senator Simpson was acknowledged for his instrumental role in sponsoring the 2021 continuing education bill and his persistent commitment to tackling Colorado’s pressing water issues.
Representative Bird has been an invaluable advocate for licensing bills, recognizing the importance of incorporating precise language in legislation that impacts professions and occupations regulated within Colorado, in alignment with nationwide standards and reciprocity systems.
2023 DESIGN + HONOR AWARDS
Meet the Jurors for the 2023 Design Awards
“The Awards Committee is so proud to have such a powerhouse lineup of esteemed colleagues to serve as our 2023 design jury. The breadth of the practice types and locations represented is exceeded only by their deep expertise and leadership in living out the values we all aspire to. We can’t wait for them to see your best work when they convene at the national conference on architecture in San Francisco!”
— Marisol Foreman, AIA, Awards Committee Chair
Just 2 Days Away!
For both the Design + Honor Awards, Friday May 19th at 5pm is the deadline. Full submission guidelines and instructions can found at the submission link.
AIA COLORADO NEWS
2023 Academic Scholarships
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Academic Scholarships:
- Colorado North AIA Scholarship: Mansani Salazar, CU Boulder
- Garry G. Landin AIA Scholarship: Erick Medrano, CU Denver
- C. Gordon Sweet AIA Scholarship: James “Gabriel” Morales, CU Denver
- Kenneth R. Fuller AIA Scholarship: Alanah Braaksma, CU Denver
- Michael Kephart AIA Scholarship: William “Brewster” Glascock, CU Denver
- De Von M. Carlson FAIA Scholarship: Toby Underhill, CU Denver
- Priscilla & William Muchow FAIA Scholarship: Mohamad Zaina, CU Denver, and Marshall Reilly, CU Denver
- Temple Hoyne Buell FAIA Scholarship: Julia Lecy, CU Denver
- Robert K. Fuller FAIA Scholarship: Berenice Ibarra, CU Denver
- Flodie and John Anderson FAIA Scholarship: Willa Hendler, CU Denver
- Oscar R. Sanchez AIAS Scholarship: Jose Banuelos, CU Boulder
Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism From Colorado
On April 27th, AIA Colorado was honored to showcase several of Colorado’s leading designers in conjunction with the Cities Summit of the Americas, a convergence of Mayors and Civic Leaders from across the Western Hemisphere.
Last week, members from the South and the AIA Colorado Board of Directors toured the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum, enjoying insight shared by John Graham, AIA, from Anderson Mason Dale Architects. The fun continued with a happy hour at COATI.
Given that the AIA Colorado Board Presidency is a “milestone moment” in each one’s career, Wells Squire, AIA, gathered the past presidents of AIA Colorado for a time to reminisce as well as share in the future direction of the organization. Held at rowland & broughton last week, stories were shared by all and there are plans to make this gathering a new annual tradition.
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
National Western Center Tour
Join members from Denver and tour the National Western Center Livestock Exchange Building, Central Utility Plan & CSU Spur Building on June 1st.
AIA Colorado at A’23
Connect with fellow AIA Colorado members during A’23 AIA Conference on June 8th at HDR’s San Francisco office.
Children’s Hospital North (Broomfield) Building Tour
Join our Academy of Architecture for Health Knowledge Community for a tour of the Children’s Hospital North, covering their recent major renovation and addition project. Space is limited.
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
2022 Denver Energy Code Training Series
Want to learn more about what is changing for commercial/multifamily and residential buildings when the 2022 Denver Energy Code goes into effect? Join City of Denver for a comprehensive training series that will teach you about key changes in the new code. Feel free to join for specific topics or the entire series, which includes content for both commercial and residential project teams. ICC and AIA/HSW continuing education credit will be provided.
DBIA Rocky Mountain Region – Regional Conference
The Design-Build Institute of America is hosting their annual conference in Aurora on June 8th. The theme for the conference is “Stronger, Together, Everybody’s In”. June 7th will also feature the Design-Build Awards Ceremony and Networking Reception.
