Q1 Letter from the President

Scott Rodwin, AIA

AIA Colorado President

Hello AIA members!

I’d like to begin my term by acknowledging the suffering of those affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles—those who have lost their homes and communities, and the architects who will spend years helping their neighborhoods and clients rebuild and recover. Having been deeply involved in similar efforts here following the Marshall Fire, I understand how overwhelming and challenging the process will be. AIA National has offered its support, and we, as a state organization, do as well.

On a much brighter note, I’d like to express my gratitude to our Past-President, Julianne Scherer, our 2024 Board of Directors, and our incredible staff for their hard work and dedication. Thanks to their efforts, AIA Colorado had a fantastic year, and the organization is in a strong position as we move into 2025.

The theme of my presidency is simple: to make every member’s professional life 5% easier. While that might sound like a small, incremental change, achieving it would be neither easy nor insignificant.

I know each of you works tirelessly to make your life and work a little better—easier, more lucrative, more stable, more artistically rewarding—and a little less stressful. I believe we all share these goals.

In my office, my partner introduced me to the Japanese concept of Kaizen, or “continuous improvement.” At first, part of me thought, Ugh, that sounds exhausting. But my better, architect-self knows that Kaizen is actually the smartest and most sustainable way to get where we want to be. It’s also how AIA can better support you in achieving your professional goals.

Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence helping us solve problems. But here’s one challenge I think only we humans can tackle: AI doesn’t live our lives. It hasn’t pulled countless all-nighters in school, worked through weekends perfecting a client presentation, or worried about providing for a family on an emerging architect’s salary. It hasn’t had to be scrappy finding a first job or starting a firm. It hasn’t felt the joy of creating a design that fully reflects your talent or the satisfaction of solving a complex puzzle to meet a client’s needs. And it hasn’t wrestled with sleepless nights worrying about keeping staff after losing a big client or during an economic slowdown.

We understand those experiences. And that’s why neither I nor the AIA Colorado Board can solve this challenge alone—we need your help.

I’m asking each of you to contribute one good idea. It can be about any aspect of the profession, and it doesn’t matter how much experience you have. We’re going to crowdsource ideas from the most qualified group I know: you. 

Together, let’s answer the question, How do we make our profession—and your job—5% easier?

Here’s how it works: Look at your current practice and identify something that’s working especially well for you. It doesn’t need to revolutionize the industry. Even small improvements can make a big difference. 

Once we collect your ideas, AIA staff and the Board will organize them and share the best ones with everyone. You’ll be able to pick and choose the suggestions that resonate most with you and your work.

Let’s embrace the spirit of Kaizen and improve our profession collectively. I can’t wait to hear your ideas and share in the wisdom of this incredible community.

So to get your mental engines going, here are some real-life examples:

“We have a semi-annual all staff Visioning mini-retreat twice a year. We take the time to let all staff know what our goals and visions for the year are, and then we engage in a group dialogue to make sure that everyone is on board and understands what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re going to do it.”

“We allow well-behaved dogs in the office. Everyone seems to like having them, and for those staff who can’t easily leave their dogs at home, it makes it much easier and pleasant for them to come back to the office.”

“Every year, our firm identifies pain points for our staff and actively works to try and eliminate them: we have a downtown office; years ago we gave everyone an RTD EcoPass and bought an office bike. This year, we also added parking spaces for everyone who has to drive and comes in at least 3 days a week.”

“I (the Principal) go out to lunch with each of my Senior Associates one-on-one once a month. We talk about our families, our hobbies, our injuries, and sometimes our work, but it’s not a work lunch. It’s about getting to know each other and know what’s going on in each other’s lives. That way, when we have a disagreement or issue at work, we have a basis of trust, friendship and understanding that allows us to weather any kerfuffle or miscommunication. We actually do the same thing routinely with our clients. Sorry, that’s two good ideas…?

“Our company includes families in at least half of all of our social events each year. It makes it easier to participate when I don’t have to choose between work and family, and has strengthened some of my friendships within the office because our families have bonded.”

‘My firm pays for our AIA membership and 50% of Design conference registration. It makes it financially possible for me (as a young designer) to participate.”

