Author: Jon Bell

Equity Resources: November 11 Edition

Posted on by Jon Bell

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness Committee continues its series on racial equity in architecture. From podcasts to film to Instagram accounts worth following, we’re rounding up the best in relevant resources to keep working toward a more equitable profession.

TO READ

Toxic Communities

Renowned environmental sociologist Dorceta Taylor focuses on the locations of hazardous facilities in low-income and minority communities and shows how they have been dumped on, contaminated and exposed. Drawing on an array of historical and contemporary case studies from across the country, Taylor explores controversies over racially-motivated decisions in zoning laws, eminent domain, government regulation (or lack thereof), and urban renewal.

TO LISTEN

NPR: The Conspiracy Against Hip-Hop

Why are hip-hop and mass incarceration so entangled in the U.S.? This episode examines the history of policing and the music industry’s complicity—with hip-hop OGs Too Short and Killer Mike—breaking down iconic songs to unveil how the justice system disproportionately affects Black America and what hip-hop, as America’s most consumed music genre, has always done to push back.

TO FOLLOW

Beyond the Built

This Instagram account (and program) engages community through architecture to advocate for equitable, reflectively diverse environments. Founder and Executive Director is Pascale Sablan, who spoke recently at the 2020 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference.

TO MAKE YOU THINK

McKinsey’s Annual Women in the Workplace Survey

Before this year, Women in the Workplace research had consistently found that women and men leave their companies at comparable rates. However, due to the challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis, as many as two million women are considering leaving the workforce. The COVID-19 crisis could set women back half a decade!

TO SUBMIT + SHARE

Compendium of Architecture Pathways

AIA Colorado is working to build the largest compendium of opportunities for students and future architects of any age in Colorado. Share this link with your network and/or submit architecture internships, programs, courses, and more as we develop an interactive map of resources to design a more equitable profession.

Looking for more books, podcasts, and articles?
Visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness page to see the full series. 

Saving Dining—by Design

Posted on by Jon Bell

AIA Colorado teamed with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Restaurant Association for the Winter Outdoor Design Workshop—delivering hope with a side of hygge for the vulnerable restaurant industry.


Winter is coming, and like the north winds, the pandemic continues its chill on important sectors of our economy.  We all hoped the COVID-19 curve would have flattened by now, but without extraordinary measures to keep establishments open and safe, Colorado’s restaurant and tourism industries risk being flattened instead. To help, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Restaurant Association teamed with AIA Colorado and several other AEC partners for the Winter Outdoor Design Workshop to develop outdoor restaurant design concepts, keeping Coloradans safe from the elements—and the virus—while dining in the dead of winter.

Early on in the pandemic, my colleagues and I reached out to our restaurant clients to find out how we could help. Costs aside, they felt permitting would be their biggest hurdle. We are glad to see state and city officials expressing interest in helping ease the path. “The restaurant industry is critical to the economic health of the State of Colorado, and it’s vital to the well-being of our local communities,” said Governor Polis in announcing the Colorado Winter Outdoor Grant program, an emergency assistance fund for Colorado restaurants experiencing financial hardship.

The restaurant industry operates on thin margins even in flush times, so the stay-at-home orders reducing indoor seating to just 25 to 50 percent capacity triggered a quick culling of revenues. Particularly hard hit were locations with little overflow space. Carryout sales—for business models that could take advantage of this market—got a boost when the state began allowing to-go alcohol, starting March 20. By May, restaurants began adding seating areas in public sidewalks and closed streets, as Governor Polis waived many state regulations and urged cities to do the same. Dave Query, founder of the Big Red F Restaurant Group, which operates Jax Fish House, Lola Costal Mexican and other popular concepts, says he’s been able to add extra outdoor seating to about half its restaurants. “Reducing indoor capacity to 50 or 25 percent means we need every outdoor seat we can find,” he said.

Ely Merheb AIA, founder of Boulder-based Verso and charrette participant, found “a silver lining witnessing streets become more people- and business-friendly.” Other groups also recognize the benefit of expanded pedestrian areas, especially onto side streets and parking lanes. Said Rob Toftness of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, who would like to see Denver’s temporary street closures made permanent, “Anytime we use public right-of way for something other than storing a private vehicle, it’s a win for everyone.”

As architects and urban planners, we’re taught early in our educations that a lively pedestrian presence serves to activate downtown streets and boost business. And to keep the party going through winter, we need to keep the customers warm. Cue the Winter Outdoor Design Workshop.

The idea sprung from Colorado Restaurant Association CEO and President Sonia Riggs. She reached out to AIA Colorado, where she formerly served as CEO. “Both organizations started digging into what that might look like,” said Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director at AIA Colorado. “After our first call, it was obvious we should bring ACEC Colorado on board since viable solutions were likely going to have engineering considerations.” Ultimately, the partnership included AIA Colorado, the State of Colorado, the Colorado Restaurant Association, Colorado Restaurant Foundation, American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado, and the Associated General Contractors of Colorado for a daylong charrette to develop design concepts for outdoor dining. “I think there was a real buzz, an energy during this event to try to create and design amazing environments for our local restaurateurs,” said Scott Prisco, AIA, Denver’s Chief Building Official. “The selection of the team members was very relevant, as well. There were so many creative thinkers with differing perspective to achieve solutions to problems.”

After learning about the outdoor dining charrette while listening to a news conference from Governor Polis, “I reached out to AIA immediately, because I’ve been looking for ways to bring my skills to the table to help people,” said AIA Colorado member Jenny Edwards, of Ricca Design Studios. She along with dozens of other architects, engineers, restaurateurs, contractors, and public health and safety officials teamed via a videoconference to develop easy-to-implement concepts to encourage outdoor winter dining. The inclusion of fire and building officials was intentional, both for up-front input and to publicize an effort to promote faster emergency permitting.

Rob Duran, regional manager for the Blue Agave Grill concepts, joined the charrette after seeing that up to 60 percent of their revenue this year was being generated outdoors. “As data continues to show, outdoor dining is safest, and the diner’s willingness to sit outside through the elements is proving to be an obstacle that restaurants want to tackle.”

After an opening session with introductory remarks by the Governor, the nine teams broke into groups to each address a specific condition, from urban parking lots to mountain resort shopfronts to rooftop patios. Each team presented their rough concepts in a closing session at day’s end, then continued to meet throughout the following week to further develop their ideas. Major themes emerged: open modules with flexible seating vs. fully enclosed four-tops; open airflow to disperse airborne contagions while blocking the wind and keeping heat inside; efficient, yet safe heating under roofing; utility upgrades; heated benches and accessories; attracting diners on both sunny bluebird days and snow-dusted evenings; affordable and scalable modules that would allow customization to site conditions; snow loads; Brrrreckenridge. “Working with a group of amazing volunteers, we determined we could help temper winter’s chill with designs which created an experience that would draw guests despite the colder temperatures.” said Jeff Metheny, AIA, Principal at Studio Atlantis.