Looking for a Volunteer Architectosaurus
The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, in partnership with Jefferson County Open Space, is working on big capital improvement projects. Dinosaur Ridge is a National Natural Landmark and has close to 250,000 visitors a year and needs a new Visitor Center to provide the best experience for those visitors. The volunteer with architectural expertise will help to ask the right questions and provide the best input to Jefferson County Open Space. You may send a letter of interest and resume to Pallavi Jhaveri or Kermit Shields.
Telluride Art + Architecture Week
Taking place the week of July 10 – 16, Telluride celebrates a weeklong immersive art experience showcasing the architectural, landscape, interior design, and creative talent of Telluride. Join fellow architects Friday, July 14th, for Design Industry Day at the Madeline Hotel where Continuing Education courses will be offered followed by a social networking event.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
AIA National Is Looking For Volunteer Leaders Like You!
Represent Colorado and help AIA promote the work of the Knowledge Communities and other AIA member groups by joining a 2024 leadership group. Volunteers support their community by:
- increasing engagement
- presenting at events and producing content
- participating in monthly meetings
The application process closes at 5pm ET on June 16.
2023 Small Project Awards
AIA and it’s Small Project Design (SPD) Knowledge Community present the annual Small Project Awards to raise public awareness of the value and design excellence that architects provide regardless of the limits of size and scope. These projects represent the big impact that small projects can have on their users and broader communities.
Women’s Leadership Summit
Taking place in Boston, this September 12-14, will be the Women’s Leadership Summit. Founded by AIA, this is a premier event that brings together the industry’s largest network of diverse women who are breaking down barriers, making themselves visible, and manifesting the careers they want—while making a difference in the world.
A’23 in San Francisco, June 7-10
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 San Francisco —one of the West Coast’s premier destinations—to explore what it means to design a better world now, together. Visit the Conference Website to register, access the hotel block, and learn more.
Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism From Colorado
This past April 27, 2023, AIA Colorado was honored to showcase several of Colorado’s leading designers at Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism From Colorado. The event was organized in conjunction with the Cities Summit of the Americas, a convergence of Mayors and Civic Leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the US State Department. With day two of the Summit drawing to a close, attendees were cordially invited to the History Colorado Center and immerse themselves in an evening of inspiration, as they delved into the minds of the brilliant architects, city planners, and cultural thinkers behind some of the most innovative state projects and programs in our region.
After an introduction from AIA National President Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, explaining the critical roles of architects as partners for progress, each speaker presented their work in 20 slides set to an automatic timer of 20 seconds per slide. Delivered in this “PechaKucha” style, the format provided a fun and quick environment.
As AIA Colorado CEO Mike Waldinger stated in his opening remarks, there is “no act more optimistic than to build.” These presentations highlight just a few of the inspiring and transformational projects underway or recently completed in the Denver Metro Area.
Ignacio Correa-Ortiz, AIA, with RTD, kicked off the evening with his presentation, “Transit and Mobility.” Correa-Ortiz traced the history of public transit in the Denver area, beginning with the sustainability of the First Peoples. The shift to private cars in the post-war era eroded the social fabric and air quality of cities across America, including Denver. Today, RTD and other local urban planners are working on solutions to reinvent a more sustainable and equitable transit network. Denver’s recent investment in Union Station is a model for the future, because “we can only build the future that we can imagine.”
Kathleen Fogler, AIA, and John McIntyre, AIA, from Tryba Architects, presented “Rethinking Urban Renewal.” Urban Renewal has historically represented a process that severs the built environment from its cultural and ecological history. Now, urban projects must be thought of as “akin to gardening – strengthening existing conditions, grafting in new elements, acknowledging the importance of pruning – demolition and removal, but at a scale appropriate to context.” Due to changing technologies, front range cities such as Denver have many opportunities to refresh underutilized industrial spaces with desirable proximity to the urban core. Adapting these buildings rather than tearing them down allows for opportunities of scale not typically seen in ground-up construction. The result is projects that contribute to a more authentic mixed-used urban fabric. In addition to acknowledging built history, “Rethinking Urban Renewal,” also means recognizing natural history, and our role as part of the natural world rather than separated from it.