“We have a policy that face to face communication is the best (in-person is preferred, but Zoom is okay). Phone calls are second best. Emails are for sharing and tracking documents. Texts are only for perfunctory confirmations like, “I’ll be there in 5 minutes”. Never ever have project discussions via text. All tone and nuance is lost and that leads quickly to miscommunication.”

“We moved to using keynotes this year. It has really cleaned up and streamlined our Revit drawings.”

“Our firm gives every employee a $200/yr continuing Ed stipend to spend at their discretion.”

“I discuss budget and schedule with a prospective client within the first 30 minutes of their calling. This saves us both a lot wasted time if they don’t have realistic expectations.”

“Once a quarter we bring a chair massage therapist into the office and everyone can sign up for free.”

“We ask our clients to create Inspiration image folders using whatever format or program works for them. It helps us really hone in quickly on the style that they are looking for BEFORE we start designing.”

“We don’t put all of our projects on our website. We only include the ones that we want more of. ‘What you put out is what you get back’”.

“I wish the AIA would hold more events in the spring. I’d like to get my annual Continuing Ed requirements fulfilled earlier in the year so it’s not so stressful in December, and AIA events are the main way I do that. I also like staying connected to the architecture community, and sometimes waiting until the big fall events feels too long. I love coming to the design conference, but some years I’m slammed at work when it’s happening and can’t go. So having something in the spring would be helpful.”

“We just did a 4 month Fitness challenge” in our office. Everyone who wanted to participate got randomly put on a team of five and we self-reported our activity on a Google-drive spreadsheet. We have one staff person who’s running it and they let everyone know each week how the teams are doing. The office is offering a prize to the winning team and the top 3 particpants. It really upped everyone’s activity and health, but mostly it was just fun and team-building.”

“In our office remodel, we added a “pump room” (which also works as a Zoom room).  It has made it easier to return to work after having my first child. And I feel good about working someplace that actively supports it’s working moms, and doesn’t make us choose between family and work.”

“I write articles (for free) for our local newspaper about architecture and working with architects. I think it has not only given the public a better understanding of what we do as a profession, but it has directly led to a lot of client inquiries.”

“Our contract states that we have the right to photograph and publicize the project. This sets that expectation up front. It stinks to finish a project and then not get to put it on our website.”

“We have improved our Client Communication Protocols and it has been very beneficial: we send the meeting Agenda to our clients 24 hours ahead of time. They like knowing what’s going to be discussed. Then we email the presentation and a summary of the meeting notes and decisions to them immediately afterwards. This makes it easy for them to circulate it around to everyone who needs to see it, and helps them to remember what we told them. Our contract also says that if they don’t send us written disagreement with the meeting minutes within 48 hours of receiving them, that we are entitled to rely on that information moving forward. This has really helped reduce the ‘convenient forgetfulness’ that some of our clients have.”

“My firm actively encourages, organizes, celebrates and sometimes compensates us for our probono work. It breaks down normal project hierarchy, helps the community, and makes me feel good about my contribution every year.”

After we gather this treasure trove of good ideas we look forward to sharing them with all members, and that this effort will be useful in making your work life a little bit easier, richer, and more satisfying.

Here’s to an awesome 2025 together!

Scott Rodwin

President, AIA Colorado

Denver Local Advisor Tours

Nothing brings people together in the architecture and design community like… well physically being together. As many of us try to convince our peers that being in the same room from time to time has its merits, the Denver Local Advisors group of AIA Colorado has taken it upon itself to provide multiple tours of recently completed, or under construction, projects around the city.

Colorado Convention Center expansion tour

Most recently, the group visited the active construction site of the Colorado Convention Center expansion. The contractor team led a group of about thirty architects, aspiring architects, engineers, and other industry partners through the building that is nearing completion and spoke to the logistical hurdles that they had to overcome, such as building over an active parking garage while wedged between the Convention Center, which continues to be used on a weekly basis, and a major arterial thoroughfare through downtown Denver. In just about an hour, the group had ventured through multiple exhibit and pre-function areas, the “largest kitchen west of the Mississippi”, and across multiple staging and overlook points. Of course, the only way to round out the afternoon was with a group happy hour at a nearby beverage establishment. 