The resulting concepts landed in two camps familiar to every backpacker and trekker: tents and huts. Each team addressed these often-contradictory needs in unique ways, giving restaurant owners options that they can adapt to their specific locations. “We wanted to design with some flexibility, having both semi-permanent fixtures like posts and non-permanent units like panels,” said Edwards. “We considered the idea that this could be either disassembled and moved or become a permanent fixture for the park moving forward.” Each team was tasked with a different siting, and her Crinkle Commons concept considered the case of a nearby/adjacent park.

Added Jeff Metheny, whose team addressed urban streets and looked to Colorado’s own history as inspiration, “Using shapes derived from Conestoga wagons, teepees and A-frame shanties, each restaurant can create an upsized experience and much needed seating, all while maintaining safe distances from other diners. We were intentional in designing these structures to be easily and quickly fabricated and installed with the ability to be moved if needed.”

No matter the structure of the shelter, heating remains the key concern. “The primary obstacles for providing heat include available electric service, as well as code issues surrounding propane and gas units,” said Prisco. In response, the teams offered flexible, layered solutions for heating. For example, where gas capacity is available, remote and ducted portable construction heaters could provide the efficiency of gas at a code-compliant distance. With sufficient electric service, radiant electric heaters could be used safely under a roof. Heated walls, benches, or flooring could be added via off-the-shelf products customized to the specific site and structure. And personal heating accessories, from phase-change materials to good old-fashioned blankets provide the final layer. “Our Comfort Wall proposal focuses on maximizing comfort from a seated position, by creating a modular, low-wall system that blocks wind and concentrates heat from ground or under table sources, closest to seated customers,” said Merheb.

One takeaway? Cultural shift will be as important as a built intervention. As no outdoor space will be as cozy as last winter’s crowded tavern, we’ll need to coach our customers to expect a Colorado adventure. Add more hot-toddy cocktails to the menu. Normalize rugged après-ski looks. And naturally, promote a made-for-Colorado slogan: Bring Your Own Blanket.

Equity Resources: October 28 Edition

Posted on by Jon Bell

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness Committee continues its series on racial equity in architecture. From podcasts to film to Instagram accounts worth following, we’re rounding up the best in relevant resources to keep working toward a more equitable profession.

TO READ

The Color of Law


The Color of Law addresses how segregation in America—the incessant kind that continues to dog our major cities and has contributed to so much recent social strife—is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal level.

*Note: Catch the webinar in this link, as well

TO FOLLOW

National Organization of Minority Architects – Colorado

Get introduced and stay up to date with the newly formed NOMA Colorado chapter!

TO MAKE YOU THINK

400 FORWARD

400 FORWARD was named in light of the 400th living African American woman who became a licensed architect in 2017 (out of over 115,000 total licensed in the US). Did you know women represent 20% of licensed architects, and black women only .3%? This initiative aims to seek out and support the next 400 licensed women architects with an underlying focus on African American girls through exposure, mentorship, and financial assistance.

TO INSPIRE

Women in Architecture | Livestream

“Women in Architecture” is a digital-mapping projection produced by the AIA Colorado EDI Committee, Night Lights Denver and Tend Studio. The initiative recognizes the presence of women in the field of architecture across Colorado, celebrates their contributions and aims to change a culture through representation, as just 30 percent of AIA Colorado members are female or nonbinary. The projection only runs until October 31 in downtown Denver, so catch this livestream if you miss it.

TO DECLARE

International Living Future Institute’s™ JUST™ program

The International Living Future Institute’s™ JUST™ program is a voluntary disclosure program and tool for all types and sizes of organizations. JUST is, quite simply, a call to social justice action. It is not a verification or certification program. Rather, the program provides an innovative transparency platform for organizations to reveal much about their operations, including how they treat their employees and where they make financial and community investments.

TO-DO

VOTE!

Remember to vote! If you haven’t already mailed your ballot, plan instead to find an official ballot drop box or make a plan to vote in person.

Architects as Advocates: Get Involved

Posted on by Jon Bell

Advocacy is often seen as something that other people do. It’s one of those things that we tell ourselves that we should be more active in doing and make deals with ourselves to get more involved “soon,” but like other mental pacts like exercising and eating more vegetables, it’s usually easier to brush it off. The words architect and advocate may not be the most natural pairing, however, history is strewn with architect advocates, from the well-known and obvious like Thomas Jefferson to the lesser known like Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Harvey Ganntt or Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Architects taking an active role in shaping public policy is not only a logical pairing because of ability to problem solve and navigate often complex regulations, but also because our profession is actively shaped by public policy on a daily basis.

As architects, we are always given some sort of parameters to which our designs must conform. Whether it’s through building codes, environmental requirements, zoning regulations, or just generally through public funding, architecture is directly affected by the political climate. Because of this, it seems obvious that we should not only take an active role in the process but be leading it.

This is not to say that all of us need to run for political office—although having some architects in office wouldn’t be the worst thing. Nevertheless, our country is experiencing a rise in political advocacy, and architects are no exception. There are numerous AIA groups that take on advocacy roles centered around specific issues. There are also a number of easy ways to get involved on an individual basis.

Regardless of the shape that our advocacy roles take, it is critical that we get up from the sidelines and be involved. For too long, we’ve let decisions be made for us rather than be part of the process. As someone once told me, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu.” Below are a few ways that we can take the political energy that many of us are undoubtedly currently feeling and turn it into lasting efforts.

VOTE!

This should be obvious and at this point a redundant message, but it doesn’t make it less important. Make sure you are understand what’s on the ballot—here’s a quick breakdown of the issues from Colorado Public Radio or the 2020 AIA Colorado Ballot Guide. Also make sure you turn in your ballot or show up to vote by the deadline: Tuesday, November 3, at 7 p.m. While you’re at it, make sure your friends and neighbors are also registered, informed and turn in their ballots on time, too.

Know your state representatives and get on their mailing lists.

The state legislature is one of the most directly consequential bodies to architects. They develop and adopt many of the policies that affect architects, from setting environmental guidelines in order to combat climate change to allocating budgets for public projects like schools and other public projects that many of our offices rely on for work. Sign up for their mailing list and send them an email or call. They work for us, and they want to hear from the people in their districts.

Contact and get to know your city or town councilor.

Many local policies are developed at city and town councils, and their meetings are almost always open for public comment. You can attend and make your voice heard. If nothing else, it’s worth knowing who your council representative is, their stance on policies, and taking the time to contact them regularly so that they know what is important to their constituents.

Get involved with the AIA Government Affairs Committee.

This is the advocacy committee of AIA Colorado that directly deals with policies at the state level. They read bills during each legislative session and decide whether AIA will take a position on those bills. In addition, they also work closely with our lobbyist to advance policies and relationships that can benefit our industry. If you are looking to have the most direct impact on policy decisions through the lens of an architect, this is the group to join. The call for volunteers goes out next month, so consider getting involved.