Chris Shears, FAIA, of SAR+, presented “River Evolution,” which traced Denver’s relationship the Platte River. During Denver’s early history as an industrial frontier town, the Platte was hemmed in by railyards and factories, remaining ignored and polluted for years. In 1975, community leaders turned their attention to restoring the river and its ecology to create a public amenity. This led to the development of the Confluence and Cuernavaca Park, which have become beloved public amenities in the heart of the city. Today, planning efforts are underway to redevelop “The River Mile,” 200 acres of underutilized post-industrial land along the river. Redevelopments include a new typology of public housing from Denver Housing Authority (DHA) called Sun Valley, and rethinking pedestrian connections between Ball Arena and Coors Field.
Cathy Bellem, AIA, of Anderson Mason Dale Architects, presented “Serving the Whole Person,” telling the story of two projects designed in collaboration with Dr. Lydia Prado, currently the executive director of Lifespan Local and formerly Vice President of Child & Family Services at the Mental Health Center of Denver. While in this role, Dr. Prado spearheaded the effort to develop the Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being in the Northeast Park Hill neighborhood. Following Dr. Prado’s philosophy that “communities themselves best understand how to improve their own well-being,” Anderson Mason Dale assisted in leading community workshops to gain insight into community needs. Today, the campus is inclusive across all ages, and serves as a community hub alleviating food and health insecurity as well as a mental health resource. The design team has recently broken ground on a similar project in the Westwood neighborhood, where their goal was not build the same building but follow the same process of listening and learning from the community.
Chad Holtzinger, AIA, from Shopworks Architecture, presented “Housing that Heals,” with a focus on projects that emphasize the health and safety of children. He began by presenting research on how childhood trauma manifests into poverty and systematic homelessness. Architects are good at dealing with physiological needs (creating a comfortable built environment) and safety needs (creating a safe physical environment), but how can our profession take it farther by promoting self-actualization, esteem, love, and belonging? With this framework in mind, Shopworks designed calming and safe environments that eliminated typical areas of stress for traumatized individuals, such as secluded corridors or dingy laundry rooms. They used natural materials such as cedar shakes to create intriguing textures and aromatics. Their design process focused on working with experts and local activists to promote a connection to ethnicity and sense of place as a “way to systematically change the way the built environment yields health in our community.”
Alex Garrison, AIA, from Gensler, presented “Adaptive Reuse,” emphasizing that “the most sustainable building is the one you don’t have to build.” Like other presenters, he touched on the idea of breaking the cycle of urban renewal and connecting the past to the future. As his first case study, he presented recent research efforts by Gensler into the many potentials of transforming old office buildings into mixed-use residential. As vacancy rates continue to rise in the Central Business District, Gensler has been contracted by Denver to study potential sites using the algorithm they have developed. They have coined the phrase “Bad Office Makes Good Residential,” realizing that many features of outdated office buildings (smaller floor plates, smaller windows, etc) is exactly what makes them attractive for apartment conversions. Gensler also used their adaptive reuse philosophies on a strategic intervention for Denver Beer Co, transforming an old gas station into a community hub and taproom.
The final presentation of the night was from Terra Mazzeo, AIA, of Stantec, called “High Performing Civic Resources”. Her first case study covered the redevelopment of the Denver Water Operation Complex. The campus’s administration building is one of the highest performing built works in the region, showcasing Net-Zero Energy, LEED platinum certification, and, most significantly, Net-Zero Water. The campus was conceptualized to showcase the conservation of water as a critical natural resource. It achieved Net-Zero Water through natural water detention, extensive rainwater harvesting, expansive areas of natural ecology, and a water recycling system that is on display in the main lobby. Denver Water’s commitment to use their campus as a model for water conservation mirrored their efforts to increase sustainability across the regional water system. They “used architecture to help change policy, and in so doing has illuminated a path towards regional water security.” Mazzeo also presented on the MacGregor Square project, a redevelopment of an entire city block funded by the Rockies Baseball team. Public open spaces, “designed not only for game day, but every day,” form the heart of the project.
AIA Colorado would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all presenters and Summit Attendees who joined us for a evening celebrating our professions collaborative role shaping the future of our cities. Architects and Planners in Colorado and around the world are engaged citizens who look forward to working with city officials on transformational projects that will increase sustainability and equity across all our urban cores.
