Colorado Architecture News | 06.03.26

In this Newsletter:

• Design + Honor Awards: submission window closes June 26th
• Equity in Practice: Session 2 event recap
• Conference Call for Presentations submission window open
• Colorado ByDesign premieres June 13th
• June 3 • EP/YA South Section happy hour
• June 4 • EP/YA Denver Section happy hour
• June 11 • CRAN VR Workshop and happy hour
• June 11 • Colorado Night at AIA26
• June 16 • Business of Architecture: People Management
• June 17 • Marketing for Architects: From Project to Publication
• June 18 • Pancratia Hall Lofts tour
• June 23 • Equity in Practice Series: Career Advancement, Community Engagement, and Measuring Progress
• June 23 • CKLDP Alumni Meetup at the Rockies
• June 24 • West Virtual Connect: Legislative Update
• June 26 • Boulder Western City Campus tour
• July 2 • Goatbarn Lane tour
• Premier Partner spotlight: IDEAS Awards by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

2026 Design + Honor Awards

June 26 will be here before you know it! Many of our most successful submitters will tell you the same thing: don’t wait until the final week. Starting your submission now allows time to assemble materials, revisit your narrative, and put your best work forward.

View Design Awards submission instructions here. View Honor Awards submission instructions here.

Submission window closes Friday, June 26th, at Noon. Start your submission here.

Equity in Practice: Session 2 event recap

What role do recruitment practices, salary negotiations, and mentorship programs play in creating a more equitable profession? In the second installment of AIA Colorado’s Equity in Practice Series, members explored Chapters 4–6 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, examining how hiring, career advancement, and professional relationships shape workplace culture and long-term success. Through thoughtful discussion and real-world examples, participants identified practical strategies for improving retention, fostering transparent negotiations, and building mentorship and sponsorship networks that support career growth.

Read the full recap for key takeaways, memorable quotes, and actionable ideas that can help strengthen your firm and the profession.

2026 Practice + Design Conference: Call for Presentations is open!

Contribute your expertise and lead a session this Fall in Keystone! Apply to present at this year’s conference by Friday, July 31, 2026, at Noon.

Submit your presentation here.

Colorado ByDesign Premiere 

Yesterday, hosted by SmithGroup, members celebrated the launch of Colorado ByDesign, the newest regional edition of the internationally recognized ByDesign television series. The series will officially premiere on CBS Colorado (KCNC TV Channel 4 Denver) and CBS News Streaming Colorado, beginning June 13th with a five-week local broadcast run, featuring projects and stories from AIA Colorado member architects whose work is shaping communities across the state.

More series info is available here. Be sure to tune in!

June 3 • South Section EP/YA happy hour

Wednesday, June 3rd, at 4:30, at Phantom Canyon, in Colorado Springs, join AIA Colorado South members and the EP/YA Council for a happy hour designed to connect emerging professionals. RSVP here.

June 4 • Denver Section EP/YA happy hour

Thursday, June 4th, at 4pm, at Schoolyard Beer Garden, Join AIA Colorado Denver members and EP/YA Council for a happy hour and connect with other emerging professions. RSVP here.

June 11 • Colorado Night at AIA26

Thursday, June 11th, at 6pm, enjoy connecting with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni during the AIA26! Light appetizers and drinks will be provided. RSVP here.

June 16 • Business of Architecture: People Management

Tuesday, June 16th, join AIA Colorado’s Business of Architecture Committee for a roundtable discussion regarding people management. This is a hybrid event, taking place in person and online. More info and RSVP here.

June 17 • Marketing for Architects: From Project to Publication

Wednesday, June 17th, at Noon, join members for a panel discussion with media and storytelling professionals to learn how architecture firms get published, what editors are actually looking for, and why some stories get picked up while others don’t. More info and RSVP here.

June 18 • Pancratia Hall Lofts tour

Thursday, June 18th, at 4pm, join members for a tour of Pancratia Hall Lofts, an adaptive reuse of a 1930 National Register historic landmark on the campus of Colorado Heights University. Blending historic preservation, this Influence Award Winner at the 2026 ULI Colorado Impact Awards creates unique apartments in an historic chapel, gymnasium and chemistry labs, restoring stained glass, terrazzo floors and vaulted spaces. Replacing historic windows with compatible, energy efficient, operable windows, with free EV charging stations, electric demand-management system, modern all-electric HVAC systems, the building is 100% powered by off-site community solar, setting a new standard for sustainable, equitable housing. Tour approved for 1.5 LU|HSW. More info and RSVP here.

