Colorado Architecture News | 03.18.26

In this Newsletter:

• Business of Architecture: Acquiring / Merging Your Business event recap
• Architecture salary, hiring, & benefits trends
• Apr 14: North Section EP/YA & AIAS happy hour
• Apr 16: CRAN happy hour
• Apr 21: West Virtual Connect: Disaster Preparedness
• Apr 23: Tour of The Mothership
• Apr 28: Equity in Practice Series: Intercultural Competence, Workplace Culture, Compensation
• Apr 29: Design + Honor Awards info session
• Premier Partner news: AEF Traveling Scholarship submission deadline: March 31
• Premier Partner spotlight: Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood

Business of Architecture: Acquiring / Merging Your Business event recap

Architecture firm mergers and acquisitions are becoming an increasingly common strategy for growth, succession planning, and expanding capabilities. At a recent Business of Architecture Knowledge Committee discussion, firm leaders shared candid insights into why they chose to merge, how valuation and due diligence work, and the critical role that culture plays in finding the right partner. From navigating the “middle-sized firm” challenge to preparing the next generation of leadership, the conversation offered practical lessons for firms of all sizes. Explore the stories, insights, and advice shared during this thoughtful discussion here.

Architecture salary, hiring, & benefits trends

The 2025 AIA Compensation & Benefits Report is the architecture industry’s most comprehensive report on salary, hiring, and benefits trends and the 2025 AIA Small Firm Compensation & Benefits Report shares the latest data on trends in pay practices, employee demographics, and benefits at small architecture firms. Both reports are available for discounted purchase to AIA members.

AIA Colorado has copies of the reports available for members to view at AIA Colorado’s offices at the Alliance Center. If you are an AIA member and you’d like to schedule a time to view the report, please inquire here.

Apr 14 • North Section EP/YA & AIAS Happy Hour

Tuesday, April 14th, at 5pm, at Attic Bar & Bistro in Boulder, join AIA Colorado North members, the EP/YA Council, and AIAS for a happy hour designed to connect emerging professionals. RSVP here.

Apr 16 • CRAN Happy Hour

Thursday, April 16th, from 5:30 – 7:30pm, join the AIA Colorado Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) Knowledge Community for a happy hour, in Boulder, on the rooftop of Avanti Food & Beverage. RSVP here.

Apr 21 • West Virtual Connect: Disaster Preparedness

Tuesday, April 21st, at Noon, join fellow Western Slope members for a discussion on preparedness, response, and recovery. Hear insights from colleagues and learn practical strategies to strengthen and support community resilience. RSVP here.

Apr 23 • Tour of The Mothership

Thursday, April 23rd, at 4pm, join members for a tour of The Mothership, a 2025 AIA Colorado Design Award Honorable Mention recipient. The unique nature of The Mothership cannot be overstated; there is simply nothing like it in the ecosystem of housing and homeless services for youth, offering an opportunity to immediately access shelter and transition as quickly as possible into one of six dorm-style neighborhood suites. Tour led by Chad Holtzinger, AIA, of Shopworks Architecture. To be submitted for 1 LU|HSW. More info and RSVP here.

Apr 28 • Equity in Practice Series: Intercultural Competence, Workplace Culture, Compensation

Designing great architecture starts long before anyone picks up a pen, mouse, or trace paper, it starts with people! Tuesday, April 28th, at Noon, in the first session of AIA Colorado’s three-part Equity in Practice Series, AIA Colorado’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) committee invites you to dive into Chapters 1–3 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice but don’t worry, this isn’t a book club where you pretend you did the reading. We’ll break it down into foundational ideas together. To be submitted for 1 LU. More info and RSVP here.

Apr 29 • Awards info session

Are you thinking about creating an awards submission but have never gone through the process? Have a question regarding your submission you’d like to ask? Or, are you curious if there are any tips that could make your submissions stand out more? If so, April 29th, at Noon, join AIA Colorado’s awards committee, staff team, and members of the BOSS.architecture team for an overview of the Awards program, covering the Design Awards, the Honor Awards, and the Submittable platform. RSVP here.

Hank Koning FAIA and Julie Eizenberg FAIA on Architect-ing

Hank Koning, FAIA, and Julie Eizenberg, FAIA, co-founders of Koning Eizenberg Architecture, join Adam Wagoner, AIA, live from the 2025 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference in Keystone for an engaging and candid conversation on the “superpowers” architects can use to shape more human-centered, inclusive environments.

In this episode, Hank and Julie preview their conference talk, Superpowers, and unpack the strategies that have guided their practice for decades. The conversation moves from education projects to housing, using density and typology as tools to address real-world challenges while maintaining a strong commitment to humanism. They discuss how transparency, informality, and thoughtful user experience can make buildings more welcoming, especially for communities that often feel excluded from institutional spaces.

Watch the conversation on Youtube or listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora or wherever you get podcasts!