Meet the Jurors for the 2023 Design Awards
The annual AIA Colorado Design + Honor Awards are upon us, and we’re pleased to introduce the 2023 jury below. Reminder, the deadline to submit is Friday, May 19th, at 5pm.
Colorado Architecture News | 05.03.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 05.03.23
THE WEEK IN WORDS
This past week, Cities Summit of the Americas took place in Denver, bringing 3,500+ city leaders from countries all across the Americans and the World. Mike Waldinger, AIA Colorado CEO, attended the summit and shares the following quotes from his experiencs:
“We need more emphasis on placekeeping than placemaking.”
– At a Vibrant Cities Track panel discussion
“It’s great to have the AIA here.”
– At the Launch of the Cities Forward Initiative
2023 DESIGN + HONOR AWARDS
2023 Design + Honor Awards: Just 2 Weeks Remain to Submit Your Projects
The AIA Colorado Annual Design Awards honor 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. Previous design award recipients have designed innovative schools, stunning custom homes, creative hotels, excellent community gathering spaces, and much more.
Additionally, the AIA Colorado Honor Awards recognize the people and teams who are making a difference in the architecture profession and their communities. They’re committed to continually growing as architects, value creating a strong team and recognize the power of architecture in our daily lives.
The deadline for both the Design + Honor Awards is May 19th. Full submission guidelines and instructions can found at the submission link.
AIA COLORADO NEWS
Housing Questionnaire
Housing is the biggest concern on the minds of Coloradans and the most debated issue in our legislature and city councils. Access to housing is no longer impacting only those of lower socio-economic standing, it affects everyone at every level of society.
AIA Colorado has made this our newest imperative and your Board of Directors want to know what you think. Please participate in this brief survey as we weigh how to make a positive impact. Replies requested by May 10th.
Are You an Associate AIA Member? Would You Like to Attend A’23 This June?
AIA Colorado has been given the unique circumstance of being able to gift 1 free Associate Member Silver Pass to A’23, AIA’s Conference on Architecture, to an Associate Member in good standing. Enter your name for the chance to win.
Members of the West enjoyed a great event last week in Eagle. Several Continuing Education courses were offered followed by a social hour.
Last week, members of the South toured Kinship Landing boutique hotel in Colorado Springs. Echo Architecture led the tour. Thanks to Editorial Committee member JP Arnold for the photos!
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
Denver Meet Up and Tour of New City Heights Resident Hall on Auraria campus
Join Denver Members on May 11th for a walking tour of the new City Heights residence hall on the Auraria campus followed by happy hour at Tivoli Brewing Co.
Happy Hour in Colorado Springs
On May 11th, join fellow AIA Colorado members and the AIA Colorado Board for a social hour at COATI.
National Western Center Tour
Join members from Denver and tour the National Western Center Livestock Exchange Building, Central Utility Plan & CSU Spur Building on June 1st.
AIA Colorado at A’23
Connect with fellow AIA Colorado members during A’23 AIA Conference on June 8th at HDR’s San Francisco office.
AIA COLORADO MEMBER NEWS
Joseph Poli, AIA, Architect, Design Principal, and co-founder of RATIO Design’s Denver Studio is moving into the role of Consulting Principal in June of this year. Congratulations!
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
GESTEM Volunteers Needed
Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (GESTEM) is an exciting event that introduces middle school girls to the wide range of opportunities in potential careers in STEM fields through hands-on workshops and interactions with engineering professionals. Rocky Mountain Section hosts up to 1000 girls, at no cost to the girls to attend.
DBIA Rocky Mountain Region – Regional Conference
The Design-Build Institute of America is hosting their annual conference in Aurora June 8th. The theme for the conference is “Stronger, Together, Everybody’s In”. June 7th will also feature the Design-Build Awards Ceremony and Networking Reception.
Looking for a Volunteer Architectosaurus
The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, in partnership with Jefferson County Open Space, is working on big capital improvement projects. Dinosaur Ridge is a National Natural Landmark and has close to 250,000 visitors a year and needs a new Visitor Center to provide the best experience for those visitors. The volunteer with architectural expertise will help to ask the right questions and provide the best input to Jefferson County Open Space. You may send a letter of interest and resume to Pallavi Jhaveri or Kermit Shields.