June 23 • Equity in Practice Series: Career Advancement, Community Engagement, and Measuring Progress

Tuesday June 23rd, at Noon, join members and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) committee as we journey through Chapters 7-9 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, which ask heavy questions: Are we growing equitably? Are we engaging communities meaningfully? And how do we know if we’re actually making progress . . . or just making more spreadsheets? Session to be submitted for 1 LU. More info and RSVP here.

June 23 • CKLDP Alumni Meetup at the Rockies

Tuesday, June 23rd, at 6:30pm, join fellow alumni of the Christopher Kelly Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) for a fun evening at Coors Field as the Rockies take on the Boston Red Sox. Reconnect with familiar faces, meet members from other CKLDP classes, and continue building the network that makes this program so valuable. More info and RSVP here.

June 24 • West Virtual Connect: Legislative Update

Wednesday, June 24th, at Noon, join members in the West for a time to gather virtually. This session will recap key legislation from the recent session and explore how new laws may impact licensure, practice, liability, housing, and the built environment. AIA Colorado’s advocacy team will provide context and answer your questions, with a focus on implications for architects practicing in Western Colorado. More info and RSVP here.

June 26 • Boulder Western City Campus tour

Friday, June 26th, at 3pm, join North members for a tour of the new Boulder Western City Campus project, a ground-up mass timber municipal facility currently under construction on the former Boulder Community Hospital site. This one-of-a-kind project is the first of its scale to incorporate Colorado lumber into CLT panels, with more than 40% of the CLT volume sourced from Colorado timber — including select panels made from 100% Colorado lumber. Tour to be submitted for 1.5 LU|HSW. More info and RSVP here.

July 2 • Goatbarn Lane Tour

Thursday, July 2nd, meeting at 3:45pm, join North members for a tour of Goatbarn Lane, a AIA Colorado 2022 Design Award of Excellence Award recipient, 2022 American Institute of Architects National Small Project + Housing Award, and 2022 Residential Design Architecture Award. Designed by Renée del Gaudio, for her father, the home reflects a philosophy of living with less, prioritizing simplicity, durability, and a strong connection to the natural environment. Tour submitted for 1 LU|HSW and limited to 15 AIA members, learn more and RSVP here.

Opportunity to Serve on Denver’s Lower Downtown Design Review Commission

AIA Colorado is seeking interested members for nomination to a vacancy on Denver’s Lower Downtown Design Review Commission (LDDRC). This mayor-appointed volunteer commission reviews exterior alterations, additions, signage, and new construction projects within the Lower Downtown Historic District and plays an important role in preserving one of Denver’s most significant historic neighborhoods.

The current vacancy must be filled by the owner or operator of a business located within the Lower Downtown Historic District. Commissioners meet on the first Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. and serve three-year terms. Candidates should have an interest in historic preservation, architecture, urban design, or related fields. A job description can be found here.

If you are interested in being considered for nomination by AIA Colorado, please contact Nikolaus Remus, AIA, by June 22.

AIA Colorado Job Board

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. 

Featured listings:

• Project Manager at MOA Architecture
• Architectural Job Captain at The Neenan Company
• Senior Architect at Peak Architecture, LLC

Register for AIA26 today

Join us in San Diego, June 10–13! AIA26 delivers what architects need now: Fresh insights, powerful connections, and real solutions for a changing industry. Join us in San Diego to engage with the ideas, people, products, and experiences defining the next era of practice. Register here.

Thursday, June 11th, join us for Colorado Night and enjoy connecting with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni during the AIA26. RSVP here.

Every year, AIA Colorado’s Premier Partner, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) presents the IDEAS Awards to projects that illustrate the possibilities of structural steel design and construction.

AISC looking for projects that showcase the innovative use of structural steel in:

• Adaptive reuse
• Architecture
• Constructability
• Engineering
• Sustainable design and construction

You could even get recognition for your project before breaking ground! The IDEAS|next Award is your opportunity to showcase ingenious sparks, unconventional concepts, and potential technical breakthroughs that are still “on the boards” and may redefine what steel can achieve next.

AISC invites submissions that highlight innovative concepts pushing the boundaries of steel’s versatility, specific components or systems that represent pioneering uses of steel, and digital and material evolution that set a new sustainable and technological precedent in the AEC industry. 

Learn more and start your submission here.

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:

• 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.