2023 President’s Award • Stephanie Bingham
The President’s Award recognizes a community member in Colorado who has significantly contributed to the advancement of architecture from a vantage point outside of a firm or a traditional practice career.
This year, we’re pleased to recognize Stephanie Bingham with this honor, due to her talent, motivation, and civic spirit, not to mention her unique skill set that spans marketing, graphic design, and research to elevate the awareness and appreciation of not just architecture – but excellent architecture.
Stephanie is known by her decade’s long advocacy and continued evolution of architectural dialogue through efforts she co-led and/or co-created, that includes self-guided tours of Mid-Century Modern marvels, Month of Modern, and serving on the board of Historic Boulder.
2023 Distinguished Service Award • Jerry Johnson
This year, we are delighted to honor Jerry Johnson with the Distinguished Service Award. For the past 40 years, he has been our voice and our friend at the state capitol and has demonstrated remarkable service to all Colorado architects.
2023 marked the 40th session of the Colorado General Assembly where Jerry Johnson was the architects advocate. Amazing, right? In those forty years, he has defended us against immeasurable harm and opened the doors to dozens of new laws from architects for a better built environment and practice climate. Jerry is beloved by the University of Colorado, a great motivator, a brilliant tactician, a person who makes people believe, has an incredible record of victories for his team, and will face even stronger adversaries in the upcoming season.
Jerry continues to be a valuable resource to Colorado architects as we seek smooth passage of the Architecture Practice Act in the next session. It’s because we have teammates such as Jerry that we know our profession and our practices are in good care for the years ahead.
Here is a small selection of quotes from those who have been inspired by Jerry over the years:
Kevin Eronimous, AIA:
Whether it’s a legislative report, an intro to a new legislator, or a recap of the latest recruiting prospects for CU, Jerry brings careful thought and genuine passion to all that he does. His insightful fostering of meaningful relations has served our profession (and our legislators) incredibly well, creating a foundation of mutual trust and respect for everyone at the table.
T J Carvis, AIA:
In the small fraction of the 40 years that I’ve gotten to know Jerry, he’s made a lasting impression on me. His jovial personality and willingness to go the extra mile offer a refreshing perspective in what can often be a tumultuous political environment. He has an incredible knowledge of the issues, both past and present, and seems to know everyone in the state legislature. Colorado architects could not have had a better ally at the Capitol!
Mike Wisnesk, AIA:
Jerry is the consummate gentleman and happens to be a lobbyist, oftentimes more despised and vilified than a politician. He is honest, trustworthy, reliable, pretty much every quality one would find in an Eagle Scout.
He taught me that in Colorado, politics is not a dirty word. That our citizen legislators have real jobs, and are real people, and simply want to make the best decision about an issue. He taught me that a cup of coffee or a simple, honest phone call to my legislator is much more valuable than an e-mail. This is advice I still use today.
I first met Jerry to review very large stacks of printed bills, then meet to discuss how they affected our profession. Years later it dawned on me that he wasn’t teaching me how to read bills, he was showing me how to be a better citizen and be engaged with our legislative process.
Jerry, I love you for who you are and how you have made our small world in Colorado better!
Mary Follenweider, FAIA:
As a Colorado growth management bill was heard in Legislative Committee, Jerry said: It creates visibility for AIA Colorado as a leader on the subject…with the ultimate outcome that Legislators see architects as a “player.” This is our Jerry Johnson, Hon. AIACO., who has always supported architects as influencers, engagers and subject matter experts. Thank you, Jerry, for your stalwart belief in us.
Phil Gerou, AIA:
In 1983, when D. A. Bertram and I interviewed potential lobbyists to represent AIA Colorado, we knew we had the right candidate to represent us. We could not possibly have foreseen the extraordinary decades of collaboration and lobbying excellence that followed. AIA Colorado has been blessed with Jerry’s guidance, knowledge, intuition, and good humor for longer than we ever anticipated. Thank you, Jerry. It’s been an honor to work with you as a professional and to know you as a great friend.
Marvin Sparn, FAIA:
Facing the uncertain prospect of a practice act sunset, the AIA Colorado Government Affairs Committee decided that they needed help. As a founding member of the Committee, I solicited recommendations from personal lobbyist friends on who might be helpful to AIA Colorado – Jerry was highly recommended.
Hiring Jerry far outlasted my presidency and is one of the best moves the Committee ever made.
Thank you, Jerry!
2023 Distinguished Achievement Award • Cheri Gerou
Cheri Gerou was named State Architect in October of 2019 and has just completed her tenure in that role. It would be quite an understatement to say her time in office was eventful.
Just months into her role, COVID emerged as a pandemic which no one could have prepared for. In a matter of weeks, Cheri’s team constructed five acute care field hospitals in Denver, Grand Junction, Loveland, Pueblo and Westminster. They responded to new state statutes on climate impact and building performance, writing the rules with little additional support or headcount. They identified state owned assets to redeploy for workforce housing and still managed to present budgets to the legislature, work with user agencies, and improve processes and workflows for industry partners to keep the vertical infrastructure of our state in good working order.
Public service has been a hallmark of her career and this is just a capstone, having served in the state legislature and at the University of Colorado.
For all you have done, Cheri, we thank you and are pleased to present you with the Distinguished Achievement Award.
Cheri’s esteemed predecessor Larry Friedberg, FAIA aptly summed it up by saying that Cheri is “a force of nature and an outstanding champion of the profession, and the AIA, while serving in the legislature and state government.”
We heartily agree.
Thank you, Cheri!
2023 Impact Award • Colorado Green Building Guild
The AIA Colorado Impact Award which recognizes a group or organization in Colorado that has made a positive impact on Colorado communities and significantly contributed to the advancement of architecture and/or enhanced the role of practitioners.
