Colorado Architecture News | 06.05.24

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 06.05.24

In this Newsletter:

AIA COLORADO NEWS

Practice + Design Conference Call for Presentations now open

The Practice + Design Conference brings together the community of architects in Colorado for inspiring insights from global design leaders, advanced practice management methods, and practical innovations from industry partners. We’re interested in hearing from those in our community who are ready to contribute and lead a session at Keystone.

This year’s theme, GENERATE, focuses on what lies ahead for our architecture profession: the sustainability and resiliency needed in our craft, the rapidly advancing technology enabling new models of delivery, and the talent required for our future workforces. Our world is rapidly changing, and no profession is better suited to guide the places we will inhabit than architects. Sub-themes this year will include REGENERATE (sustainability), REGENERATION (resiliency), GENERATIVE (technology, digital fabrication), GENERATION (future of the profession, justice equity diversity & inclusion), and of course DESIGN.

If you have a presentation in mind, visit the link below and start your submission today. Or, if you know someone who would be a great fit, encourage them to create a submission. The submission window closes Wednesday, July 31st at 5pm.

Call for Presentations

2024 Legislative Session Summary Part 1

With the 2024 legislative session in the books, let’s review the bills of interest to AIA Colorado. This year, there were 46 bills on our tracking list out of 705 introduced. Most importantly, our practice act was renewed! Five of the nine bills we supported passed and both two bills we opposed failed. 2024 was a tight budget year so many bills that otherwise had a chance of passing did not have funding available.

Given the number of bills of interest to architects this year, we’ll review highlights in both June newsletters. This week we’ll cover our practice act and the many housing-related bills introduced. Please note that while some bills are still awaiting the governor’s signature, we do not anticipate any more will get vetoed than those already noted as such. Read the Legislative Session Summary Part 1 here.

CKLDP Spring recap

Since its first program here in Colorado in 2017, AIA’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program provides participants the opportunity to form a cohort with other emerging professionals in the field of architecture (sixteen are selected each year from a group of well-qualified applicants), developing their skills on several focused topics in the once-a-month sessions throughout the year. The 2024 program is well underway in its eighth year, with Bootcamp, Sessions 1, and Session 2 having recently taking place. Read a recap of the first three sessions here.

AIA Colorado Fellows Scholarship

Congratulations to CU Denver Architecture students Toni Alexander and Abigail Arredondo, the first-ever awardees of the AIA Colorado Fellows Scholarship. Recently, Toni joined AIA Colorado Fellows and Dean Stephanie Santorico, PhD, for a luncheon to celebrate their award.

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Last week, the AIA Colorado North Local Advisors organized a private tour of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory where members learned about the facility and the legendary design of I.M. Pei.  

The Future of Local Sustainability Codes event, held in Basalt at the Rocky Mountain Institute, enjoyed a great discussion with local community leaders and attendees from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

AIA Colorado Events

Colorado Night at AIA24

Thursday, June 6th, connect with fellow AIA Colorado members and University of Colorado alumni at Colorado Night at AIA24. Meet in the Silver Linden Room, Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C. Join us!
RSVP here

West Virtual Connect

Tuesday, June 11, from 8-9:30am, join AIA Colorado West Director Andi Korber, AIA, and connect virtually with other Western Slope members for a time of conversation. Many of us are facing the same challenges day after day and we will gather regularly to share concerns, goals, and ideas for Western Colorado AIA membership. Hopefully, these conversations will create a springboard for more to come.
RSVP here

Metro Denver Economic Outlook

Wednesday, June 12, from 12-1pm, learn about labor market trends, consumer activity, inflation, projections on what the Fed is going to do, and other trends impacting our region’s economy.
Join waitlist

Mass Timber Construction presentation

Thursday, June 13th, from 4 – 6pm, in Fort Collins, join AIA North members and the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC) for an overview on Mass Timber Construction. Chris Kendall of KL&A Engineers & Builders along with Dan Craig of SAR+ will present an overview of mass timber structures and constructibility concerns designers should be aware of when embarking on projects of this type. This presentation has been submitted for learning credits.
Join waitlist

Getting Started with the AIA 2030 Commitment

June 20th, from Noon – 1pm, join the AIA Colorado Committee on the Environment for Member Education Session #1: Getting Started with the AIA 2030 Commitment. A few of the topics discussed will include:

A Q+A session will follow the presentation.
RSVP here

Populus Hotel tours

Located on a prominent corner site, Populus is designed to reenergize Civic Center Park, connecting the Golden Triangle Creative District to downtown Denver. Join The Denver Local Advisors to tour this soon-to-be-iconic building. Tours have been approved for 1 LU|HSW and are available on the following dates and times:

One River North tour

June 27, from 4-5:30pm, join the Denver Local Advisors to tour the project in the RiNo neighborhood that has certainly provided a captivating story with its crevasses running across its façade. This tour has been approved for 1 LU|HSW.
Join waitlist

Code Class: 2021 International Existing Building Code overview

Friday, June 28th, in Denver, join this one-day seminar addresses the relationship of the International Existing Building Code to existing buildings. The seminar, which includes lunch, focuses on the fundamental requirements on an existing structure that undergoes repair work, alteration, renovation activity or construction of an addition, and the effect of a change in the building’s occupancy classification. Discussion will also include the “Performance Compliance Alternatives” method of evaluating a building. This class has been submitted for approval for 6 LU|HSW.
RSVP here

Upcoming events in July:

RSVP to AIA Colorado Events
View Organization Calendar

Member News

The AIA Colorado community mourns the passing of Marvin Sparn, FAIA.