Sign up to be part of the Architecture Advocates Network.

This is another AIA committee, but is less formalized than the Government Affairs Committee. This group aims to have a robust network of people across Colorado that can speak to issues in various parts of the state, connect architects to existing advocacy efforts, and create a network that can be called upon to take up specific issues when they arise. The levels of involvement can vary from being an active committee member to simply being “on-call” for when a larger group needs to be called upon.

Support EDI efforts.

The AIA Colorado Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee specifically takes up issues that now more than ever are taking center stage and architects need to have their voices heard. This is a very proactive group that is trying to move the needle toward equality, not only within the practice of architecture, but also across the city, state, and country.

Get plugged in with the Local Advisory Councils

AIA is implementing Local Advisory Councils in 2021 representing the four regions in Colorado (Denver, South, North, and West) to focus on local issues. This is a great way to be more involved in our communities.

Help with the Sustainability Working Group

This group focuses their efforts on improving sustainability efforts within the practice of architecture in an effort to combat the larger issue of the climate crisis.

Volunteer with groups outside of AIA.

There are hundreds of groups that we can be involved in, and many of them have nothing to do with architecture. Whether it’s an industry adjacent group like Urban Land Institute or Downtown Denver Partnership or something more outside of architecture, these groups could always use more help.

Get involved with campaigns.

Not all of us will be able to work directly in campaign offices for specific candidates or ballot initiatives, but almost all of us can take the time to sign up to phone or text bank, write letters or post cards, and knock on doors (in a non-pandemic future). These things are happening anyways, and it’s important that we be involved with them so that, again, we can be out ahead of the decision-making process instead of reacting to it.
 
For more information on any of the efforts listed above or to figure out how you can best get plugged into AIA advocacy, please contact AIA Colorado Advocacy Engagement Director Nikolaus Remus, AIA.

Practice + Design Conference 2020: Day 3

Posted on by Jon Bell

Just Architecture 2020 Practice + Design Conference Day 3 Recap: “Justice Equity, Diversity + Inclusion”

By Victor Gonzalez

History seems to be repeating itself, and we cannot wait any longer to make architecture influence equitable change around us. Day three of the AIA Colorado Just Architecture 2020 Practice + Design Conference highlighted the constant effort in creating a more equitable practice, showcased by the AIA Colorado Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee. The committee itself realized that we needed an action to make sure there are more entryways into the field of architecture and were determined to increase awareness and access to architectural education. This continuous effort was highlighted nationally through the presentations of, “Just Speak Up,” by Carole Wedge and the importance of women leading the future of the profession. Following her presentation was, Milton S. F. Curry, who voiced his vision for the future of the design field through, “Just Constructions” presentation showcasing the power in outsourcing architectural education to other underserved communities. Day three of the keynotes closed with a powerful keynote, Pascale Sablan, who explained the various mediums in which the current and future generations of BIPOC designers have empowered themselves in order to shape the future of “Just Architecture.”

Over the noon hour, students joined members of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee for a virtual “Ask an Architect” event, where architects with diverse backgrounds answered questions on architecture as a profession and higher education. The afternoon featured three lively breakout discussions with the panelists, encouraging us all to become more self-aware and step in in our firms to begin to create change. A panel discussion with all presenters left attendees with powerful takeaways, and the event culminated with a virtual livestream of the “Women in Architecture” projection, which takes place in downtown Denver all through October.

Once again, the Practice + Design Conference left us informed, connected, and above all, inspired. Check out some of the key takeaway moments below, and we’ll see you next year.

PANEL DISCUSSION CAPTURE

SESSION NOTES

Carole Wedge | Just Speak Up

  • Find your confidence and your voice
  • Things that I have experienced made me realize that it is valid and important to learn to build your own capacity and ability to speak up.
  • Alumni from CU Boulder – BENVD
  • Alumni from Boston Architectural College – BARCH
  • Kemper Award 2020
  • CEO in 2018
  • FAIA in 2008
  • President in 2004
  • Principal in 2000
  • College and University Leadership 2000
  • Library Leadership 1994
  • Joined the firm in 1986 working in the mail room as a student at the Boston Architectural College.
  • Was inspired by her father’s word that was finding her own confidence in the world
  • “Journey of your career and your life is one you have to design and make happen.”
  • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world, Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Having that voice to have that conversation in order to open up that opportunity.
  • “Stay open to learning.”
  • Learning to speak up for things and learning to advocate
  • How do women lead, how do people of color lead?
  • “The culture and the people define the type of firm you are.”
  • Any woman in America has experienced a sexist comment.
  • You have to build your muscle through empathy.
  • “Our core values guide us.”
    • They shape our vision, our culture, and reflect our beliefs as a company, and as individuals.
    • Passion: celebrate your passion for design.
    • Diversity: Embrace different perspectives, listen to every voice.
    • Empathy: realize the impact of what we do.
    • Integrity: Do the right thing, the right way, every time.
    • Balance: Whether it’s in design or in work and life, we strike balance in everything we do.
  • Building culture:
    • Inspire: we encourage each other to do better, be better.
    • Foster: we empower the next generation of visionaries with a passion for design.
    • Respect: we recognize the ideas and work of our peers with the highest regard.
  • Shepley Bulfinch is women-owned and led.
  • A more diverse team will be a naturally more successful team.
    • Makes better design and makes a better field.
  • The diversity needs to be measured at different levels.
  • What is the interculturalism of the firm?
  • There needs to be a pipeline built on where your employees come from.
  • There should be an extensive outreach to BIPOC communities.
  • We have to go look at other places that we are not accessing, because how are they supposed to access us if we are not present?
  • AIA Convention
    • Carole Wedge was inspired to create a scholarship stipend to get students to travel to the convention center in Boston.
  • Justice and equity lead to diversity, inclusion and belonging.
  • Racial justice is climate change.
  • Designers can have a powerful impact on the environment.