This year, the Colorado Green Building Guild was chosen as the first ever recipient for its promotion of green building and specifically the organization’s role in helping to make resources easily accessible to designers, builders, and owners throughout the region.
The Colorado Green Building Guild is a non-profit trade organization representing a wide range of green building leaders, and serving the community at large by making green building common practice and accessible to all. CGBG strives to ensure the widespread adoption of sustainable practices to increase the efficient use of resources, create healthier buildings, and support vibrant, sustainable communities throughout all of Colorado!
The Honor Awards jury were especially impressed by the dedication of their volunteer members. They organize monthly seminars, workshops, and tours for a very broad audience that includes the professionals in the design industry, builders, manufacturers, students, home and business owners, green technology specialists, and more. Their events provide a platform for the general public to not only to share knowledge on sustainable design technology, but also to connect with one another and build community around green building.
Particularly after the Marshall Fire, the Colorado Green Building Guild made significant positive impact by providing resources to homeowners as they began their rebuild process.
Colorado Architecture News | 09.20.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 09.20.23
THE WEEK IN WORDS
“We should all be very proud of how the state of Colorado, the architects in this room, the architects in the state, have continued to push forward. And I think the quality of our work is better than ever, and it keeps getting better.”
— Rich Carr, AIA, 2023 Architect of the Year.
Announcing the 2023 Design + Honor Recipients!
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.
Last night, at Mile High Station in Denver, we celebrated 22 Design Award recipients and the Honor Awards recipients. While our next member newsletter, slated for Oct. 4th, will have a full coverage recap of the Awards Event, we’re thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 Honor Awards as follows:
- President’s Award: Stephanie Bingham, HMH Architecture + Interiors, Month of Modern
- Impact Award: Colorado Green Building Guild
- Young Architect Award: Rebekah Wagoner, AIA, Gensler
- Architect of the Year: Rich Carr, AIA, CCY
- Architects Firm of the Year: Anderson Hallas Architects, PC
Watch the Design Awards video to see the recipients of the Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and Honorable Mentions, read the press release here, and learn more about each of the award winners at aiacolorado.org/awards.
AIA COLORADO NEWS
Carol Ross Barney Presents “The Future of Cities”
A featured keynote at ENGAGE 2023 Practice + Design Conference, Carol Ross Barney, FAIA will share her vision of Public Spaces and their role in the future of our communities. Read the full keynote description here.
Join us at Keystone Resort, November 15th – 17th, 2023! Registration is open and we recommend reserving your room soon to ensure an early skiing season doesn’t affect your plans.
New this year is a Pre-Conference Technology Deep Dive, also taking place at Keystone, on Wednesday November 15th from 2pm – 5pm.
DORA Policy for CE Deficiencies When Renewing a License
Colorado-licensed architects are required to renew licenses in odd-numbered years by October 31. As we approach this year’s renewal, the DORA AES Board is expected to send a notification with instructions to your email address on file with the state by the end of September. Remember, the annual state-required 12 HSW hours of continuing education are per calendar year. You still have until December 31 to finish this year’s hours.
The DORA AES board has updated their policies on how CE deficiencies from previous years are handled upon license renewal. Falsely attesting that you have met the continuing education requirements during the renewal process triggers disciplinary action with fines. However, there is now a better system to make up deficiencies ahead of attempting to renew your license with lower penalties for minor infractions. We recommend that Colorado-licensed members follow these steps as soon as possible:
Log into your aia.org account and review your CE transcript from 2021 and 2022 to confirm you’ve earned 12 HSW hours each year.
If you’re deficient, review section 40.15 of the board policies document to understand applicable penalties and be ready to report the deficiency to the AES board.
We anticipate that more information on reporting instructions will be part of the upcoming DORA renewal notification email.
You’ll have until December 31st to complete any make-up CE hours in addition to the 12 required for 2023. You can start that process immediately.
If you have CE deficiencies from prior years, do not attempt to renew your license prior to completing both 12 hours for 2023 and make up any deficiencies, unless otherwise directed by DORA.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to Nikolaus Remus.
Women’s Leadership Summit
This past week in Boston, several Coloradans met up for breakfast at the Women’s Leadership Summit.
From L to R: Krystin Moody, Kari Lawson, AIA, Ely Merheb, AIA, Cheryl Wolfe,
AIA, Sarah Kaplan, Assoc. AIA
Read about the stories, strategies, and success from the Women’s Leadership Summit here.
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
Timnath Middle-High School Tour
September 22nd, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a tour of the new prototype Timnath Middle-High School led by RB+B Architects.
Populus Tours
This September 27th, the Denver Local Advisors have organized two tours of Populus, a project designed to reenergize Civic Center Park, connecting the Golden Triangle Creative District to downtown Denver. Both tours have reached maximum capacity, but waitlists are open and you are welcome to add your name, should someone be unable to attend.
RSVP’d and unable to attend? Please update your RSVP through the Eventbrite platform to allow for waitlisted individuals to be confirmed.
Meeting and Fundraiser for State Legislators in Glenwood Springs
October 4th, join members in the West to meet Senator Dylan Roberts and Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Meghan Lukens in Glenwood Springs. We’ll hear from each legislator about their priorities in the 2024 legislative session and attendees are encouraged to speak on topics affecting the architecture profession that you see in your practices and communities.
Happy Hour in Denver
October 6th, join fellow AIA Colorado members for a social hour and celebration at Wynkoop Brewing Company (*new location).
