Colorado Architecture News | 07.24.24


News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects | 07.24.24

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.

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.

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CKLDP Summer Recap 

At this stage in the summer, AIA Colorado’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program is now officially past the halfway mark. Sessions 3, 4, and 5 focused on community engagement, business development and entrepreneurship, and contracts and negotiation, detailed in this summer’s recap. Continuing to build skills in areas that are oftentimes beyond daily exposure for emerging professionals, 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. 

Read the Summer Recap here.

AIA Colorado Events

Code Class: 2021 IBC Overview

Friday, August 9th, explore the major provisions of the International Building Code. The presentation will include discussions of the provisions addressing the following issues: occupancy classification, types of construction, means of egress, fire sprinklers and fire-resistive-rated construction, administrative provisions and accessibility. This class is designed to provide an introduction to the new provision of the code. This full-day program includes lunch. This class has been approved for 6.0 AIA LU|HSW.

RSVP here

Public Health by Design: Shaping Healthier Environments

Tuesday, August 13th, from 11am – Noon, join AIA Colorado’s Knowledge Community Academy of Architecture for Health for a virtual event to explore the intersection of public health. This session will explore the intersection of public health and design. Learn about essential public health services, health equity, and the social determinants of health (SDOH). Discover strategies to create healthy, equitable communities through case studies on transportation safety, food policy, and housing initiatives. Understand the role of data, community engagement, and multidisciplinary collaboration in enhancing public health outcomes, and learn how designers can effectively partner with public health professionals on healthcare projects. This virtual event has been approved for 1 LU|HSW.

RSVP here

AIA Colorado & ULI Boulder Happy Hour

August 14th, from 5 – 7pm, join AIA Colorado North members and ULI Boulder Committee members for a happy hour and mixer at Postino’s on Pearl Street.

RSVP here

Steel House Denver Construction Tour

Thursday, August 15th, join the Denver Local Advisors for a construction tour of Steel House, a new 12-story office building coming soon to the RiNo neighborhood. open studio architecture and GE Johnson Construction will conduct a 10-minute introduction and overview of a 12-floor building currently under construction in RiNo. From there, the tour will commence up from level 1 to the 12th floor, to tour a typical floor. We will then proceed to level 6 to review the amenities spaces, including outdoor terraces, basketball court, fitness center, and conference spaces. The tour will highlight LEED/well components of the project. Tour has been approved for 1 LU|HSW.

RSVP here

Wild Bear Nature Center Tour

Thursday, August 22nd, join AIA members for a tour of the Wild Bear Nature Center led by Arch11. The architecture of Nederland’s Wild Bear Nature Center aligns with the center’s curriculum as a teaching tool revealing phenomena and fostering a sense of wonder about the natural world. The net-positive design weaves together core values of the Institution: Education, Sustainability, Stewardship, and Community. From project siting to the selection and detailing of materials, the design is bound to the situation of place; both natural and human centric. The building, as a living organism, will provide opportunities to teach about the natural, its physical properties and how we inhabit it. This tour has been approved for 1 LU|HSW.

RSVP here

2024 Design + Honor Awards Celebration Event

September 12th, join AIA Colorado members as we unveil the recipients of the 2024 Design + Honor Awards and celebrate the exemplary work of Colorado architects.

Connect with like-minded professionals, forge new relationships, and expand your industry contacts as we celebrate this year’s Design + Honor Award recipients. We sincerely hope that your whole team, clients, friends, and family can join in the celebration. It will be a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to it!

Member News

Congratulations to Avik K Guha, AIA, for appointment by Governor Polis to The State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors!

