This year’s AIA National Conference, A’23, took place from June 7th-10th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The architecture and design event of the year is truly epic in scale with thousands of attendees, including members from AIA Colorado. Below are a series of snapshots and quick thoughts from a few of the events that AIA Colorado members and staff participated in.
Save the date and join us for A’24, in Washington, D.C., June 5–8, 2024!
The AEC Cares service project has made a positive impact in national conference host cities since 2011. Bringing together AIA participants, a pro-bono design team, and donations from industry partners, a local non-profit receives a comprehensive makeover. This year, youth services non-profit The Lark Inn transformed their shelter in the Tenderloin District. AIA Colorado staff members Nikolaus Remus and Mike Waldinger were among the 140 volunteers on hand. AEC Cares was co-founded by Mike who continues to serve as a board member.
Barbara Bouza, FAIA: Making the impossible possible
A’23’s Day One keynote speaker shares a window into the world of Disney Imagineering.
I was honored to represent the members of AIA Colorado at A’23 two weeks ago in San Francisco. It was the largest gathering of architects since 2019 and the energy was infectious! I spent Wednesday in the annual business meeting, voting on overall organization policy changes and listening to the national board candidates speak about how they will lead the future of AIA and its members. The voting on Thursday resulted in the election of two powerful and insightful leaders. Evelyn Lee, FAIA, won President-elect and Latoya Kamdang, AIA, as At Large Director. Evelyn is well known to AIA Colorado having spoken previously to our Business of Architecture and CKLDP groups. The days were filled with keynote speakers, presentations, panels, and a wealth of information on the expo floor. It was great to see members of AIA Colorado at the happy hour on Thursday, thank you for coming!
My overall take aways from this importation national gathering of colleagues, is the immense opportunity and obligation we have to lead our communities, clients, and each other into the future that is balanced with nature and all humans. The nature of our work as architects at any level or role is leadership. We must continue to knowledge share with each other and coalesce to rise to today’s challenges.
Sitting on a “Women At The Helm” panel with colleagues, Kerry Nolan, AIA, Elizabeth Leber, AIA, Angela O’Byrne, FAIA, reinforced the power of togetherness and the importance of continuing to take steps forward daily.
— Sarah Broughton, FAIA, President AIA Colorado
Three outstanding architects from Colorado have been newly elevated to the College of Fellows, one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and were celebrated at the College of Fellows Investiture Ceremony.
Ron Abo, FAIA, Principal at The Abo Group, Victor Olgyay, FAIA, Principal at Rocky Mountain Institute, and Brad Tomecek, FAIA, Principal at Tomecek Studio Architecture, were recognized for their contributions to the architecture profession, and their dedication to advancing the built environment. Only 3 percent of AIA’s 95,000 members hold this distinction and only 76 new fellows were inducted this year, a historically small number. Even in a historically small group of inductees, Colorado had the largest class of new Fellows in five years!
Thursday evening, A’23 attendees from all across Colorado met and enjoying charcuterie and conversation. It was great to see familiar faces, including our friends at CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning, while at A’23 and a huge thanks to HDR San Francisco for hosting us!
GSA announces investment in Green Proving Ground; industry experts tout sustainability and client benefits of design-build integration
Integration is the future. How can architects do it effectively?
Administrator Robin Carnahan specifically mentioned the Denver Federal Center as a case study for the work they want see more frequently.
— Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, Jury Chair, AIA Design Awards, addressing the 2023 Design Award Submissions.
After months of anticipation and 118 projects submitted, our 2023 Design Awards Jury was finally able to meet in San Francisco and deliberate on this years’ entrants. The jury was immensely impressed with the quality of the work taking place in Colorado and thoughtfully engaged with their decisions for the whole day. While you’ll have to wait until September 19th’s Awards Celebration at Mile High Station to find out which projects won (tickets on sale soon!), we can confidently say that a lot of care and thought went into this phase of the process by a jury dedicated to the task. Thank you CRI & Canoa for hosting our jury deliberations!
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern
Former New Zealand Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern headlined the final day of AIA’s 2023 Conference on Architecture. In a conversation with AIA’s President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, Ardern discussed the climate crisis, how to ensure diversity as a leader, notable building projects completed during her tenure, and much more.
