Colorado Architecture News | 06.18.25

In this Newsletter:

• Design + Honor Awards submission window closes this Friday
• Legislative session recap: Part 2
• Denver Affordable Housing Challenge Announces Jury 
• Member Perspectives: AIA25 Recap
• True Nature Healing Arts Kiva tour
• June 18 Business of Architecture: Employees to Owners & Transition to Leadership
• June 19 Committee on the Environment Session 4
• Partner news
• National news
• Premier Partner spotlight: KL&A

2 Days left to submit!

Submissions for the 2025 AIA Colorado Design and Honor Awards close Friday, June 20, at 5pm. Whether you’re submitting a project or nominating a peer, now is the time to finish your submission so the jury can review your great work. Submit today and help us honor the people and projects driving our profession forward.

• Design Award submission instructions
• Honor Award submission instructions

Don’t miss your chance to be recognized! Start your submission here

2025 Legislative Session Summary • Part 2 now available

2025 was a busy year at the State Capitol for AIA Colorado. Despite a significant state budget shortfall, we tracked more legislation than usual affecting the architecture profession. We identified 26 bills of interest to our members and took positions on 12 of them. We’re proud to report that every bill AIA Colorado supported passed, and every bill we opposed failed.

In Part 1, we took a deep dive into the most impactful bills related to housing and sustainability/resiliency. In Part 2, we cover professional liability, building codes, project funding, and legislation affecting the construction trades.

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge Announces Jury

The City of Denver, AIA Colorado, and Buildner, a leading global design competition platform, have launched an international call for ideas to address Denver’s housing needs with a focus on the role of design excellence. Submissions will be reviewed and selected based on creatively addressing design excellence, sustainability, demonstrating how affordability and design can coexist. We’re pleased to announce the competition’s jury:

• Lucy Begg, AIA, Thoughtbarn, Austin, TX
• Troy Fosler, AIA, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Santa Monica, CA
• Dean Maltz, AIA, Shigeru Ban Architects, New York City
• Katie Swenson, Assoc. AIA, MASS Design Group
• Julien De Smedt, JDS Architects, Denmark
• Andrew Maynard, Austin Maynard Architects, Australia
• Rozana Montiel, Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura, Mexico
• Kendra Garrett, City and County of Denver
• Caeli Hill, City and County of Denver
• Gosia Kung, Denver Housing Authority
• Brenna Maloney, Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, City and County of Denver
• Susan Powers, Urban Ventures, LLC, Denver

Meet the jury here.

Member Perspectives: AIA25 Recap

Last week, AIA Colorado members traveled to Boston for AIA25 and we asked them to share a few reflections from their experience. From inspiring keynotes to conversations with peers across the country, here’s what stood out to members Scott Rodwin, AIA, Kaylyn Kirby, AIA, Andy Nielson, FAIA, Sarah Broughton, FAIA, Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Marisol Gallagher, AIA, and David Beal, AIA. Read it here.

Last week, members in the West enjoyed a tour led by West Director Andi Kober, AIA, Land+Shelter, of True Nature Healing Arts Kiva, a 2024 AIA Colorado Design Award recipient.

June 18 • Business of Architecture: Employees to Owners & Transition to Leadership

Wednesday, June 18th, join AIA Colorado’s Business of Architecture Committee for a roundtable discussion. This is a hybrid event, taking place in person in Denver and via Teams. There will be two parts to the discussion with part one’s topic including discussion about employees to owners and the second part a discussion about the transition to leadership. More information and RSVP here.

June 19 • Committee on the Environment: Beyond the Surface: Vetting Materials for Health, Carbon, and Impact

Thursday, June 19th, at Noon, join AIA Colorado’s Committee on the Environment for virtual, educational session on sustainable design and construction, featuring Green Badgers Founder & CEO Tommy Linstroth. Additionally, we’ll review selection criteria and resources, industry trends, occupant health, and Material Pledge guidelines. More information and RSVP here.

The Western Mountain Region College of Fellows (WMR COF) published its 2025 Awards Issue. Learn about the regions’ newest Fellows—including our own Elizabeth Hallas, FAIA, and Thomas Walsh, FAIA—and view the recipients of the WMR COF’s awards. The issue also spotlights AIA Colorado’s 2024 Architect of the Year AdamWagoner, AIA, and Creating the Regenerative School, the new book by Alan Ford, FAIA. See the Awards issue here.

Fentress Architects acquired by Populous. Read about the acquisition here.

Modern in Denver’s new Summer issue highlights several AIA member projects and stories, notably: 

Renee del Gaudio’s gas-free residential project above Boulder’s Betasso Preserve. 

A West Highlands home designed by Fuse Studio and Davis Urban architects.

Step inside Tomecek Studio’s new live/work space as they celebrate their 20-year firm anniversary. 