Milton Curry | Just Constructions

  • USC School of Architecture
  • Focus on the process of making and becoming
  • Making and constructing culture through the creation of buildings and spaces.
  • From Fresno, CA (1960s)
    • Parents had migrated from Denver.
  • Born during the Civil Rights Movement
  • As a profession you are not a profession that has distinguished itself from the causes of the Civil Rights Movement and you are most distinguished from your thunderous silence and…” (Whitney Young)
  • I was going to have to view my life through activism.
  • Individuality activism is not accessible to all and it is not guaranteed to be a success.
  • Just constructions is a way of attending to our basic needs and our access to the natural world.
  • I know how justice looked like and how people that were ethical constructed their lives and careers.
  • There is power and meaning of protesting through structural change.
  • Although the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery, it was a gateway to replace this form of racism and oppression entrenched in our infrastructure.
  • The university must be an ally on how we enable to build these social bonds with a common sense of values.
  • Accessibility to all is what creates opportunities for all.
  • Educating ourselves of the nature of the harm that was inflicted on us.
  • Why is it that the urgency of now gets shifted to another business cycle.
  • “I want to engage a social, political conversation about the contemporary world that I live in or my relationship to it, and at the same time I want to abstract it.”
  • If we want our profession to change, we have to make the construction of our profession to change.
  • Modern values were bonded together by myth.
  • Rethinking architecture theory in order to recount how our profession has segregated and discriminated against certain communities.
  • The same modern works have inflicted harm on indigenous communities.
  • USC school of architecture is emerging as a global platform for cultural heritage architecture and urbanism. Our school is returning to the experimental DNA.
  • USC is second among the top 30 raw numbers for diversity related to BIPOC.
  • We are diverse, but we are not diverse as we need to be.
  • Architecture development programs targeted at the high school level
    • Pipeline for attracting underrepresented students continues to be a challenge.
    • This issue is complex and recognize that systemic racism is determinate of educational outcomes and opportunities.
  • Affirmative action is one of the ways to attain equity.
  • The average Black and Latino students have to fight other influences such as educational inequality, food deserts.
  • 2015 started a high school program that has launched the A-LAB.
  • ACSA Diversity Award.
  • Paul Revere Williams Archives Program:
    • Involved in the transformation of the urban fabric of LA.
    • He was the first Black American appointed to the AIA Fellows.
    • He was the first Black American to attain the AIA gold medal.
    • The Getty Foundation and USC School of Architecture
      • Will be a multiyear of symposium that will leverage USC School of Architecture.
    • Allows scholars the opportunity to view these archives and preserves the legacy left behind by Revere Williams

Pascale Sablan | Justice Through Action

  • I was asked to stand.
  • It didn’t just happen to me.
  • Google “Great Architects”
    • First 40 start from contemporary to historical.
    • How many are women?
    • How many are Black?
    • How many are minorities?
    • Zaha Hadid holds it down in two categories.
    • Why was this the result?
      • Google stated that this was the case since there was, “not enough content for BIPOC to be showcased.”
    • Say it Loud exhibition
      • Feel our impact and show our work through the great caliber that we have had.
      • “Say it Loud” has even been brought to the United Nations.
      • “Say it Loud” exhibition became an international movement.
      • Say it Loud has a traveling activation.
      • AIA team to put their exhibition in a mobile app.
      • Say it Loud Virginia
        • Has been brought as a set of lectures and presentations.
      • Say it Loud Pennsylvania
        • Selected in a venue for communities to have access to
        • How to engage our communities into the exhibit work
      • Say it Loud Georgia
      • Say it Loud United Kingdom
        • February 2020.
        • The issues and challenges we face here are also found across the world.
      • Beyond the Built IG takeover
        • There are multiple ways of attaining this design profession.
      • Great Diverse Designers Library
        • Showcases as a resource to elevate us to collaborate on projects.
        • This is also a way of protecting our history.
        • Being strategic with our relationships with publications in order to preserve our history.
      • Great Diverse Designers Textbook
        • International designers featured.
        • Leveraging the content of which we inspire.
      • Learn Out Loud – Kids Books.
        • Lego Collaboration.
        • It is a way of inspiring children to see their identity in the profession.
      • Say it with the Media.
        • Asking publications to take a position to increase a 5% every year on the amount of BIPOC content is held in their publications.
      • Architecture as Advocate.
        • The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
          • “The lynching museum”
          • Each medal has the name of the person that is lynched.
          • This is not of the past, but of the present.
          • As publications are going away from the term “slavery” we need to make sure that architecture is a way of a permeant statement.
        • National Museum of African American History and Culture
          • It creates a place for celebration of Black history and culture.
        • National Center for Civil and Human Rights
          • Showcases the current rights we have today because of previous efforts.
        • Max Bond Highway.
        • African Burial Ground National Monument
          • First project as an intern.
          • 800 bodies found at this site of buried slavery.
        • Haiti Campus
          • ACE mentoring allowed us to create a campus for the underserved communities.
        • Dismantling oppressive spaces.
        • Project Pipeline
        • 400 Forward
          • Having more one on one mentorship with students.
        • Design Justice
          • Allows an online platform on how architecture can help resolve these issues.
        • Hip-Hop Architecture Camp
          • A gateway of music to architecture.
        • See it Loud Camp
          • Educating and empowering through design augmented reality.
          • Embed information, young kids, augmented reality.
        • Beyond the Built Environment
          • See it loud camp
          • Say it loud
          • Learn out loud

Practice + Design Conference 2020: Day 2

Posted on by Jon Bell

Just Architecture 2020 Practice + Design Conference Day 2 Recap: “Just Sustainability”

By Victor Gonzalez

Architects have great power, and with great power comes the great responsibility of preserving our environment. The greatest challenges not only face our current profession, but also the design field as a whole. These were just a few of the takeaways from day two of the 2020 Practice + Design Conference focusing on environmental stewardship.

As architects, we are clear leaders in climate action and must direct our focus on sustainability. Staying resilient is what creates environmental stewardship, and with more focus on education and outreach in supporting our communities, we can achieve a more sustainable future. The conference today showcased innovative and vibrant designs that highlighted today’s theme, “Just Sustainability.” From the benchmarking requirements for museums by Joyce Lee to understanding the sustainable features of timber by Thomas Knittel and the maximized use of sunlight by Lake|Flato Architects, all entailed the influential factors of maintaining, “Just Sustainability.”

Afternoons were filled with member networking—of the digital variety. Each speaker held intimate breakout discussions and all reconvened for a thoughtful panel discussion. And from Denver to Durango, connections were made over happy hours with each of the sections with playful activities and reunions with old friends.

Below are key takeaways and along with a special illustration documented by a live illustrator Ellen O’Neill.

PANEL DISCUSSION CAPTURE

SESSION NOTES

Joyce Lee | Just Culture

  • 1 of 300 LEED Fellows
  • Faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania
  • Serves on the COVID-19 taskforce
  • Part of a firm that takes the place of sustainability and wellness
  • Former national co-chair
  • Works on a variety of museums
  • Building benchmarking disclosures.
  • 3 museum Categories: art, history, and science
  • 3 size categories
  • Museum building age
  • Average site EUI by year
  • U.S. Climate Zones are new to museum owners who own a collection throughout the country.
  • Museum site EUI by climate zone
  • How do museums perform today?
  • Based on commercial building type and obviously there are consumption levels by climate zone.
  • Benchmarking cities
    • Example: Philadelphia
    • Sustainable Development Goals:
      • No poverty, zero hunger, etc.
    • ASHRAE CH 24
      • Collection: Public Space
      • Collect: Nonpublic Space
    • The culture of justice or just culture
    • Practice is focused on sustainability and balance.
    • Covid-19 Aerosol Transmission.
      • Open windows help with delusion.
      • Hospitals go through 12 air changes by hour.
      • Not all schools receive this air quality change, which is why there is such a concern for students and teachers.
      • Metropolis petition headline: Architects and designers are demanding healthier policy priorities.
    • “Just Culture” a longer term in cultural institutions. Architecture can improve life at all economic levels.
    • jlee@indigoJLD.com