Telluride Art + Architecture Week
Taking place the week of July 10 – 16, Telluride celebrates a weeklong immersive art experience showcasing the architectural, landscape, interior design, and creative talent of Telluride. Join fellow architects Friday, July 14th, for Design Industry Day at the Madeline Hotel where Continuing Education courses will be offered followed by a social networking event.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
Getting in the Resilience Zone
The Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act creates and designates resilience zones which identify disadvantage communities that are most at-risk for natural hazards. Communities in the zones will have access to financial, technical, and planning support.
AIA advocated for the law, which President Biden signed late last year. This spring, architects and mayors have the chance to weigh-in on the designated regions. Learn about the resources for your community and hear from architect Joyce Owens, FAIA, whose projects have put resilience design to the test.
2023 COTE Top Ten Awards
AIA has recently announced the 2023 COTE Top Ten, highlighting projects that meet the AIA Committee on the Environment’s rigorous criteria for social, economic, and ecological value.
AIA Colorado member Kyleen Rockwell, AIA, reflects on her involvement helping to propel the UC San Diego North Torrey Pines Living Learning Neighborhood project, a place designed to promote physical and mental well-being, support the school’s environmental commitments, and foster community connections.
Women’s Leadership Summit
Taking place in Boston, this September 12-14, will be the Women’s Leadership Summit. Founded by AIA, this is a premier event that brings together the industry’s largest network of diverse women who are breaking down barriers, making themselves visible, and manifesting the careers they want—while making a difference in the world.
March Architectural Billings Index
Business conditions at architecture firms saw a slight improvement in March, following declining billings during the last five months.
Premier Partner Spotlight
We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, IMEG, and look forward to their 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.
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AIA Colorado Member Reflects On The 2023 COTE Top Ten
AIA has recently announced the 2023 COTE Top Ten. AIA Colorado member Kyleen Rockwell, AIA, reflects on her involvement helping to propel the UC San Diego North Torrey Pines Living & Learning Neighborhood project, a place designed to promote physical and mental well-being, support the school’s environmental commitments, and foster community connections.
I was ecstatic when the AIA announced the 2023 COTE Top Ten Award Recipients to see that UC San Diego North Torrey Pines Living & Learning Neighborhood had been honored with an award.
From 2018-2021, I had the privilege of working on this project during my time with the great team at HKS. We were fortunate to have a client in UC San Diego who was committed to data driven design and the Framework for Design Excellence was ingrained in the design process from start to finish.
I was personally involved in the building performance analysis for the six buildings on the campus. I worked with the design team to integrate key massing analysis that focused on solar access and exterior thermal comfort, identified through annual daylight analysis strategies to maximize daylight levels while keeping glare discomfort within imperceptible thresholds, and had the opportunity to use dynamic energy simulations throughout the design process to track our predicted energy performance to target both a LEED platinum performance and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
The energy efficiency measures were a dream for a building performance analyst to bring to fruition:
- Natural ventilation controls that balanced energy efficiency, thermal comfort, CO2 levels, and confirmed no overheating occurred throughout the year.
- A central plant providing chilled water and hot water to the campus at high efficiency levels.
- On site renewable energy in the form of solar panels and a micro-anaerobic digester.
- Lightwells in the subterranean parking garage that reduced lighting power energy.
With my current position as a Sr. Building Performance Analyst at Interface Engineering, I am thrilled to be working at a company who has collaborated on multiple COTE Top Ten Award Projects and am hopeful to have the opportunity to work with other AIA Colorado firms on their projects to further optimize and push the boundaries of building performance.
— Kyleen Rockwell PE, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Building Performance Analyst
Interface Engineering, Inc.