Lunch & Learn in Fort Collins
On Monday, October 9th, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a presentation by Powers Products. The topic will be “Choose Your Own Adventure: the Operable Walls Chapter (MODERNFOLD)” for 1 HSW/CEU. This will be a great opportunity to mingle with your fellow AIA colleagues and earn a CEU as well.
University Hill Hotel Tour
October 17th, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a hard hat tour of University Hill Hotel in Boulder led by Shears Adkins Rockmore.
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
Month of Modern
There are three more events scheduled for the 2023 Month of Modern, celebrating all things modern in Boulder. Check out the Mixology Clinic, join the Hoby Wagener Home Tour, and attend the Wrap Party & Awards.
View Highlighted Events
Celebration of the Arts – A Latinx Showcase
This Friday September 22nd, join NOMA Colorado for an event highlighting local Latinx artists within the Design, Architecture, and Arts industry.
RSVP Here
CAP Lecture Series
Thursday September 23, attend Lydia Kallipoliti’s lecture “Our Dirty Footprint; Digesting Waste and Reimagining Infrastructures” at CAP’s Second Floor Gallery.
View Lecture Details and RSVP
“My Architect” Film Screening
This October 5th, join the International Association of Lighting Designers for a screening of the film My Architect. Filmmaker, and son of the story’s protagonist, Nathanial Kahn will be in attendance.
View Event Information and Tickets Here
Habits of the Anthropocene Conference
The ACADIA Board of Directors and the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver are excited to announce the 2023 conference Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy. This conference will be held in person in Denver, CO from October 26-28th, 2023.
Networking Event with Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade
November 8th, in Colorado Springs, join members from AGC, HBA, CFMA, El Paso County Contractors, ACEC, ULI, and AIA for a networking session with Mayor Yemi from 4pm-7pm at The Warehouse in Colorado Springs. As an AIA member, use discount code “SOCO Partner 2023” to lock in a $30 rate. Look forward to hearing Mayor Yemi’s vision for Colorado Springs and how the design and construction groups can support his vision in the areas of affordable housing, adaptive reuse, land use, and Colorado Springs’ use of Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act funding.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
Ensuring Equitable Post-Disaster Outcomes
This Thursday September 21st at Noon MST, join AIA Colorado member Heather Korth, AIA, and her co-presenters Stacy Bourne, FAIA, NOMA, and Marcus Martin for a thought- provoking session about improving equitable outcomes through disaster mitigation and preparedness. During this session, they will shine a light on the systemic inequities that hinder equitable preparedness and contribute to disparities in response and recovery outcomes. Heather’s organization, Our Front Porch, helps Colorado home fire survivors navigate the ups and downs of the recovery journey so they don’t have to go it alone. Register Here
Speak at A’24 in Washington, D.C.
Every year, AIA opens a call for proposals to solicit the best speakers and content for the AIA Conference on Architecture. This year’s event includes a Call for Educational Sessions and AIA is looking for ahead-of-the-curve content from a diversity of voices and career stages. AI, smart materials, community-centered design, sustainability, wellness, and equity are a few of the 32 topics and seven tracks you can submit for, plus a variety of session formats.
Learn More
AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index Sees Softening Business Conditions in August
This marks the eleventh consecutive month of essentially flat billings at architecture firms.
Read More
Premier Partner Spotlight
We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood, and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.
Humboldt Sawmill Company, LLC manufactures redwood and Douglas-fir dimensional lumber, timbers, and uppers at the company’s sawmill in Scotia, California. Allweather Wood, LLC is the largest waterborne preservative treated lumber and plywood manufacturer in the western United States with five manufacturing facilities, including a facility in Loveland, Colorado.
Looking for Additional Resources?
2023 Design Award Video
Colorado Architecture News | 09.06.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 09.06.23
DESIGN + HONOR AWARDS CELEBRATION
Design + Honor Awards Celebration Less Than 2 Weeks Away!
On September 19th, join AIA Colorado as we unveil the recipients of the 2023 Design + Honor Awards and celebrate the exemplary work of Colorado architects. Enjoy the uniqueness of historic Mile High Station, the dazzling music of Spinphony, and delicious food and drinks all night long. We hope that your whole team, clients, friends, and family can join in the celebration. It will be a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to it!
Purchase tickets by this Friday at Noon to avoid Late Ticketing prices.
Event sponsorship is still available and we invite all firms and allied industry partners to view the event prospectus. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate your support for design excellence across Colorado.
THE WEEK IN WORDS
“Super thanks for the invitation to speak. An honor on all levels!”
— Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA Principal / Owner & Founder of Olson Kundig.
“Designing With People + Place: A Conversation with Tom Kundig, FAIA” is taking place Thursday November 16th at the Engage 2023 Practice + Design Conference. View the current conference schedule here.
AIA COLORADO NEWS
Early Registration is Now Open for ENGAGE 2023 Practice + Design Conference!
Join us at Keystone Resort November 15 – 17, 2023 as we engage with leading ideas and innovations as we design our future, together. Expect to hear inspiring insights from global design leaders, advanced practice management methods and practical innovations from industry partners, and a conference format that allows you to follow your interests into learning lab sessions that not only speak to your interests but directly affect your craft.
Early Registration is now open through September 15th. If you already know that you’re planning to attend, lock in your registration today. Also, we recommend reserving your room soon to ensure an early skiing season doesn’t affect your plans.
New this year is a Pre-Conference Technology Deep Dive, also taking place at Keystone, on Wednesday November 15th from 2pm – 5pm. Early Registration is
One River North Tours
Recently, the Denver Local Advisors organized tours of One River North and were able to see a lot of spaces – exterior, a variety of units, roof-top pool area, and other exterior amenities of the soon-to-be-iconic building.
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
Timnath Middle-High School Tour
September 22nd, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a tour of the new prototype Timnath Middle-High School led by RB+B Architects.