Thomas Knittel | A Just Future Through Carbon-Balanced Buildings

  • Looking at a recently completed hotel in British Columbia
  • When we look at all the new construction that is projected to take place between now and 2050, we see the critical role.
  • This conference is fundamentally about ethics.
  • Architecture is a starting place of what it is available and what it can do.
  • Materials matter for planetary health:
    • Human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends.
    • Understanding that what is good for us must be good for the world, we must make the effort to know what is the best for the world, and change for it.
  • Rate of consumption per capita has significantly increased.
  • The material consumption has caused the increase of landfills.
  • The rural materials play a critical role in developing materials.
  • Change happens, and architects have a big role to play in the super sizer of construction
  • You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
  • Seeking planetary help in what would nature do differently in comparison to our destructive behavior.
  • Carbon fuel emissions are irreversible.
  • You can’t manage what you can’t measure.
  • It is more than carbon that we are responsible for and measuring.
  • 30 Regenerative keys: How we process energy, how mass timber can help.
  • Carbon-balanced buildings
    • Our material determines these emissions.
  • Cellular Flexibility
    • Clinic floor, outreach and training centers provide healthy air as possible.
  • This way it is key to work with our structural engineers.
  • Changing to curtain walls is one small, but significant example on how to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Orange County Sanitation District HQ
    • Board room, gathering space, and educational gathering space, acoustic clouds, a central core that includes gathering for common areas
    • Structural Carbon Balance Study – Mass Timber Option
    • Mass Timber alternatives complement the California building code
    • Timber should be recertified and reserved.
    • Must advocate for timber sourcing and forest tree practices.
  • There is a strong link between forest and people.
  • Ecosystem services must be preserved.
  • We must ensure that mass timber drives forestry.
  • Mass timber buildings could be four stories and 84 feet tall.
  • The story for the building is the tree itself.
  • Carbon reduction at the urban scale
    • Park City Initiative in China
      • The west mountains provide natural resources to the people. 
  • The urban form that is proposed is to give a sense of place.
  • Buildings as carbon banks
    • Provide a new carbon cycle

David Lake and Heather Holdridge | Vitality and Livability of Communities

  • Urban design can strengthen the city.
  • Just nature, place, craft, restraint
    • Four ideals that drive work, that shows the best of “us”
  • Respond to the context.
  • Set sustainability goals for projects and then tracking.
  • Social justice, equity, justice, and inclusion is definitely an aspect of becoming sustainability.
  • “Just” label
    • Being more clear about our plan and term on social justice and inclusion.
  • Making sure that our building is day lit.
  • “Library of the future”
    • Every floor level had its own purpose and its connection to the other areas.
    • Have it connected by different age groups.
    • Stone civic building to demonstrate knowledge.
    • Animate the streetscape.
    • Add an event space.
    • Using the library to show a connection to nature.
    • Perimeter is lit by the daylight.
    • Goal: is oriented around the daylight capture. There was more dense shading provided, so there was no visual discomfort.
    • Maximizing daylight, reducing heat gain.
    • Testing the ideas through computer simulations.
    • How can we connect to the downtown district?
  • Confluence Park
    • Make sure that sustainability is present.
    • Storying water was expressed.
  • University of Denver – Wellness Center
    • Constructed out of mass timber.
    • Reduce the carbon impact emissions

HAPPY HOUR NETWORKING

NEGRONI WORKSHOP WITH THE DENVER SECTION

SKETCH COMPETITION WITH THE SOUTH SECTION

NOTECARD DESIGN COMPETITION WITH THE NORTH SECTION

Practice + Design Conference 2020: Day 1

Posted on by Jon Bell

Just Architecture 2020 Practice + Design Conference
Day 1 Recap: “Just Design”

By Victor Gonzalez

The 2020 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference debuted Wednesday, October 14, and focused on the theme of “Just Design.” Five keynote speakers in the morning sessions showcased the scale of architecture that is currently taking place from the capital of Peru to the heart of Chicago’s south side to the districts of Los Angeles.

The designs of Lima, Peru, from Sandra Barclay, showcased “Just Intimacy” in relation to how design can downscale the vastness of our environment all by taking inspiration from local culture. The eight designs highlighted by Neil Denari incorporated “Just Urbanism,” and how the busy urban grid of Los Angeles can help inform design by designing with the urban grid rather than against it. “Just Design,” wrapped with the presentations of Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, highlighting the importance of creating a vibrant public space through storytelling, story making and how it can all adjust to the world. Day one was filled with many amazing stories and interpretations of design and how the current members of AIA Colorado continue to help shape the world around us.

Following morning keynote presentations, afternoons were filled with member engagement, featuring breakouts with each speaker, then a panel discussion with all, which resulted in high-level discussions on design alongside the humility of casual conversing with home as the backdrop for these world-renowned designers. Below are key takeaways and themes that emerged from the day’s events, which were documented by a live illustrator Ellen O’Neill (above).

PANEL DISCUSSION CAPTURE

SESSION NOTES

Sandra Barclay | Just Intimacy

  • Working in Peru has unique challenges, such as climate change and the relationship between shelter and culture.
  • She discussed intimacy within a further landscape.

Ingredients of architecture

  • Culture, Territory, Climate, Place, Program, Technology
  • All of these ingredients create the strategy for architecture.

For the territory climate: Lima, Peru

  • This geographical climate creates the current environmental conditions.
  • Peruvian climate is a mild climate, with lots of precipitation, storms, and winds.
  • All of these conditions demand shelter.

Pre-Columbian legacy and landscape

  • Downscaling obstruction

Puruchuco, Lima

  • Forms a micro-form of intimacy

Casa Vedoble

  • Defines an enclosure
  • Provides a frame to the ocean view
  • Houses that capture the sunlight
  • Provides interior spaces with vastness
  • Contained artificial beach with pools, all while still providing privacy intimacy

Paracas Museum

  • Modifies landscape
  • Thinking of an archeological museum
  • Providing a correct space that inhibits the desert
  • Working with the desert landscape
  • Fifth facade provides protection from the strong wind and from the sun.
  • The production methods provided rethinking on how we design.
  • The Paracas Museum provides almost a huge human vase.
  • Its porch acts as a threshold throughout the interior and exterior of the museum.
  • The museum provides natural ventilation to prevent the use of air conditioning.