“I had the good fortune to work with Marvin for about 40 years through AIA Colorado. As many know, Marv was elected president in 1991 and shortly after, due to great staffing difficulties, he and his wife, Yvonne, took over the day-to-day operation of the organization.  For nearly a year, they basically ran AIA Colorado, a daunting task, especially as a volunteer! Marv was elevated to Fellowship in 1996 in recognition of his Service to the Profession. He was instrumental in helping start the AIA Colorado College of Fellows Scholarship Fund, which just recently awarded its first two student scholarships from its $100,000 endowment. From 1998 through 2001, Marvin represent the AIA Western Mountain Region as a Director on the National AIA Board. And in 2001 was awarded the AIA/WMR Silver Medal, the highest honor the six-state region of the AIA can bestow. Marvin was a great personal friend and a prodigious friend to the AIA. His passing should be a reminder of the example he set as a tireless advocate of the profession.” — Phil Gerou, FAIA

“Marvin was the most prolific supporter and attendee of Fellows and AIA activities I have known. He was always there. For those that don’t know even a little about him historically, AIA Colorado was on the verge of bankruptcy when he was president decades ago. He essentially “gave up” his practice to save it and did so successfully when there were only two staff people, one full time, and did it almost alone. Marvin is a true example of selflessness for the benefit of many. One of many examples.” — Gary Desmond, FAIA

“I will always miss his generous and welcoming friendship. His dedication to a more balanced and equitable architectural presence throughout our communities will be missed.” — Blake Chambliss, FAIA

In 2012, Marvin shared meaningful moments from his life journey as well as wide ranging thoughts on architecture with AIA Colorado’s History Committee and you can watch the video here.

Dana Ellis, AIA, AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) National Representative for Colorado, shared her journey to opening her firm on a recent episode of PRACTICE, the SFx interview series. Watch the interview here.

Hord Coplan Macht announced that Colorado-based Principal Matthew Porta, AIA, LEED AP, CDT, has been promoted to Director of Practice, a newly created position for the firm.

Semple Brown is celebrating four decades of cultivating leadership in the design profession and recognizing Associate Principal and Senior Associate team members who have played a critical role in providing the design quality, client service, and workplace culture that have defined the firm. Congratulations AIA members and Associate Principals Nathan Gulash, AIA, and Kaylyn Kirby, AIA!

Partner News

Denver’s mid-century modern homes walking tour

July 11th, join Historic Denver for a walking tour of Denver’s Mid-Century Modern Homes. If you love mid-century modern, you’ll love learning about the Cliff May homes. All 170 of the homes in Denver were built in the Harvey Park neighborhood, designed to be both prefabricated and elegant in their minimalism. Local expert Atom Stevens leads this tour in southwest Denver, while also sharing his personal experience as a longtime owner of a Cliff May home. Learn more and RSVP here.

Contribute case studies about using salvage lumber

The City of Boulder is working with the City of Eugene to support the development of ICC Residential code changes to include salvage lumber for structural and non-structural use. They are asking for case studies using salvage lumber in roofs/floors/walls with the understanding that walls can be structural or non-loadbearing with the hope that this will bring forward the possibility for the reuse and incorporation of salvaged lumber into the design/construction of buildings. As an allowable use, this will make it easier for all to deconstruct for salvage, increase the incorporation into design, and allow for potential new market uses for salvaged lumber. For more information about the purpose of the International Code Council Residential Code Proposal for Salvage Lumber, view here. To learn more about the code’s anticipated development timeline, view here. 
To submit a case study, or get in contact to learn more, email Garian Cike.

Career Corner

The AIA Colorado Job Board is updated daily. Job hunting? Take a peek to discover new opportunities. Hiring? Post your single job for 30 days. Connect with qualified candidates. Here are a few featured job openings:

NEWS AT NATIONAL

Safety Assessment Program (SAP) evaluator training 2024

June 26-27th, join this training to be certified as Building Evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP). This program utilizes volunteers and mutual aid resources to provide professional engineers, architects, and certified building inspectors to assist local governments in safety evaluation of their built environment in an aftermath of a disaster. More info and sign up here.

AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index reflects another decline in April

Architecture firm billings remained soft in April, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 48.3 for the month. The score rose from 43.6 in March but still indicates that billings continue to decline at most architecture firms. Read at AIA

How to understand architecture business conditions using the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index

To help readers better understand how metrics from ABI translate into the reality of design and construction and to equip them with the tools to interpret the numbers, understand their source, and delineate between various categories, Archinect has assembled a series of questions and answers pertaining to the index. Read at Archinect

Young Architects Forum May newsletter

A newsletter from the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). Look out for important news, AIA updates, and ways to engage, no biggie. Read more

AIA Statement on Architect of the Capitol Appointment

AIA congratulates Thomas Austin and looks forward to working with him as he assumes the critical responsibility as Architect of the Capitol. Read at AIA.

AIA24

We often talk about the future. This conference is where the AEC industry gathers to define it, design it, and connect across industries to build it. Join us in Washington, D.C., June 5–8, 2024, for the architecture and design event of the year! View conference website

Premier Partner at AIA24

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

JVA is a consulting engineering firm with offices in Boulder, Fort Collins, Winter Park, Glenwood Springs, and Denver, Colorado. Since 1956, JVA has provided engineering services to architects, owners, building departments, and general contractors in Colorado and nationwide. Our Structural, Civil, and Environmental engineering departments offer highly skilled engineers who complement your experience to fully meet your design and construction needs. We take pride in our commitment to provide excellent service.

Learn More About JVA.

Looking for Additional Resources?

Allied Members are better known as trusted industry colleagues and members of AIA Colorado—they’re the interior designers, the kitchen specialists, the engineering partners, and more who make up our AEC community in Colorado.
View AIA Colorado’s Allied Member Directory.

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© AIA Colorado 2024
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