SB23-213: Members Weigh the Pros and Cons of the Land Use and Housing Bill
This year’s legislative session has produced one of the most contentious bills we have ever seen that affects the architecture profession in SB23-213: Land Use. While most everyone agrees that we have a shortfall across the state for housing units in general, and for affordable housing in particular, this bill takes a heavy-handed approach that’s caused a lot of resentment from local governments who enact zoning codes. Colorado is also considered a “home rule” state, which is shorthand for how our constitution expressly gives certain powers to the state but otherwise defers to cities and counties. The state legislature must justify its efforts as being true matters of statewide concern, and it’s not clear this bill has succeeded in doing that. We have also heard strong opinions from our members across the state in both support and opposition to the bill.
For members not already familiar, this bill, as introduced (an important caveat that will be explained below), would empower the state to override certain restrictions in local zoning codes for residential development to address our housing shortage. It is important to note that while this bill would be in effect statewide, many provisions will only apply to municipalities that meet certain population criteria, mostly in urban areas of the state. Lots that are zoned as single-family residential would be required to allow accessory dwelling units (this requirement is the most far-reaching). Certain residential lots would be required to allow low-density multifamily residential buildings. Areas near public transit would be required to allow higher density multifamily residential projects.
SB23-213 clocks in at a hefty 105 pages, and late in the evening on April 18th, 17 amendments were adopted that significantly scale back the scope of who is affected and what the bill can impose. AIA Colorado is still evaluating these changes, but we can share a general summary. Rural resort communities will no longer be subject to most of the bill’s requirements; instead, will be given recommendations by a new advisory committee. A new menu of housing affordability strategies will be prepared to give local governments more flexibility in enacting their own plans, subject to minimum requirements. The “middle” housing category of requiring development of 2- to 6-unit projects has been scaled back to 4 units, and more conditions created to reduce where these would be required.
Before we delve into member perspectives, it’s important to note that SB23-213 has only had its first committee hearing. The bill sponsors have publicly stated that more amendments are forthcoming and will be considered on the senate floor. If the bill passes in the senate, it still has to be approved first by a house committee and then via full house floor votes. Governor Polis supports this bill and is anticipated to sign it into law.
— Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director, AIA Colorado
In Favor
I am a Colorado licensed and NCARB certified architect, an AIA member, a graduate of the ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative Program (REDI) and I am on the Better Boulder Board of Directors. I have worked in Colorado since 1999. I have first hand experience with the land use codes and the permitting processes in many cities and towns across the state. In the last few years, I have become a regular at planning board and city council meetings when housing is on the agenda because I know that architects have expertise and a working knowledge of land use and building codes that the general public does not. I show up and testify because using my voice, my education, and experience might improve the access to housing for thousands of people. That makes the long hours and time spent worthwhile.
I view the passing of this bill as a critical moment in Colorado’s history. We are facing a housing crisis, as well as issues related to climate change and transportation. As they say, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. The scarcity of housing in our state is directly linked to our exclusionary zoning codes and the local control measures we have tried have not worked. The data shows us how many housing units we are lacking. The cost and scarcity of housing is a statewide problem that requires a statewide solution, with everyone working together to address it.
— Rosie Fivian, AIA, Y Rosemary Fivian Architect Inc
In Opposition
Fundamentally, the assumptions regarding the cause and effect of affordability in our region are flawed. Increasing supply will not lower costs because local buyers will still compete with vacation home buyers and be outbid. There will never be enough supply in our geographically constrained areas to meet demand, and uncontrolled growth could severely impact the quality of life. Uncontrolled growth in the human body is called cancer, and we should consider this analogy.
Zoning restrictions are not the primary cause of real estate pricing; outside dollars and demand are driving up costs. However, zoning does an excellent job managing what is appropriate for our more fragile mountain environments and generally focuses on higher density in more walkable areas. Most mountain communities are long, narrow valleys, so planning where density should occur has a direct impact on transit costs and other factors of affordability, such as walking to services and daycare. Taking away local control and knowledge about how to build here is asinine, heavy-handed, and will ultimately do nothing to solve the problem. We need a solution that addresses the root cause of the economics (and it is not only supply). Financial support from the state to create a completely separate economy comprising a diverse offering of housing types, all deed-restricted, is needed. I do agree that these should never be segregated, but rather integrated throughout the community. However, high-density smaller units with no input on their location is not the answer.
— Brian Sipes, AIA, Principal, LEED AP at Sipes Architects