The Hispanic Legacy and the City

  • Influences the relationship between the residents’ dwellings and the city
  • Creates life and intimacy where it can all take place at once.
  • Design a house in an intimate, but contemporary way.
  • Uses systems of bedrooms that can help create a sense of intimacy that is lifted above the street.
  • Space unfolds as interior and exterior through blurring the vaulted boundaries of house, garden, and pool.
  • There is a relationship between intimacy and closeness.
  • Creates community by connecting the interior spaces

Limana Restaurante

  • Demonstrate Lima’s greatness
  • The enclosure helps create a quiet place from the rest of the urban environment.
  • Inside the closure, the volume is organized to capture the sunlight and create a module that receives natural light and ventilation.
  • Creates a constant space of fluidity.
  • The space unfolds into a total exterior space.
  • The thresholds creates an enclosure of transition.

The Lessons from the Masters UDEP Academic Facilities

  • Uses cross-ventilation to cool the space.
  • Accept the simplicity and modesty of the space.
  • The building condenses the collective human experience.
  • Drawing foothills of the tropical soft forest.
  • “We start by extending the shade of the forest and the space of the building.”
  • The program grows from the rooftop to the ground.
  • The spaces are left.
  • The perimeter of the space acts as a protection.
  • South facade is focused on receiving the natural bridge.
  • The organization from east to west is in relation to the calendar of the sun.
  • Sun clocks meet.

Neil Denari | Just Urbanism

  • 8 Los Angeles projects
  • Modulated grids for L.A.
  • The grid respects ideas and logic of how Los Angeles is connected through its urbanism
  • The democratic idea of a city and country in creating neutrality and equality through how the country was to continue growing (Thomas Holme idea).

Kyoto City Grid

  • Is the importance of Chinese planning on how the palaces were off center and thinking about other strategies on how infrastructure to articulate geometry etc.
  • There is a challenge between working with and on the grid for architectural works.

“The Continuous Monument”

  • Near Superstudio created a grid that was empty.

Aldo Rossi

  • Gallaratese, 1972
  • Socialist idea of what it means to be an individual in a collective
  • Being an individual during this time was to be in an open space, and only haven individual space to create humanity.
  • Argues that architecture cannot predict well.
  • 8 projects showcased are all commercial projects.
  • All projects are informed through the zoning platform.
  • Goal is to give as much life as possible to a project, but to respect the zoning regulations.

Silver Lake 1

  • Politics evoked in the grid at all particular levels.
  • It is a two-story commercial building including:
    -Restaurant on the ground floor.
    -It takes up the place on the city.
    -It is filling the zoning envelope.
    -The site is a parallelogram.
    -Trying to resolve the vertical and horizontal through radius.

Half Court Housing

  • 100 feet deep with a parking lot.
  • 3-story, 8-unit housing project.
  • Cushioning of the exterior to the internal organization
  • Half court housing because it is filled half of courtyard space
  • Courtyard Hotel
  • Includes a portal with a courtyard that leaves space on the front with a restaurant in the front.
  • The portal is what leads to the courtyard and the rooms ring around that look into the courtyard and there is a formal stair that connects the spaces to the courtyard.

Beveled Office Building

  • 45 feet in height.
  • The corner of the building is notched.
  • The invisible infrastructure interacting and complementing the grid.
  • There are different methods applied to the exterior of the building to make it unique to how it interacts with the grid.
  • 221 Western Housing
  • Uses a hybrid between linear building and butterfly cantilevers that dramatizes the gridded nature of the building.

9000 Wilshire Office Building

  • Takes up its place in Beverly Hills tries to stand out in the way that it liberates the two floors and adds a garden in between.
  • There is tension on how the building takes up a place on the site while also giving it a sense of monumentality.
  • It is a modest project that adds urban infrastructure with a nice skin.

Santa Monica wellness Center

  • The building fills in the parking and the 45-height limit.
  • The volume is being sliced off to provide relief to the volume and how it fits on the grid.
  • It incorporates public space.

La Brea Hotel

  • It is a gateway to West Hollywood.
  • Putting a large building within the zoning envelope
  • It is located on a tight site, with a portal and large restaurant and kitchen.
  • The urbanity of the projects is what facilitates the project with the rooms pushing the parking back.
  • L-shaped building with rooms of privacy and views

Tod Williams and Billie Tsien | ADJUST

  • How to address huge issues on how the issues seem overpowering on how to seriously address what we need to understand is that we work within our own best way.
  • “We work to serve others.”
  • We need to rethink the problem on our terms and how to best address the projects 

The Barnes Foundation

  • Inspired to empower through education, Barnes kept this collection of art and African artifacts throughout a house.
  • Believed that all people could be taught and that every person deserves a chance with art.
  • The project is located on the site.
  • Barnes collection moved from the residency to the downtown city fabric of Philly
  • There was a larger idea between the Barnes collection which was that his art was for all people.
  • Gallery in a garden.
  • Garden in gallery.
  • Bringing light and life into the gallery.
  • Oftentimes the work would be enclosed in artificial light.
  • Wanted to include light and life into the collection.
  • Keeping the neoclassical plan but adding an adjustment.
  • The sense of a garden was still brought in.
  • The entrance portrays the idea of walking through the building.
  • The building focuses on using light and courtyard space from the interior of the building to the outside.
  • The galleries are behind the public space that is open to other users.
  • Included is a changing exhibits gallery and the existing collection.

Obama Presidential Center

  • Libraries were noble buildings of books.
  • Obama focused his legacy on ennoble and enable.
  • Storytelling and story making.
  • How do we change the present and future to make it better?
  • Establishing a landmark
  • Creating a campus, which makes other aspects to the building.
  • Site: south side of Chicago
  • There is a relationship between Obama’s homeland set throughout a park from Olmestead’s park.
  • The plan includes: forum, museum, plaza, library, PAAC.
  • Wanting to change the topography of the park.
  • Adjusting the flat use of the landscape.
  • The center focuses on political discussion and creating access to the library and the support systems for the center.
  • Young people from around the world will come to learn new skills to do a variety of activities.
  • This is home to many programs such as the Obama Foundation Scholars.
  • The tower is included to provide a space to the public that can house events and public space in general.
  • The use of sunscreen will protect the room at the top.
  • The screen will be words from his important speeches.

Section Happy Hours: Know Before You Go

Posted on by Jon Bell

As part of the 2020 AIA Practice + Design Conference, we are hosting virtual happy hours with every section in the state from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. Register now and see what’s in store for each section:

DENVER SECTION

With hosts Director Ignacio Correa-Ortiz, Greg Behlen, and Jeos Oreamuno

Tune in as we kick off with introductions and housekeeping notes, host a few talent shows, and break out into small groups to discuss the conference and action items when we get back to our firms. Enjoy a little Monty Python humor, a Negroni-making workshop, and a chance to network with fellow Denver colleagues.

NORTH SECTION

With hosts Director Rob Pyatt, Janna Ferguson, and Ryan Wakat

After introductions, we’ll dive into an informal design competition! Bring a 3×5 notecard or something similar for a fun activity with your fellow North section members. The event will also include casual conversation with plenty of time to network.