Passive House Synergy: Certifier, Engineer, Architect, Consultant in Convo

Learn how teams across Colorado are collaborating on high performance design in diverse climate zones. Panelists include:

• Marisol Sanchez Gallagher, AIA, Owner at Marisol Studios
• Steven Forrester, Principal at DMA Engineering
• Enrico Bonilauri, Co-Founder + Chief Product Officer, Passive House Certifier
• Amanda Poindexter, Full Circle Construction Services, Owner

More info and RSVP here.

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:

• Project Manager at 4240 Architecture
• Architect at Ferguson Pyatt Architects, Inc.
• Project Architect/Project Manager at UNUM collaborative

AIA Trust Launches New Climate Risk Factsheet to Help Architects Design Responsibly—and Protect Their Practice

New tool provides site-specific, climate projections for hazards such as wildfire, flooding, windstorm, and extreme heat—allowing architects to better inform resilient design strategies and document their professional standard of care. View and order Climate Factsheet here.

Soft Business Conditions Persist at Architecture Firms

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) remained in negative territory in May with a score of 47.2, up from 43.2 in April. Any score below 50 indicates a billings decline, although this month’s score indicates that somewhat fewer firms reported a decline in billings in May than in April. Read at AIA.

2025 Annual Business Meeting addresses AI usage in architecture, Fellowship qualifications

Delegates passed three bylaws amendments and one resolution at the annual meeting. Read at AIA.

Three new leaders elected to AIA Board of Directors. 

AIA delegates elected:

• Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, 2026 President-elect/2027 President
• Jason Takeuchi, AIA, as 2026 – 2028 At-Large Director
• Lisa L. Kennedy, FAIA, as 2026–2027 Treasurer

Meet the new delegates at AIA.

Pete Buttigieg calls on architects to lead at a “delicate time” for America

At AIA25, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation joined AIA President Evelyn Lee for a conversation on the vital local role architects play in rebuilding trust and community. Read at AIA.

Allie K. Miller inspires architects to lead in the AI age at AIA25

AI expert Allie K. Miller shared how architects can amplify creativity, boost productivity, and shape a more agile, human-centered future with AI. Read at AIA.

Dami Lee encouraged architects to harness the power of storytelling at AIA25

The architect and YouTube creator demonstrated the value of narrative and emotional connection. Read at AIA.

“Design Is Protest”: Bryan C. Lee Jr. Calls on Architects to Dismantle Oppression, Not Just Design Around It

At AIA25, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award honoree delivers a powerful call for design justice—urging architects to move from passive participation to radical intervention. Read at Architect Magazine.

AIA Awards 2025 Winners Announced in 11 Project Categories

• AIA/ALA Library Building Awards: AIA is proud to partner with the American Library Association to honor the best in library architecture and design. See the winners here.
• Architecture Awards: Honoring the best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type. See the winners here.
• COTE Top Ten Awards: The industry’s best-known award for sustainable design excellence.
• Design for Aging Review Awards: Honoring innovative design solutions to improve the quality of life for older adults. 
• Education Facility Design Awards: Celebrating state-of-the-art learning environments, including early childhood, K-12, alternative, higher education, and non-traditional environments. 
• Healthcare Design Awards: Recognizing the most innovative, functional, and sustainable projects in healthcare and design. 
• Housing Awards: Honoring the best home design that showcases how beauty, safety, sustainability, and comfort come together. 
• Interior Architecture Awards: Celebrating the most innovative and spectacular interior spaces across a range of projects. 
• Justice Facilities Review Awards: Recognizing the best in design for justice architecture. 
• Regional & Urban Design Awards: Honoring the best in urban design, regional and city planning, and community development. 
• Small Project Awards: Recognizing the value and design excellence that architects provide regardless of size and budget. 

For more information on the 2025 AIA Awards and to view the winning projects, visit AIA Awards.

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

KL&A is a firm built around the idea that structural engineers should return to a master builder role by taking ownership of structural systems. A collaborative approach and project centric behaviors are our differentiators, facilitating a more engaging design and construction process. Their philosophy of personal responsibility has generated a corporate culture of problem solving and innovation. They are engineers first and foremost, which they leverage on their steel detailing and steel construction projects. hey also take great pride in sustainability efforts, utilizing mass timber to minimize embodied carbon in our structures, and providing Life Cycle Assessments on our committed projects.

Visit KL&A’s website

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.

Helpful Links:

• Contact AIA Colorado Staff
• AIA Colorado Calendar
• AIA Colorado News and Articles

AIA Colorado Firm Directory

• Add your firm to the directory here.

Save the Dates:

• 2025 Design + Honor Awards
  • Submission window opens Wednesday, April 30th, and closes Friday, June 20th, at 5pm.
  • Celebration Event: September 18th, at Tivoli Turnhalle in Denver, CO.
  • Sponsorship
• 2025 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference
  • May 21: Expo Hall Opens
  • July 1 – July 31: Call for Presentations
  • November 12-14, 2025 at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO.
  • Sponsorship