National Western Complex tour 

These sorts of gatherings have been gaining momentum here in Denver over the summer. What began on a rainy day in May to tour the recently completed City Heights dormitory on the Auraria Campus was followed by a tour through the National Western Complex in June. These events have provided opportunities for behind the scenes looks at various high-profile projects around Denver, but also allowed people the chance to mingle with their counterparts that they haven’t seen since before the pandemic and given younger aspiring architects the chance to make a dent in their AXP hours. 

For the Denver Local Advisors, the focus this year has been on bringing people together and highlighting some of the incredible work being done around this every-changing city. The group has taken steps to provide platforms for people to showcase their work and come together to be inspired by current and future work. The group plans to expand its efforts to include other prominent projects currently under construction and to also highlight larger scale plans that will dramatically alter the landscape of Denver with future events on a (hopefully) monthly basis. 

In the meantime, if you or your office would like to have a project featured by this group, please contact AIA Colorado to get on the schedule. Keep an eye on the bi-weekly newsletters for more opportunities to tour these excellent projects and to come together as a Denver architecture community that continues to grow, evolve, and coalesce around this great city and region. 

Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism From Colorado

This past April 27, 2023, AIA Colorado was honored to showcase several of Colorado’s leading designers at Design Elevated: Sustainable Urbanism From Colorado. The event was organized in conjunction with the Cities Summit of the Americas, a convergence of Mayors and Civic Leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the US State Department. With day two of the Summit drawing to a close, attendees were cordially invited to the History Colorado Center and immerse themselves in an evening of inspiration, as they delved into the minds of the brilliant architects, city planners, and cultural thinkers behind some of the most innovative state projects and programs in our region.

After an introduction from AIA National President Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, explaining the critical roles of architects as partners for progress, each speaker presented their work in 20 slides set to an automatic timer of 20 seconds per slide. Delivered in this “PechaKucha” style, the format provided a fun and quick environment.

As AIA Colorado CEO Mike Waldinger stated in his opening remarks, there is “no act more optimistic than to build.” These presentations highlight just a few of the inspiring and transformational projects underway or recently completed in the Denver Metro Area.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.”

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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.

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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.  

Webinar Recap: Small Firm Exchange: AIA Resources to Advance Local Firms

Being part of a small architecture firm can be exciting and overwhelming—all at the same time. However, the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) provides support to small firms, allowing a sense of community, leveraging resources, and a creating a more level playing field in architecture.

Our most recent AIA webinar featured Matthew Clapper, AIA, who is the 2021 Small Firm Exchange Chair and Founding Principal of Modern Architecture & Development in Wisconsin. Clapper discussed the SFx overview, repositioning, new workflows, and converting to a state-based structure. Highlights from the webinar follow.

The core functions of the SFx are to: 1) curate and disseminate resources and information from the AIA and other organizations to small firms; 2) inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and resource/information gaps; and 3) advocate the value of small firms and the national and local SFx groups. Educational resources such as branding guidelines, crisis management tools, and business plan formats provide small firms with a competitive and operational boost.

A major upcoming goal is a sustainable framework of communication. To achieve this goal, both SFx and AIA are creating better integration with a more fluid organizational structure between both organizations. Communications and resource silos in the past have caused duplication of efforts and wasted energy. This organizational change with active liaisons will allow for small firms to gain big benefits.

SFx Workflow Management is undergoing a major renovation, as well. Leveraging social media and work applications, SFx is breaking down informational barriers while encouraging conversations and wide audience reach. Apps such as Flipboard, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter will create channels of discussion and opportunity. This marketplace of small firm information is open. 

Finally, representation at AIA may look different as regions convert to a state-representation methodology. SFx is considering this change, as well. Currently, one representative may serve three to four years in a region of six to seven states. This current model is not efficient or effective for individualized needs for states. Equity for all is a far reach. 

Potential changes for the new SFx Board include a board of 30, eight permanent states, and 22 additional reps from rotational states. Additionally, board members will make an ongoing effort to identify a representative from every state/territory, totaling 55 representatives. The board will increase its communications from a more diverse standpoint, which will bring about better inclusiveness and equitable opportunities.

AIA Colorado will keep you informed of the latest changes in the SFx as we help small firms achieve their design and business goals.