Populus Tours
This September 27th, the Denver Local Advisors have organized two tours of Populus, a project designed to reenergize Civic Center Park, connecting the Golden Triangle Creative District to downtown Denver. Both tours have reached maximum capacity, but waitlists are open and you are welcome to add your name, should someone be unable to attend.
RSVP’d and unable to attend? Please update your RSVP through the Eventbrite platform to allow for waitlisted individuals to be confirmed.
Meeting and Fundraiser for State Legislators in Glenwood Springs
October 4th, join members in the West to meet Senator Dylan Roberts and Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Meghan Lukens in Glenwood Springs. We’ll hear from each legislator about their priorities in the 2024 legislative session and attendees are encouraged to speak on topics affecting the architecture profession that you see in your practices and communities.
Happy Hour in Denver
October 6th, join fellow AIA Colorado members for a social hour and celebration at Terminal Bar inside Union Station.
Lunch & Learn in Fort Collins
On Monday, October 9th, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a presentation by Powers Products. The topic will be “Choose Your Own Adventure: the Operable Walls Chapter (MODERNFOLD)” for 1 HSW/CEU. This will be a great opportunity to mingle with your fellow AIA colleagues and earn a CEU as well.
University Hill Hotel Tour
October 17th, join AIA Colorado members in the North for a hard hat tour of University Hill Hotel in Boulder led by Shears Adkins Rockmore.
AIA COLORADO MEMBER NEWS
Jennifer Song Koeppe, AIA, A4LE, in Ratio’s Denver office was promoted to Principal. Jennifer leads the K-12 and Higher Education markets, and she is also the Southwest Region J.E.D.I. Champion for A4LE. Read more
HOK’s Denver studio continues to grow with the promotion of Candace Todd to senior regional practice leader and the new hire of Ryan Byrnes, AIA to director of design, Interiors. Reflecting the studio’s growing project demands, the studio is also relocating to a larger office space more than twice its current size within the same building in Denver’s LoDo District. Read more.
CCY Architects has won 2 awards in the International Architectural Awards for their projects Elk Range Overlook and DNA Alpine. The awards are organized by the Chicago Athenaeum, European Centre for Architecture, and Metropolitan Arts Press in order to honor the best, significant new buildings, landscape architecture, and planning projects designed and/or built around the world’s leading architects, landscape architects, and urban planners practicing nationally and internationally. View all of the winners here.
This past April, Tryba Architects John McIntryre, AIA and Kathleen Fogler, AIA presented at AIA Colorado’s Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism from Colorado event. They asked “how can we reimagine the concept of ‘Urban Renewal,’ and instead shift the paradigm toward ‘Civic Repair?’“ Watch their presentation on Instagram.
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
Month of Modern
During the month of September, Boulder will be alive with Month of Modern (MoM). Founded as a celebration of architecture, design, lifestyle, art and culture—MoM’s mission is to cultivate a conversation about Colorado modern, and present the Boulder region as one of the nation’s most vibrant hubs of modern design.
Over the course of 4 weeks we will be hosting featured speakers, fire-side chats, film nights, thought-provoking panels and a fantastic wrap party – all designed to educate, inspire and delight.
Colorado Green Building Guild – Green Home Tour
This September 9th, join Colorado Green Building Guild (CGBG) as they welcome the return of their annual Green Home Tour. CGBG has selected 8 exemplary homes that demonstrate different techniques, different stages of development, and different pathways to zero-energy and low-carbon design.
View Event Website for Information and Tickets
Ice Box Challenge
The Ice Box Challenge is a public installation event that demonstrates the power of Passive House design and construction. This September 12th, join Passive House Network for the Ice Box Happy Hour Social and the Reveal Ceremony September 23rd.
Taking Flight at DEN
Thursday, September 14th at 1 – 2:15 pm, meet the DEN Project Managers and join the monthly Taking Flight at DEN event. The 75-minute virtual presentation on Zoom will feature project overviews and networking opportunities with DEN Project Managers and other staff members.
Register here
CAP Fall Lecture Series
The CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning Fall 2023 Lecture Series explores the materials, forms, audiences, and agencies that shape history, speculation, and applied practice. All events are free, open to the public, and will be recorded unless otherwise specified. Most lectures will be held on the Second Floor Gallery of CU Building, 1250 14th St, Denver.
“My Architect” Film Screening
This October 5th, join the International Association of Lighting Designers for a screening of the film My Architect. Filmmaker, and son of the story’s protagonist, Nathanial Kahn will be in attendance.
View Event Information and Tickets Here
Habits of the Anthropocene Conference
The ACADIA Board of Directors and the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver are excited to announce the 2023 conference Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy. This conference will be held in person in Denver, CO from October 26-28th, 2023.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
AIA Compensation & Benefits Report 2023
The AIA Compensation & Benefits Report is the architecture industry’s most comprehensive report on salary, hiring, and benefits trends. With over 1,100 firms reporting data on 45 unique architecture and design roles, the 2023 edition is the most robust edition in 15 years and the only report used by the Department of Labor.
Top AIA Resources for Disaster Preparedness
During National Preparedness Month this September, utilize AIA’s growing list of resources to help transform the day-to-day practice of architecture to achieve a safer, equitable, more resilient, healthy, just, and zero-carbon built environment.
AIA Announces Lineup for its 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) 2023, being held in Boston from September 12–14, is the largest event focused on diverse women in design and construction. More than 800 attendees will gain actionable insights to build their career and create professional opportunities.