— Mike Waldinger, CEO AIA Colorado, addressing the 2023 Design Award jury
Thank you to everyone who took the time and energy to submit a project for the 2023 Design + Honor Awards. We received 118 Design Award submissions, from all over the state, and are ready for the jury to evaluate them this week in San Francisco, while in town for A’23. We could not be more proud of the high degrees of excellence that our membership and are on the edge of our seats to see what the jury decides.
That’s right, its been a few years, but we’re opening up a call far and wide for presentations at this November’s conference! The Practice + Design Conference brings together the community of architects in Colorado for inspiring insights from global design leaders, advanced practice management methods, and practical innovations from industry partners. We’re interested in hearing from those in our community who are ready to contribute and lead a session at Keystone.
This year’s theme, ENGAGE, is focused on the big topics and discussions that face our industry, our practices, and our communities. We’re interested in conversations where the stakes are great and the opportunities are real, creating chances for us to propel our profession forward, right here in Colorado.
If you have a presentation in mind, visit the link below and start your submission today. Or, if you know someone who would be a great fit, encourage them to create a submission. The submission window closes Friday, July 7th at 5pm.
If you’re interesting in viewing the Engage Practice + Design Conference prospectus, you can view it here.
The 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. There are a variety of 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.
View Mentoring and Engagement Opportunities
The first four sessions of the year have provided participants with a diverse range of topics and perspectives. By addressing topics such as entrepreneurship, management, D.E.I., and practical leadership tools, these sessions have equipped the participants with valuable knowledge, insights, and tools for their personal and professional growth. Catch up with session recaps shared by Executive Committee member Jack Reed, AIA.
Join our Academy of Architecture for Health Knowledge Community, June 13th, for a tour of the Children’s Hospital North, covering their recent major renovation and addition project. Space is limited.
Thursday July 27th at the Aspen Art Museum, join AIA Colorado, CORE, and rowland+broughton for an exploration of the present and future state of sustainable architecture in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. Space is limited, please RSVP in advance.
Congratulations to Heather Salisbury who has recently been announced as Director of Operations at Valeria Dewalt Train.
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.
On June 14, visit College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver for the closing reception of Mycelium Making: Creating Worlds in the Anthropocene.
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.
On June 15th, join the Colorado NOMA Chapter for some outdoor fun, it’s a homecoming, a celebration of life & a gathering of all our NOMA friends!
The NOMA Colorado Project Pipeline Architecture Summer Camp is a 2 day intensive studio-based program that introduces middle school students (ages 7-13/grades 2-7) to the profession of architecture. The students use their creative skills to develop an architectural design for a realistic site in Colorado. Students will learn and practice model making, architectural drawing, sketching, critical thinking and public speaking skills during this fun and challenging program.
Established to acknowledge, support, and advance traditional concepts in craftsmanship design within the Rocky Mountain Region, award categories arearchitecture, interior design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, craftsmanship, allied arts, literature and journalism, among others. Entry deadline is June 16 and projects must be within Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Wyoming, or Montana and have been completed within the last 10 years, 2013 – 2023.
Taking place the week of July 10 – 16, Art + Architecture is 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 presented by Altitude Control Technology, CCY Architects, Dornbracht, Henry Built and Delta Millworks. Continuing Education courses are followed by a social networking event.The Madeline Hotel hosts the event and offers preferred rates to design industry participants.
Canstruction® Colorado is a city-wide competition in which architects and designers build life-size structures entirely out of canned food, which will be donated to We Don’t Waste and distributed to local communities at the end of the exhibit. They have opened their call for entries and have a few spots available. View their “Canstruction 101 slide deck” or Visit website for information
The Temple Hoyne Buell Endowed Ambassadorial Scholar Program provides $30,000 scholarship awards for undergraduate or graduate studies outside the USA. Scholars must commence studies between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 and expend the scholarship funds within 12 months of starting studies. Study must be in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning or related subjects.
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:
The application process closes at 5pm ET on June 16.
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) search process is now officially underway, and AIA is working to support a licensed architect as the next candidate for the AOC position. AIA representatives are working closely with key congressional offices and the executive search firm hired by Congress to manage the recruitment for this position.
Read more
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.