Meet the 2022 Board of Directors

President

Wells Squier, AIA

President-Elect

Sarah Broughton, AIA

Past President

Rachael Johnson, AIA

Secretary

Sheva Willoughby, AIA

Treasurer

Marc Swackhamer, Assoc. AIA

Associate Director

Kari Lawson, Assoc. AIA

At-Large Director

Ron Abo, AIA

Denver Director

Julianne Scherer, AIA

South Director

James Childs, AIA

West Director

Scott Munn, AIA

North Director

Scott Rodwin, AIA

Webinar Recap: Building and Running a Successful Hybrid Practice

Hybrid. Work from Home. In Office. COVID-19. Epidemic. Pandemic. Endemic. Fully Vaccinated. Booster. Delta Variant. And now the Omicrom Variant.

The year 2022 is nearing, and these words have dominated our discussion, lifestyle, and firms since early 2020. As we live in a steady state of safety, how are we connecting as a workplace?  Life continues. Work moves forward. Design continues. Our community and the built environment need our attention. People require structure—both physically with our buildings and mentally as we seek to adjust to what seems as a new normal. These are just a few takeaways from the recent AIA Colorado webinar with Evelyn Lee, FAIA, “Building and Running a Successful Hybrid Practice.”

“Firms need to reflect, rethink, and revise.”

Evelyn lee, faia

Lee is a nationwide thought leader and shared her insights into how your firm can overcome and work in a hybrid scenario. She is the first Senior Experience Designer at Slack Technologies, Founder of the Practice of Architecture, and Co-Host on the Podcast, “Practice Disrupted.” She received the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award and currently serves as Treasurer on the AIA National Board. Following are takeaways from Lee’s presentation on successful hybrid firms.

A hybrid practice is a resilient practice. Aim to build a more agile and adaptable environment. As Lee said, “Firms need to reflect, rethink, and revise.”  She framed these concepts in six different areas: 1) culture, 2) people and policies, 3) team management and productivity, 4) security and support, 5) tools, and 6) the hybrid employee. 

  • Culture.  Cultivate a workplace that is values-based in which every decision is rooted in this culture. Flex your behavior and response to address how values may manifest in different ways.  Revisit your firm’s “why.” Conduct an annual employee survey. How many employees would recommend your firm to others? Remember, culture is the sole differentiator for your firm.
  • People and Policies. Empower your employees with a shared definition of trust that enables their best work. She indicates that 95 percent of workers considering changing jobs in what is called, “The Great Resignation,” and 92 percent of workers are considering changing industries.  Lee recommends building a framework that supports each employee’s career. Transform hiring outcomes to yield first-day productivity and continue onboarding for an entire year. 
  • Team Management and Productivity. Stand up a digital headquarters that is relevant and essential. The digital HQ centralizes information and efforts. Ensure your firm distributes decisions made in-person onto the digital HQ platform. Too, adjust the firm’s mindset to that of remote even if just one person is working from home. Create time for deep work without distractions and brain-write for innovation / creativity. Establish balance with a burst of activity and slower simmer modes. 
  • Security and Support. Build a virtual cloud of data warehousing that enables anywhere access for employees. Invest financial and personnel resources toward information technology in order to provide timely and effective data management.
  • Tools. Ideally, software or hardware tools create an ease of operation and design. But first, know the capabilities of these tools and what your firm needs these tool’s functions to perform.  Understand who requires what tools to assist your team and client. Know each category of tools and how to operationalize these IT assets to enhance workflow and communications procedures. 
  • The Hybrid Employee. Work From Home (WFH) does not mean anything goes. Set work boundaries and routines. Optimize your workspace to fit your work needs. Over communicate with your team. Be a thoughtful teammate and take care of yourself. Back-to-back virtual meetings can be detrimental; manage your calendar well to manage yourself even better.

Lee concluded her presentation with a few overall tips: Your firm’s people are your greatest assets. Manage expectations and learn. Be patient and trust the process. 

AIA Colorado seeks to foster your firm’s best path forward during this challenging time. We are providing innovative speakers and solutions that will enable your firm and employees to be successful for your clients, community, and company. To learn more about hybrid working hybrid, you can view Lee’s full presentation on YouTube.  Let’s collaborate and learn together as we stay safe. 

Fire and Smoke Separation: Codes and Architectural Solutions

Virtual Connect: Designing places that foster social collision

Virtual Connect: Designing Zero Net Energy and Resilient Buildings

Revitalizing Main Street, One Building at a Time

© AIA Colorado 2025
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