Blueprint For Better – Center for Community by Design Program
The Architect Foundation’s Center for Community by Design Program (CxD) serves as a catalyst, convener, and resource center that helps AIA members and partners work with citizens and other stakeholders to envision and create more resilient, healthy, equitable, and livable communities. The architect’s role is most often focused on individual building design. The CxD is helping architects design for the individuals each building serves.
Healthier Materials Protocol
Materials selection is one of the most difficult sustainability goals to track and integrate into the design and delivery process. The new AIA Healthier Materials Protocol was created to provide clear, practical methods and tools to navigate this maze and effectively translate awareness to practice.
Learn More
Renovate, Retrofit, Reuse Report
This study uncovers the hidden value in America’s existing building stock, contextualizing the tremendous opportunity surrounding our buildings using economic data, expert insights, and compelling case studies. Architects and project teams use the guiding principles described in this report to unlock economic, health, and environmental benefits in buildings and communities.
Learn more
AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index Sees Stable Business Conditions in July
Firms with a commercial/industrial specialization reported their strongest billings growth in more than a year, while firms with a multifamily residential specialization continued to report declining billings.
Premier Partner Spotlight
We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood, and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.
Humboldt Sawmill Company, LLC manufactures redwood and Douglas-fir dimensional lumber, timbers, and uppers at the company’s sawmill in Scotia, California. Allweather Wood, LLC is the largest waterborne preservative treated lumber and plywood manufacturer in the western United States with five manufacturing facilities, including a facility in Loveland, Colorado.
Looking for Additional Resources?
Colorado Architecture News | 08.16.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 08.16.23
THE WEEK IN WORDS
“[Architecture’s] a mix of form and function. It’s really fun to figure out how to make functional things beautiful”
— Kevin Nguyen, AIA, of Regular Architecture, dishes on his creative process, local restaurant design trends, and the importance of community in 5280 Magazine.
Kevin’s work has also helped bring Fuel & Iron Food Hall to life in Pueblo. Read more about that project here.
AIA COLORADO NEWS
Design + Honor Awards Event Celebration
On September 19th, join AIA Colorado as we unveil the recipients of the 2023 Design + Honor Awards and celebrate the exemplary work of Colorado architects. We hope that your whole team, clients, friends, and family can join in the celebration. It will be a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to it!
Event sponsorship is available and we invite all firms and allied industry partners to view the event prospectus. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate your support for design excellence across Colorado.
Expo Hall Vendor Hall Open
Know a company that serves your firm and clients really well? The AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference expo hall is now open to all to sign up for booths or sponsorships.
Girls Design Experience Needs Workshop Mentors
AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee is seeking female and female identifying practicing and emerging architects and architectural students to participate in a new program to introduce middle school girls to architecture and allied professions. For this program, mentors can chose to participate in one or all upcoming day-long Colorado workshops with students that follow an immersive design curriculum created by AIA DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation. There will be an informational meeting taking place August 30th at Noon on Zoom. Learn more about the program and future dates at the link.
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
Code Class: Overview of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
This August 30th, join us for an overview of the current 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and how architects apply it to their everyday work. This full-day program includes lunch and will be submitted for approval for 6.0 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hours.
Thank you to the Colorado Energy Office for the grant to ensure special pricing possible for the first 40 registrants. AIA Member Early Registration pricing is just $50 and this rate expires August 22nd!
One River North Tour
This August 24th and August 31st, the Denver Local Advisors have organized tours of One River North, a project in the RiNo neighborhood that has certainly provided a captivating story with its crevasse running across its façade. Tours for both dates have reached maximum capacity, but waitlists are now open and you are welcome to add your name, should someone be unable to attend.
RSVP’d and unable to attend? Please update your RSVP through the Eventbrite platform if you cannot attend to allow for wait listed individuals to be confirmed.
AIA COLORADO MEMBER NEWS
A glass house situated on a unique ridgeline in Salida residence designed by Mike Peché, AIA and Studio B Architecture & Interiors is the cover story in the current Modern in Denver. See the magazine spread here.
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
Denver Public School CEC Early College Coach/Mentor
This is a volunteer opportunity seeking A/E and construction professionals to mentor high school students with specific interests in architecture. Deadline to apply is October 23rd. More information can be found on the J.E.D.I. webpage.
Habits of the Anthropocene Conference
The ACADIA Board of Directors and the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver are excited to announce the 2023 conference Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy which will be held in person in Denver, CO from October 26-28th, 2023.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
Wildfires On The Islands Of Maui And Big Islands In Hawaii
The unprecedented wildfires on the islands of Maui and Big Islands in Hawaii have caused widespread damage and killed dozens of people. The death toll continues to rise, making it the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.
The AIA family is deeply saddened by these recent wildfires and is working in close coordination with AIA Hawaii as recovery efforts get underway. Our 97,000 members and extensive resources are being activated to support Hawaii’s health, safety, and welfare in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
AIA’s past experience with disasters of this magnitude tells us that the recovery process is a long, arduous road that architects can, and must help navigate, to make communities whole once again. We cannot bring back what has been lost, but together we can help find a new way forward.
AIA Hawaii recommends giving to the Maui Strong Fund. 100 percent of the funds will be distributed for community needs for immediate response and recovery.
Women’s Leadership Summit
This premier event is designed for ambitious women who want to unlock their full potential, make a lasting impact on their careers, and lead change in architecture and the allied professions. Join AIA members in Boston September 12–14, 2023, to meet, network with, and learn from an extraordinary lineup of renowned speakers, trailblazing leaders, and industry experts—and earn up to 45 AIA LUs.
Repaving The Road To Licensure
Patricia Ramallo, AIA, assistant vice president of innovation at NCARB, talks about removing unnecessary barriers for a more equitable profession.