WEST SECTION

With hosts Director Sarah Broughton, Justin Rounsefell, and Jenny Narrod 

Members in the West, you have specific instructions from your happy hour hosts:

  1. Wear your favorite hat!
  2. Be prepared to introduce yourself and talk about your goals for Q4
  3. Enjoy a little guided cocktail mixology, with easy at-home ingredients. Everyone needs lemon and honey, then choose from seltzer, vodka, or bourbon—and rosemary if you have it!
  4. Move onto a casual business chat, before ending with a fun round of…
  5. Pictionary!

SOUTH SECTION

With hosts Director Sheva Willoughby, JP Arnold, and Kenneth Thomas

After introductions and updates on Bylaws amendments, participate in a fun ink-sketch activity with judging and prizes to follow. You’ll also have the chance to participate in local Colorado Springs architecture trivia, with plenty of time to network with colleagues old and new.

REGISTER NOW

Special Meeting of the Members: Bylaws Revisions

Posted on by Jon Bell

Notice of Special Virtual Meeting of the AIA Members

In a year filled with change we are forced to react to, the AIA Colorado Board of Directors has been working on proactive change for the association and its members. The board has approved a special virtual meeting of the members of AIA Colorado to take place on November 5, 2020, when you will be asked to vote on amending AIA Colorado’s main governing document—its bylaws. The vote will take place by written electronic ballot as discussed in more detail below.

Hopefully, you have seen the aspirations we have laid out to realize our preferred future. Getting there will require new rules of the road. After months of diligent work informed by extensive research and trusted counsel within the Institute, the association industry and non-profit legal expertise, the Board of Directors recommends the adoption of the proposed bylaws below and looks forward to hearing your voice with questions and comments—and most importantly your vote. Please review the information herein. The purpose in which it is delivered is to help you make an informed decision, not to sway opinion.

 Recent History

Our bylaws were last updated October 2016. Those edits followed an organizational restructure that merged five corporations (four local and one state) into one single statewide body and governance model.

A subsequent proposal to further amend the bylaws was presented in 2018 and failed to pass. Though numerous provisions were outlined, the main point of contention in that draft centered on the proposed elimination of section directors on the statewide board. Whatever the intentions or logic, those opposed asserted such changes would further diminish locally focused member service following repositioning.

The national AIA enacted a number of changes to its bylaws as recently as June 2019. Each chapter of the AIA must be in compliance with those bylaws and is urged to update their own bylaws to reflect those changes. So, too, have there been statutory changes since 2016 to the Colorado Nonprofit Corporations Law, under which we must legally operate.

Current Conditions

With that as context, a member task force conducted a top-to-bottom, line-by-line review of the bylaws and presented a comprehensive update to the Board of Directors. They took into account the need to align with national governing documents and the requirement to operate in concert with Colorado Nonprofit Corporations Act as prerequisites. They also desired to simplify and clarify where possible, adapting to the changing world we currently work in. Most importantly to match the mission, vision and values with our governance rules and to effectively support the volunteer opportunities in our committees, task forces and board seats. Last but not least, to avoid the shortcomings of the past and provide multiple leadership pathways that respect the many member contributions and identities whether it be by professional interest, career stage or location.

The Bylaws Task Force held a Special Meeting of the Membership on October 21, answering member questions and discussing the changes. Next, on November 5, 2020, all eligible voters will receive an email—via your email address on record with AIA—containing instructions to access your electronic ballot to cast your vote on the Proposed Bylaws. Electronic voting will open on November 5 by 12 p.m. MST and will close at 11:59 p.m. MST on November 10, 2020. We appreciate your early vote to meet quorum requirements.

We thank you for your time and hope we’ve provided not only information but transparency and accessibility. That is how you keep us accountable and we move forward together for the advancement of the profession.
To inform your decision, we invite you to review the pertinent documents below.

And as a reminder, all eligible voters will receive an email from announcement@associationvoting.com on November 5 with instructions to access your ballot online, or you may VOTE DIRECTLY NOW. If you have any questions or problems while voting electronically, please use the help form on the login page to send a support request directly to AIA Colorado.

AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide

Posted on by Jon Bell

Overview

Welcome to the AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide, providing a brief overview of the entire statewide ballot with a more detailed look at everything of particular relevance to the architecture profession in the following categories:

  • Federal Elections
  • Colorado Legislature Elections
  • Colorado Ballot Measures

An important reminder: Mailed ballots will start arriving the week of October 12 if you are already registered to vote at your current address. With the current delays in USPS delivery times, promptly completing and returning your ballot will help statewide efforts towards a smooth election season in Colorado. Local government websites typically feature a list or map of ballot drop-off locations as an alternative to mailing back your ballot.

If you’re looking for in-depth non-partisan information, ballotpedia.org is highly recommended and all registered voters have (or will) receive a Colorado 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the “blue book”) in the mail.

AIA Colorado does not endorse candidates for office. ARCpac, the Architects of Colorado Political Committee, has made campaign contributions to state legislature candidates as detailed in the state races section below.

Federal Elections

This section hardly needs an introduction if you’ve been paying any attention to the news lately. Architecture-related issues are probably far down the list of priorities for any voter at the federal level, but here are the races on the 2020 ballots.
President
President Trump (R) is running for reelection this year in one of the most closely watched races in recent memory. In addition to typical partisan issues common to presidential races, we’ll see very different responses to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic from each candidate, likely to occupy their attention for at least the first year of the next term.

  • Republican (incumbent): Donald Trump, (2017-current)
    • VP: Mike Pence (2017-current)
  • Democrat: Joe Biden, former Vice President and US Senator (DE)
    • VP: Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator (CA)

U.S. Senate
As the Democratic party looks to regain control of the U.S. Senate (currently held by Republicans 53-47), Colorado is one of their highest priority races. This has brought additional outside spending and national attention to our senate race this year.

U.S. House of Representatives
There is less at stake in the U.S. House this year, as Democrats are expected to retain their control of the chamber by a comfortable margin. In Colorado, HD-3 has gotten the most attention as the only race without an incumbent, after Rep. Scott Tipton lost his primary.
U.S. House, Congressional District 1 (Denver)

U.S. House, Congressional District 2 (Northern Front Range)

U.S. House, Congressional District 3 (Mountains, South, and West Colorado)

U.S. House, Congressional District 4 (East Colorado)

U.S. House, Congressional District 5 (Colorado Springs)

U.S. House, Congressional District 6 (East Denver Metro)

U.S. House, Congressional District 7 (North Denver Metro)

Colorado Elections

Every two years, there are elections in all 65 House districts and half of the 35 Senate districts. The outlook for 2021 is that Democrats will retain their strong majority in the House, likely holding 40-42 of the 65 seats. On the Senate side, Democrats are also expected to retain control with 19-20 of the 35 seats. ARCpac has made contributions to the following candidates:

Boulder Metro Area
Tracey Bernett (D-Longmont) HD-12
Colorado Springs Metro Area
Mark Baisley (R-Douglas County), HD-39
Terri Carver (R- El Paso County), HD-20
Paul Lundeen (R-Monument), SD-09
Denver Central Metro Area
Chris Hansen (D-Denver), SD-31
Denver East Metro Area
Janet Buckner (D-Aurora) SD-28
Denver North Metro Area
Shannon Bird (D-Westminster) HD-35
Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton) HD-31
Kyle Mullica (D-Thornton) HD-34
Kevin Priola (R-Henderson) SD-25
Denver South Metro Area
Kevin Van Winkle (R-Highlands Ranch) HD-43
Denver West Metro Area
Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) SD-19
Greeley/Loveland Metro Area
Mary Young (D-Greeley) HD-50
 
Judge Retention
In Colorado, judges are appointed to their positions by elected officials, then reviewed by the non-partisan Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation after two years and are put on the ballot for a retention vote. After the first vote, subsequent votes happen every 4-10 years based on the position.
Judge retention doesn’t affect the architecture profession, but you can look up recommendations for retention in your county here. Only two of the 104 judges reviewed across the state this year did not receive favorable recommendations in their review.

Colorado Ballot Initiatives

There are 11 statewide measures on the 2020 ballots. None directly affect the practice of architecture, but the paid family/medical leave measure could affect firms and many measures have state or local budget implications. It’s important to emphasize that Colorado has suffered a massive budget shortfall in 2020 (~$3 billion, reduced to $2 billion after federal assistance) due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The 2021 budget will be similarly affected.
Architecture-related state budget items include B.E.S.T. grants for K-12 schools, historic preservation tax credits, and capital construction projects for state-owned buildings (including public universities). In a budget shortfall situation, the state spends significantly less on capital construction (including maintenance) projects. If a state-funded program such as BEST loses its funding entirely, the reality is that it becomes much more difficult to bring it back in the future. It’s unknown if these state-funded programs will see additional cuts or how severe they might be. The bigger the shortfall, the more likely they get affected though.
All measures are listed here for the sake of completeness, but only those of interest to members will include details. Propositions are statutory changes and like any state law, can be changed by future legislative efforts. Constitutional amendments, if passed, can only be changed by the voters should a new amendment be approved for a future ballot. Numbered measures were instituted by the public and submitted signatures for approval. If identified by letters, the state legislature voted to put the measure in front of voters.

Proposition 113 – Adopt Agreement to Elect U.S. Presidents By National Popular Vote
Not related to the architecture profession.

Proposition 114 – Restoration of Gray Wolves
Not related to the architecture profession.

Proposition 115 – Prohibit Abortions After 22 Weeks
Not related to the architecture profession.

Proposition 116 – State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.63 percent. If passed, it would be reduced to 4.55 percent. The state estimates next year’s budget would be reduced by approximately $170 million. This could affect architecture-related state budget items.
Another important note is that in Colorado, voters must approve any income tax increase. This tax cut cannot simply be undone in the future by the state legislature like other proposition ballot initiatives.

Proposition 117 – Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of Certain Fee-Based Enterprises
In this context, a fee-based enterprise is a state-owned business that is largely reliant on user fees for funding. State universities are an example of such an enterprise. If passed, this measure will require future and existing fee-based enterprises over a specific revenue threshold (affecting 7 of the current 22) to be approved by voters. These enterprises have become popular in Colorado exactly because they aren’t a tax increase that requires voter approval. This measure takes away that exemption. If voters don’t approve the enterprise, it must seek alternate funding sources or cease operating.
These enterprises don’t typically fund individual building projects, but some do directly fund infrastructure projects and indirectly result in building projects (state universities in particular). The removal of any fee-based enterprises will impact future state budgets, but the extent can’t be predicted since voters may keep or vote down enterprises individually.

Proposition 118 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
If passed, this program would require paid family/medical leave benefits for nearly every employee in the state. The funding is split between employers (with more than 10 employees) responsible for part and employees themselves paying through a deduction every paycheck. However, businesses that offer qualifying benefits already will be exempt from paying premiums.
This type of program has had champions in the state legislature for multiple years now but could never get the votes to pass. Proponents argue that lower income earners deserve these paid benefits just as much as higher income earners (who’s employers are already more likely to offer them). Opponents of this ballot measure point out that many businesses are already stressed by the current economy and may not be able to afford to fund their share. Future premiums may increase if today’s funding projections prove inaccurate.

Proposition EE – Increase taxes on nicotine products
If passed, nicotine (including vaping) products will be taxed at a higher rate, raising an estimated $168 million next fiscal year. Revenue will primarily target preschool funding and rural school financial support, as well as tobacco education programs.

Amendment 76 – Citizenship Qualification of Electors
Not related to the architecture profession.

Amendment 77 – Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek
Colorado’s constitution places strict betting and game type limits in Colorado casinos. This amendment gives local jurisdictions with casinos the ability to expand their games and betting limits if local voters approve.
This change is anticipated to increase tax revenue from gambling in Colorado. Of note to architects, 28 percent of this gaming tax goes to the State Historical Fund for preservation of historic sites in Colorado.

Amendment B – Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
This amendment is tricky to explain, so let’s start with the key takeaways. Passing the amendment effectively keeps residential property taxes at their current levels. These taxes are primary funding sources for school districts across the state. They also fund other local government services to varying degrees, depending on the jurisdiction. The state legislature would also have greater ability to adjust property tax rates in the future, but rate increases would require statewide voter approval like any other tax increase. If it does not pass, local governments will have to either deal with budget shortfalls (especially for K-12 education) or get local voter approval to raise taxes enough to offset the shortfall.
Statewide school district revenue is estimated to drop $491 million if Amendment B fails. There will be fewer K-12 construction projects across the state. Local budget shortfalls will likely trigger changes to the state budget as legislators look at how much the state should offset that drop in local tax revenue. Opponents of Amendment B note that local governments can continue to propose specific tax increases to offset this loss on their own (subject to voter approval). There are also concerns that this amendment makes it easier to raise residential property taxes in the future, which will make housing less affordable in general. Rental properties in particular will pass these costs on to renters.
Why is this a constitutional issue? The “Gallagher amendment” added to the Colorado constitution in the 1980s created a requirement that residential properties taxes must be 45 percent of the total combined residential and commercial property taxes. This keeps residential property taxes low in general. In the ’90s, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights was added to the constitution and it says any tax increase in Colorado must be approved by voters as a ballot measure. If the economy in Colorado takes a sharp downward turn (as it certainly has in 2020 due to COVID-19), there will be a drop in commercial property taxes collected by the state. This forces residential property taxes to drop as well. That’s great for individual taxpayers, but it wreaks havoc on local budgets where different services are funded by different taxes. The lost revenue is immediate but trying to rebalance or increase tax revenue takes significantly more time since voters must approve it.

Amendment C – Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal 5-year Minimum
Not related to the architecture profession.
 
For more information or to discuss any amendments, email Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director.

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