Partner News

Mentor students interested in architecture

Northeast Early College is seeking mentors for its students interested in engineering and allied professions like architecture. East High School is also seeking mentors for its Women in STEAM program. Mentoring is an excellent opportunity to impact the lives of high school students who might otherwise not consider architecture a career pathway. The commitment is typically once per month for 2.5 hours from September through April. If you’re interested, start by reviewing the mentor job description and submit an application. For cohort preference in the application, you can select in any order: NEC (Northeast Early College) Engineering Group-Coach, EngineeringConnect, or East High School Women in STEAM Program – 2024-2025, or another program focus or location of interest to you. The application deadline is July 31st. Once applied, you will be required to complete a background check and then attend a coach mentor training session, a 2-hour orientation and training taking place this Fall. Questions? Reach out to sarah@sarahgoldblatt.com.

Shigeru Ban in Conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist at Aspen Art Museum

Friday, August 2nd, the Aspen Art Museum is hosting a conversation between Shigeru Ban and Hans Ulrich Obrist. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the museum’s renowned building on the corner of Hyman and Spring streets, Ban and Obrist will discuss the architect’s singular approach to materials, and his ongoing efforts in disaster relief architecture. This event is free to attend and space is limited. Register here.

Colorado Green Building Guild’s Annual Green Home Tour

Sign up your home to be part of the Colorado Green Building Guild’s Annual Green Home Tour on September 14th! The tour highlights some of the most innovative green building projects in the Front Range and helps to promote the collaborative exchange of ideas on green building in the community. To get involved or sign up your home, fill out this intake form here, or direct questions to admin@cgbg.org. More information about the event can be found here.

City of Denver hosting two virtual town halls on the citywide ADUs project

As part of the Denver’s ongoing effort to expand housing availability and choice, the city is looking at potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code, zoning map, and Former Chapter 59 zoning to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all residential areas of the city. You’re invited to participate in an upcoming virtual town hall on Zoom to learn more about the proposed zoning code text amendment and what it might mean for your property. The same information will be presented at both town halls. Additionally, a draft of the text amendment will be available for public review and comment in the coming days on the Citywide ADUs project page
Town Hall #1: Thursday, August 8, 6 pm|  Town Hall #2: Wednesday, August 21, 6 pm

Earthworks and Land Art of Herbert Bayer

Join landscape architect Ann Mullins, on a tour of the earthworks and land art of Herbert Bayer on the Bauhaus-inspired, Bayer-designed Aspen Institute Campus. Offered on select Fridays at 11:00 am. More information and registration found here

Denver Zoning Code text amendment bundle public review draft available

Just like infrastructure needs maintenance to stay in top condition, the Denver Zoning Code also needs regular upgrades to continue to respond to the needs of the city. The goal of text amendment bundles is to keep our zoning code modern, clear, and user-friendly. Review and comment on the public draft here.

Nominations now open for 2025 Mayor’s Design Awards!

Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, urban design, and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists, and others for their creative contributions to Denver’s built environment through excellence and innovation. Many different types of projects are eligible. Mayor Mike Johnston and the Department of Community Planning and Development are seeking nominations for the Mayor’s Design Awards to be handed out in early 2025. Nominations are due Friday, November 1, 2024. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony early next year. Nominate a project here.

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

Young Architects Forum July newsletter

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

Next to Lead Applications Are Open

To create an architecture profession that serves everyone, we must include everyone. That’s why AIA created Next to Lead—an association and professional leadership program that removes barriers to AIA volunteer leadership positions for racially and ethnically diverse women in architecture. Racially and ethnically diverse women who are AIA members and have at least five years of experience in architecture are invited to apply for the upcoming 2024 Next to Lead program! Apply at AIA.

Billings at Architecture Firms Remain in Decline, AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index Reports

Business conditions remained soft at architecture firms in June with the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reporting a score of 46.4. Read at AIA.

Construction spending gains projected this year, expected to stall in 2025

Spending on nonresidential buildings is projected to increase more than 7% this year, according to The American Institute of Architects mid-year Consensus Construction Forecast. The spending will slow to only 2% in 2025 as market challenges continue to impact the pace of growth. Read at AIA.

Premier Partner at AIA24

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 the Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood Premier Partner page to view AIA CES course offered, see case studies, and learn about specification information.

Allied Membership

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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