Private Projects Stall Even As Public Construction Spending Jumps
Although infrastructure dollars are flowing, “developer-driven activity appears to be drying up,” said ABC’s chief economist.
2023 AIA Upjohn Research Initiative Grant
The AIA Upjohn Research Initiative supports applied research projects that enhance the value of design and professional practice knowledge.
This AIA program funds up to six research grants of $15,000–$30,000 annually for projects completed in a 6- to 18-month period. The funds must be fully matched with hard dollars, with a maximum of 10% of allocated for overhead. A maximum of 10% of the requested Upjohn grant funds may be allocated for overhead. Grant recipients’ research findings and outcomes are published online by AIA.
California Adopts First-in-Nation Building Code Revision To Reduce Embodied Carbon
California is now the first state in the country to formally implement general code requirements for reducing embodied carbon in the built environment.
Read more in Architectural Record
Look Inside The World’s Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood In Texas
Some Of AIA’s Top Honors & Awards Are Open For Submission
AIA Honors & Awards has several awards open for submission—Fellowship, Interior Architecture, Regional & Urban Design, etc. View available submission opportunities and make Colorado proud!
View Submissions Currently Open
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)
Looking for Additional Resources?
Colorado Architecture News | 08.02.23
News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 08.02.23
THE WEEK IN WORDS
“…once residents started working with the architects, they found that they could imagine the possibility for their house that was dramatically better, with lower energy bills, more thermally comfortable, and more environmentally responsible across the board than the house that they had.”
— Scott Rodwin, AIA, Rodwin Architecture, AIA Colorado North Section Direction, discussing sustainable residential design at the recent State of the Art of Architecture event, held at the Aspen Art Museum. Read more from the event here
AIA COLORADO NEWS
On September 19th, join AIA Colorado as we unveil the recipients of the 2023 Design + Honor Awards and celebrate the exemplary work of Colorado architects. We sincerely hope that your whole team, clients, friends, and family can join in the celebration. It will be a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to it!
Event sponsorship is available and we invite you to view the event prospectus.
Practice + Design Conference Expo Hall Vendor Application Now Open to Premier Partners and Allied Members
Know a company that serves your firm and clients really well? The AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference expo hall and event sponsorship online sign-up page is now open to our Premier Partners and Allied Members as a benefit for their continued support of AIA Colorado. This opportunity to secure a booth, register for a learning lab, or become a conference sponsor is available through August 15th, at which point if there are opportunities still open, we will make them available to a wider industry audience.
If a firm is not currently a Premier Partner or Allied Member, there is still time to sign up as one of our industry partners and secure a booth, submit for a learning lab, or sign up for conference sponsorship.
Lastly, if you’re interested in viewing the 2023 Engage Practice + Design Conference prospectus, you can view it here.
Denver Local Advisor Tours
The Denver Local Advisors recently provided tours of the Colorado Convention Center expansion and the National Western Complex. Catch up with the Denver Local Advisors and learn about recent tours in the Denver area here.
AIA COLORADO EVENTS
Happy Hour Q&A with Boulder City Council member Lauren Folkerts, AIA
Tuesday, August 15th, join members from the North to hear what Boulder City Council is working on, and how to get involved. Lauren will provide an update on the City’s initiatives on affordable housing, homelessness, transportation, sustainability initiatives, the state of the Development Services Department, and a host of other topics of interest to the local architectural community. This will be a casual format and you’ll have opportunities for Q&A. Please RSVP in advance.
Code Class: Overview of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
This August 30th, join us for an overview of the current 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and how architects apply it to their everyday work. This full-day program includes lunch and will be submitted for approval for 6.0 AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) learning unit hours. Early registration is now open for AIA members until August 9th, when registration will open up to non-members as well. Early registration rates expire on August 22nd!
AIA COLORADO MEMBER NEWS
DNA Alpine wins the 2023 North American Copper in Architecture Award
Awarded to CCY Architects, this award recognizes and promotes North American building projects for their outstanding use of architectural copper and copper alloys. Learn more
PARTNER NEWS AND EVENTS
Denver Community Planning and Development – Resources for Electrical Vehicle (EV) Charging Spaces Requirements
EV code requirements impact how parking is configured for a project and should be addressed during the Site Development Plan process. On June 20, 2023, City Council approved amendments that take a phased approach to these requirements to ensure projects already at the formal site development plan/construction drawing preparation stage can continue with minimal impacts
Learn more
2022 Denver Energy Code Resources
Residential and commercial checklists for the 2022 Denver Energy Code (DEC) are available. Please note that these have been recently updated and will continue to be updated on a regular basis.
Denver Public Schools Opportunities
- DPS CEC Early College Coach/ Mentor is a volunteer opportunity seeking A/E and construction professionals to mentor high school students with specific interests in architecture. Deadline to apply is October 23rd.
- DPS High School Architecture/Drafting Instructor is an opening at DPS to teach high school students architecture and drafting.
More info regarding both opportunites can be found here.
Habits of the Anthropocene Conference
The ACADIA Board of Directors and the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver are excited to announce the 2023 conference Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy which will be held in person in Denver, CO from October 26-28th, 2023.
NEWS AT NATIONAL
Women’s Leadership Summit
Registration is open for Women’s Leadership Summit 2023! This premier event is designed for ambitious women who want to unlock their full potential, make a lasting impact on their careers, and lead change in architecture and the allied professions.
Join AIA members in Boston September 12–14, 2023, to meet, network with, and learn from an extraordinary lineup of renowned speakers, trailblazing leaders, and industry experts—and earn up to 45 AIA LUs.