CAP Spring Lecture Series

All events are free, open to the public, and will be recorded unless otherwise specified. All lectures, unless specified, will start at 12 p.m. and be held on the Second Floor Gallery of CU Building, 1250 14th St, Denver, CO. View the full Spring schedule here.

• Thursday, March 19: Anya Moryoussef. Founder, Anya Moryoussef Architect. RSVP here
• Monday, April 6: Leyuan Li. Assistant Professor of Architecture, CU Denver. Director, Office for Roundtable. RSVP here
• Thursday, April 9: Louise Bordelon. Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, CU Denver. RSVP here
• Monday, April 20: devin michelle bunten. Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Housing, MIT. RSVP here

Community College of Denver Architectural Technology Practitioner-Student Event

April 3rd, from 9am to 1pm, join the Community College of Denver Architectural Technology for April Confluence, a unique practitioner–student event designed to connect architecture professionals with CCD architecture students through meaningful one-on-one mentorship. Between two AIA-approved LU/HSW CEU sessions, attending professionals will participate in informal micro-charrettes where students can seek guidance on their current studio projects, coursework, and career paths. This format creates intentional space for experienced practitioners to share insights, answer questions, and offer perspective that can help shape the next generation of architects. More info and RSVP here.

The AIA Colorado Job Board is updated daily. Looking for your next career move? Explore fresh job listings updated daily. Hiring? Showcase your open position for 30 days and connect with top-tier talent.

Activity so far this year:

• 34 new jobs posted
• 6,045 job views
• 507 applications submitted

Connecting architecture talent with opportunity at jobs.aiacolorado.org.

Don’t miss these featured opportunities:

• BIM Manager at Treanor, Inc
• Design Technician at Otak 
• CAD Operator at Vetegrity

The Architect’s Journey to Specification

New research shows architects are eager for greater influence in building product innovation. The newly released 2026 Architect’s Journey to Specification report explores how architects collaborate with manufacturers, adopt new product innovations, and integrate sustainability into specification decisions amid ongoing market and technology shifts. The study provides updated insight into where architects seek technical information, what they value in manufacturer relationships, and how innovation and sustainability influence product selection.

This is the only research that offers a comprehensive view of architects’ specification behaviors, needs, and preferences across firm sizes, regions, and career stages. Read at AIA.

Call for Proposals: Women’s Leadership Summit 2026

Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) brings together the architecture industry’s largest network of women for a premier leadership?experience.?We?seek?bold, engaging proposals?that inspire, educate, and support women at every career stage. Learn more and start your proposal here.

AIA26 registration is now open

Join us in San Diego, June 10–13, for four days of immersive learning, inspiring keynotes, architect-led tours, networking events, and the industry’s largest expo. Save hundreds with early registration rates now through April 10! Register here.

AEF Traveling Scholarships application window closes March 31st

Architecture Education Foundation (AEF)’s 2026 Traveling Scholarships are now open, with applications due March 31. These awards support architects, faculty, and graduates in expanding their design perspective through meaningful travel and study. Most awards may be split between two recipients and give preference to AIA Colorado members, CU faculty, and students where noted. Applicants must submit a completed application, project statement, travel plan, budget, and three letters of reference (not to exceed 10 pages), and recipients agree to share a written summary and presentation following their travels. Learn more about the available scholarships here and apply here.

We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood, and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community. 

Humboldt Sawmill Company, LLC manufactures redwood and Douglas-fir dimensional lumber, timbers, and uppers at the company’s sawmill in Scotia, California. Logs are sourced from company-owned timberlands totaling nearly 450,000 acres, and all products are certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133). Products are available mill direct, as well as through company-owned distribution centers, servicing home improvement retailers and local lumberyards, including locations throughout Colorado.

Allweather Wood, LLC is the largest waterborne preservative treated lumber and plywood manufacturer in the western United States with six manufacturing facilities, including a facility in Loveland, Colorado. Treated products include borate, copper, and fire retardants available in Douglas-fir, Hem fir, and Southern Yellow Pine. 

View AIA Continuing Education Courses offered by Humboldt Sawmill

Find the Right Expertise

Our Allied Members bring depth and diversity to Colorado’s design and construction community. These experienced professionals offer specialized knowledge that complements architectural practice and elevates project outcomes statewide.

Helpful Links:

• Contact AIA Colorado Staff
• RSVP to Events
• AIA Colorado News and Articles

AIA Colorado Firm Directory

• Add your firm to the directory here.

Save the Dates:

• 2026 Awards Celebration: 
  • Mile High Station, Denver, CO
  • Thursday, September 17
• 2026 Practice + Design Conference: 
  • Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO
  • November 11 – 13

Calls for Proposals:

• AEF Traveling Scholarships
  • Submission window closes March 31
• Design + Honor Awards
  • Submission window closes June 26
• Conference Call for Presentations
  • Submission window closes July 31

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) committee

Have news to share? If you or your firm have been featured in the media, published in a design outlet, received an award, or announced a major promotion, email AIA Colorado’s Communications Director Jon Bell.