Architecture firms reported a modest decrease in April billings. However, there was a slight increase in inquiries into future project activity according to a report released today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program is aimed at nurturing and developing emerging leaders in the field of architecture. Named in honor of Christopher Kelley, an influential architect and advocate for mentorship, the program provides selected participants with a unique opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, expand their professional networks, and engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration. Through a series of immersive sessions, seminars, and mentorship opportunities, the program equips participants with the knowledge, tools, and perspectives needed to navigate the complexities of the architecture industry and make a positive impact on their communities.
The Colorado chapter, founded in 2017, continues the mission of supporting and developing emerging architects who aspire to become influential leaders in their field. Now entering its seventh year, the program is well underway, with four events already in the books for 2023. Below are some highlights from the program so far.
The Colorado chapter of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) kicked off its 2023 program with an eventful Boot Camp session, held in the salon space of rowland+broughton. The session began with Rachel Yee, AIA, former AIA Colorado President and founder of the CKLDP Colorado chapter, sharing the history of the program and the importance of storytelling in architecture. Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA, CEO AIA Colorado, also provided valuable advice on traits that successful leaders should embody, emphasizing the power of storytelling. To conclude the session, Martin Moe III facilitated a discussion on culture and group norms, setting the stage for future interactions throughout the program this year.
The first session delved into the world of entrepreneurship and management. The session started with a panel discussion featuring Stacey Passmore, Diane Lipovsky, Adam Wagoner, AIA, and Miles Dake, who shared their experiences and insights on starting a business and building a team. Key takeaways from the panelists included the importance of flexibility in entrepreneurship, establishing a clear mission and vision for a business, and looking for humility in team members. The session also included presentations on relational leadership tools by Jimmy Carnes and practical leadership tools and resources such as articles, books, podcasts, and tools to enhance their leadership skills. Lastly, Krista Trofka shared insight on the importance of personal relationships, value proposition, and staying curious.
The second session focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Joy Crouse delivered a keynote address that provided definitions, conceptual overviews, and engaging activities to foster meaningful conversations about DEI. The session highlighted the importance of recognizing the difference between intent and effect, understanding surface and deep culture, and striving for equality and liberation. Additionally, a panel discussion featuring representatives from the National Organization of Minority Architects addressed the past, present, and future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession, with panelists sharing personal experiences and emphasizing the need for action. The session concluded with a DEI workshop led by Jen Skidmore, which encouraged participants to envision the future of architecture in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The session focused on challenging dominant narratives, considering barriers and solutions, and reflecting on personal actions for advancing equity and justice in the field.
Session three focused on community engagement for architects. The session explored the importance of meaningful engagement with communities and how it can enhance architectural work. The first speaker, Evelyn Lee, discussed the traits of effective community leaders, emphasizing the need to establish a personal brand and voice to create influence. Laura Rossbertshared her research on trauma-informed design, highlighting the importance of understanding the diverse experiences of a building’s various users to create inclusive environments. Rick Sommerfeld discussed the Colorado Building Workshop and emphasized the value of finding opportunities within the community for architectural projects. Lastly, Deanna Weber and Jay Renkens led a workshop on effective facilitation in public interest design, emphasizing empathy, active listening, and creating an inclusive and safe environment for community engagement. The session provided attendees with tools and resources to enhance their community engagement practices, including podcasts, open-source research, and recommended readings on facilitation and design.
The first four sessions of the CKLDP Colorado chapter provided participants with a diverse range of topics and perspectives. By addressing topics such as entrepreneurship, management, DEI, and practical leadership tools, these sessions equipped the participants with valuable knowledge, insights, and tools for their personal and professional growth. As the program continues, the participants can expect to further develop their leadership skills and contribute to the advancement of the architecture profession in Colorado.
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.
DPS High School Architecture/Drafting Instructor – opening at DPS to teach high school students architecture and drafting
DPS CEC Early College Coach/ Mentor:
DPS Launch Internship program:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
Not Pictured:
— 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.
“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
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.
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Academic Scholarships:
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.
Join members from Denver and tour the National Western Center Livestock Exchange Building, Central Utility Plan & CSU Spur Building on June 1st.
Connect with fellow AIA Colorado members during A’23 AIA Conference on June 8th at HDR’s San Francisco office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
The application process closes at 5pm ET on June 16.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