Young Architects Forum July Newsletter
A newsletter from the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). Look out for important news, AIA updates, and ways to engage, no biggie.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Applications Are Now Live
This month, EPA launched two Notices of Funding Opportunity for the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) and the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA). In alignment with the Justice40 Initiative, these grants will fund key decarbonization projects and underscore adaptive reuse as an integral climate solution. The competitions share a closing date of October 12, 2023, and additional information about engagement opportunities as well as the process to apply for funding is available on the EPA’s website.
Exceptionally Strong Growth in Nonresidential Building Spending Projected for 2023; Slower Gains Predicted for 2024
The American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) Consensus Construction Forecast panel has optimistic projections for nonresidential building spending in late 2023 and beyond, and the news is generally positive – with a caveat.
View Consensus Construction Forecast
Artificial Intelligence in Contract Management- Rhetoric to Reality
Today’s automated contract management systems and their use of AI grew out of three different disciplines – contract management, document management, and business analytics. Read more of the White Paper in the AI in Contract Management Series.
New eBook! Maximize Your Facilities Maintenance Contracts: Contract Fundamentals, Special Considerations, and Best Practices
This eBook serves as an introduction to the latest product offerings from AIA Contract Documents focused on building and facility maintenance.
AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index Stable in June
The ABI score of 50.1 for the month indicates that billings at architecture firms remained steady as design activity continues to slowly recover from roiled economic conditions. When asked about AI, few firms reported using it, although 90% expect usage to increase over the next three years.
Some of AIA’s Top Honors & Awards are Open for Submission
AIA Honors & Awards has several awards open for submission—Fellowship, Interior Architecture, Regional & Urban Design, etc. View available submission opportunities and make Colorado proud!
View Submissions Currently Open
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)
Looking for Additional Resources?
The State of the Art of Architecture
An exploration of the present and future state of sustainable architecture in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, The State of the Art of Architecture took place Thursday, July 27th, on the roof of the Aspen Art Museum. A collaborative event where members of AIA Colorado, the statewide voice of the architecture profession, rowland+broughton architecture and interior design, and CORE, a nonprofit committed to leading the Roaring Fork Valley towards a carbon-free, net zero energy future, presented an exploration of the present and future state of architecture in Colorado’s mountainous regions.
The event featured three separate panels: residential architecture, commercial architecture, and public architecture. Comprised of panelists from AIA Colorado’s board, and moderated by CORE‘s CEO Dallas Blaney, each 15-minute panel produced insightful commentary and memorable exchanges regarding sustainability in architecture.
Below are just a few quotes in response to questions posed to each panel, providing a brief snapshot from the afternoon’s discussions.
Residential Panel
Dallas Blaney, CEO, CORE: What are some of the emerging trends and technologies in sustainable residential design that get you excited?
Sarah Broughton, FAIA, rowland+broughton: Some of the most exciting things are going back to the core elements of passive design, and that’s the way that we’re really doing our purpose is looking at our siding, looking at natural vegetation, looking at solar orientation and wind, and really using those given elements to work with and make sure that we’re designing with those first and foremost.
Scott Munn, AIA, MA Studios: We’re finding more and more clients and people are willing to take a look at more energy efficient and climate forward techniques.
John Glenn, AIA, Davis Partnership Architects: The adoption of new renewable energy codes and meeting the greater requirements to net zero 2050.
Scott Rodwin, AIA, Rodwin Architecture: We had the biggest wildfire in Colorado history with the Marshall fire and it has turned into an experiment likes of which I’ve never seen. You now see 1,000 homes going up next to each other… once the residents started working with the architects, they found that they could imagine the possibility for their house that was dramatically better, with lower energy bills, more thermally comfortable, and more environmentally responsible across the board than the house that they had.
Dallas Blaney: We’re going to start spending more time thinking about embodied carbon, the kind of carbon that gets captured in the actual construction of the building materials in the construction process. Can you all talk a little bit about that and the role that’s playing in your design process and trying to think through these embodied learning challenges?
John Glenn, AIA: We’re beginning to see the proliferation of cross laminated timber, heavy timber wood projects like this in the mid-rise, high-rise sphere because of the adoption of newer building codes.
Sarah Broughton, FAIA: We are doing a lot with with heavy timber on cross laminated timber, but also we’re looking at our installation and again, these are not very sexy stuff subjects. Your core shell is the number one thing you can do. So, if you’re a homeowner, right now, and you’re wondering “what can I do with my existing home?” Get a blower door test, understand how much air is infiltrating through your current house, and you’d be amazed and that’s the number one thing you can do to reduce the amount of energy that you’re using in your home. And so we’re building very tightly.
Scott Rodwin, AIA: There are things such as the density of housing per capita, so if you can have what would have been one 5,000 square foot house and cut it into a duplex with two 2,500 square foot houses, you’re automatically reducing the amount of carbon per capita… Because the price of land is so expensive. Most developers and most homeowners build the biggest building they’re allowed to on any given parcel. And if you can turn that into two or three houses, or two or three things instead of just one, it automatically instantly reduces the amount of carbon that each person is using.
Scott Munn, AIA: We happen to be working on a project down here in Salida, where we’re experimenting with earth blocks. This is a technique where you take the soil from the actual site that you are working on, but add a little concrete or something in it but not too much and actually structurally make the blocks for the entire project. That’s a very low carbon footprint right there. ..The actual mix of that soil also works as a sort of release of energy and moisture. And we can reduce the size of mechanicals when we use that type of technology.
Commercial Panel
Dallas Blaney, CEO, CORE: If you start a project today, given how long it takes to go from design to actually, you know, implementation, how can you even begin to plan for the day when that project will go under construction and try to forecast or allow for the flexibility to incorporate the most recent technology as the buildings being designed or not designed to build? How do you design for a building to allow it to adopt the most recent technology as its being?
Andy Rockmore, AIA, Shears Adkins Rockmore: We’re always we’re looking out ahead to see not only what the technology is but what the market will want, what the demographic issues are. It’s a real challenge. And I think, what might be a little controversial, but but we find ourselves more and more, looking away from technology, looking towards more passive strategies because not only do things wildly change in the societal changes, certainly just lived through a major one. But technology is changing faster than we can keep up. So, if we looked for the greatest lighting control system in the design phase, and then that building is open two or three years later, it can be a real problem by then there could be a much, much better system. So we’re looking at, as I said, back to sort of time tested solar orientation, building envelope issues, passive strategies, looking at kind of all of the things that used to be really regarded as good design.
Alexander Person, AIA, SmithGroup: I’ve seen a few buildings that we designe have thet dual purpose. So if it’s an office building, you can think about, you know, the future use of something else that would allow more flexibility to incorporate new construction methods.
Dallas Blaney: So we heard earlier about the fire in Denver area that wiped out 1,000 homes in a day. I mean, just unbelievable. And now we’re all living through these incredible heat waves that don’t seem temporary anymore. The Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Florida if y’all caught this, they just recorded what may be the hottest temperature ever recorded in the ocean over 100 degrees and it beat the previous record which was set off the coast of Kuwait. It really makes you pause. So as you all are, I can’t imagine the challenges you all are going through, as you’re building particularly these large buildings and doing these designs. How do you design for a building that’s resilient to climate change?
Alexander Person, AIA: I think it’s our biggest challenge. As designers, as architects, as people that care about the built environment, I don’t think I have the correct answer. But what we’re trying to do in some of our buildings is looking at it in a regional standpoint, for instance, in Colorado, we’ve got fires. So think about the way that you design your house to be more targeted.
Andy Rockmore, AIA: We have to be really careful and really specific, especially about our climate, which is a huge, huge challenge. And we have clients from all over the country who come in and say this is what we love. This is what we do. And it takes a lot of sort of unwinding. To talk to them specifically about how challenging it is to be an architect or to design buildings that last in Colorado… Now I bet all the architects in the room would would agree the way we’re practicing now just seems lightyears ahead of where we were even five years ago, kind of like we were saying about technology. So it’s just getting smarter. And maybe one other point is making sure that our buildings, especially our commercial buildings, are flexible, that they can accommodate a variety of uses.
Public Panel
Dallas Blaney, CEO, CORE: Because public buildings have a lot of stakeholders, it’s very difficult more so maybe than other projects. So what design choices do you help make for them that are climate positive public building?
Julianne Scherer, AIA, HDR: It’s the material choices. That would be embodied carbon in the materials that we select. Concrete, you heard that dirty word, and also steel when there’s a lot more steel manufacturers now. That are looking at the wetlands process in order to reduce the amount of carbon that those products have, and that sort of considering the CLT and other opportunities of materials that we select and put to our clients and show them the benefits. Also, the lifecycle costs because most of our public clients are going to be in their buildings for quite a long time, versus maybe some residential or other commercial projects. And so we want to show them that over the lifetime of their building the value that they’ll get back in real dollars.
Wells Squier, AIA, Anderson Hallas Architects: I think the greatest impact at the initial onset of design really talks about goals, right, and we try it, if there’s not sort of an energy policy that this county or city has adopted, we will often engage in those discussions and ask, how could we establish a goal for this project in terms of performance, or sustainability for the long term?
Marc Swackhamer, Assoc. AIA, University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture & Planning: I’ll talk a little bit about how we foreground decision making in our students and how we really encourage them to think about the circumstance of a project and how it gives all the clues they need on the best materials to use the best strategies, using both both passive and active strategies. And how the kind of critical decision making around sustainable choices happens both from intimately understanding and being empathic with the client and also the site and the materials that are appropriate for a project.
Dallas Blaney: So public buildings, there’s such a rich opportunity there not just to create a space for the public but also to use the building as a catalyst for educating the workforce on new technologies, new strategies for building design and kind of up-skilling the workforce and all of that. Can you talk about your experience in designing public buildings as as kind of an early mover, early adopter and advancing some of these new strategies, design methodologies, etc?
Wells Squier, AIA: The technology is emerging on this incredible curve when you think about our tools and our resources as designers and architects 30 years ago compared to where we are now obviously, this curve is super steep. And in my experience, not explicitly, but generally, I find that the public clients are not risk takers, but at the same time, that comes back to our responsibility and I agree to an end in that. We need to be cautious with new technology. As well especially when we bring this responsibility to a public building that is going to be occupied and used for 50 plus years.
Julianne Scherer, AIA: They are typically not risk takers in that this is the taxpayers money that’s going towards these buildings and you might not be able to get everything you want. But is there something within the dialogue and the discussion of those early goals setting, admission setting of that specific entity that you can at least start with one thing. So, perhaps it is showing how you’re going to use gray water for some of your plumbing systems, or the lighting, how you’ve put daylight harvesting in a building. So maybe there’s some little tweaks that you can make in a building and then make sure that you’re transparent to the community and to those that are actually working in that building as well as the value of those small, incremental pieces that you choose to put into the design.
Marc Swackhamer, Assoc. AIA: We are really passionate with our three grand challenges, global challenges that we try to tackle in all our courses in all of our curriculum: equity in your workplace and equity and in terms of who we serve as architects, the housing crisis we’re facing, and climate change. They’re asked to grapple with these questions that are massive questions. But all three are questions that architects interface with and by the time the students leave, they leave with a set of a set of questions that they’re asking around sustainability, because that’s why we’re here now and the other two grand challenges I mentioned, that drive them forward for their entire career.
