In this Newsletter:
Thursday, 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.
We look forward to welcoming you at 5:30pm to Mile High Station where you’ll enjoy delicious food and signature craft cocktails, and an event program beginning right at 7pm. Mile High Soul Club will be spinning vinyl records and photographers will be on hand to capture photos of winners and attendees on the red carpet in front of the photo wall.
Connect with like-minded professionals, forge new relationships, and expand your industry contacts as we celebrate this year’s 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.
Buy your tickets soon as Late Registration goes into effect August 31st!
Boulder County is proposing to reduce the maximum allowed size of houses in unincorporated portions of the county. While this policy is being finalized, the County is proposing a moratorium on applications for houses greater than the nearby median home size. AIA Colorado believes a moratorium will do immediate harm to all our members affected. Existing projects not ready to be immediately submitted for review will go on hold and in many cases be cancelled entirely. If the final policy adoption results in widespread inability of property owners to proceed with their preferred house projects, it will result in long-term negative consequences for architects affected.
If your architecture practice does residential work in unincorporated Boulder County, we encourage you to review the proposed changes and public meeting details here, then share how the moratorium will affect you. In person and online testimony on the moratorium (not the final policy details) will be accepted at a September 17th public meeting with the Boulder County Commissioners. You may submit letters to them ahead of time to Ethan Abner, County Planner (longrange@bouldercounty.gov) by 5pm, September 16th.
If you have questions about this effort or are looking for advice on how to effectively participate in the upcoming public meeting, please contact Nikolaus Remus at 303-228-3914 or nikolaus@aiacolorado.org.
Thank you to Board President-Elect Scott Rodwin, AIA for bringing this to AIA Colorado’s attention as an affected architect. Members are also welcome to contact Scott with questions or concerns about this effort.
After a successful program launch last school year, the AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee is looking forward to offering the program to students this year and is seeking mentors to participate in the workshops this year. Design Like a Girl introduces a diverse cohort of middle school girls to architecture and allied design professions. Three full-day workshops, on Fridays throughout the 2024-2025 school year, allow students to learn first-hand about these dynamic careers from local professional women and design students. The committee is seeking female-identifying design professionals and students to guide, instruct, and inspire participants throughout each workshop. Multiple volunteer options are available. More info and signup here.
This October 15th, join the Academy of Architecture for Health and Women in Healthcare for an engaging half-day symposium on the future of healthcare. We will explore emerging industry-wide issues including challenges faced by nurses and clinicians, increasing costs and construction schedules, and technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence. Together, we will discuss both the challenges and opportunities ahead, seeking to navigate these changes while prioritizing the human experience.
This event, held at the CSU Spur facility in Denver, is tailored for those in care delivery and healthcare facility design and construction, with continuing education credits provided for a variety of disciplines. The day starts with networking and a light breakfast, followed by guest presentations and a lively panel discussion. After a brief break, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a design thinking workshop and envision the future of healthcare together. More info and register here.
Introduced in October 2023, the auto-renewal program offers AIA members a streamlined renewal process and ensures a member will always have an active membership. New and renewing members can enroll in the autorenewal option online before checkout. Members enrolled in autorenewal will have their dues automatically debited on December 31, 2024. The cutoff date for 2025 auto-renewal enrollments is September 30, 2024. Program enrollments occurring between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, will apply to the 2026 renewal year.
Join us at Keystone Resort for Tech Connect November 13th and GENERATE 2024 Practice + Design Conference November 14 – 15. Stay tuned for upcoming keynote speaker announcements, breakout session details, and Tech Connect event info. Early registration is now open through August 31st. If you already know that you’re planning to attend, lock in your registration today and save!
Know a company that serves your firm and clients really well? The AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference expo hall is now open and only a few booths remain!
Thursday, September 5th, 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 for Sept 5th
Tuesday, September 10th, join 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 quarterly to share concerns, goals, and ideas for Western Colorado AIA membership.
Watch Session #1: Getting Started with the AIA 2030 Commitment here.
Wednesday, September 11th, join the AIA Colorado Committee on the Environment for Member Education Session #2: Implementation & Case Studies. Don’t worry if you missed Session #1, there will be helpful information and discussion whether you are already participating in the AIA 2030 Commitment or are looking to join. A few of the topics discussed will include: A few of the topics discussed will include:
A Q+A session will follow the presentation. This virtual Zoom session has been submitted for 1 LU|HSW. RSVP here.
During the month of September, Boulder will be alive with Month of Modern (MoM). Founded in 2014 as a celebration of architecture, design, lifestyle, art and culture—MoM’s mission is to cultivate a conversation about Colorado modern, and present the Boulder region as one of the nation’s most vibrant hubs of modern design. This year’s MoM kicks off Friday, September 6th, with “Architecture after AI” at Bus Stop Gallery. See all of this month’s MoM events here.
Join Walking Mountains, CORE, and CLEER for a series of community discussions on building a sustainable future in Eagle, Pitkin, and Garfield counties. These sessions will explore how our rural Colorado mountain communities can achieve net zero buildings, focusing on the future of energy codes, workforce development, and the resources needed to make it happen. At each session, you’ll discover the innovative work underway to:
Following a brief presentation, the floor will open to hear from attendees. Organizers want to hear what you need to help our region meet its climate goals and how to work together over the next decade. The full “Listen and Learn” session will be 1 hour, with an optional half hour of networking after. Be part of the conversation that will shape the future of our mountain communities! Events will be held:
Learn more and RSVP here.
Saturday, September 14th, the CGBG Green Home Tour is a self-guided event that features a series of in-person open houses with unique sustainable features. Attendees can look forward to a diverse collection of architectural styles across newly constructed homes, remodels, energy retrofits, multi-family projects, all electric homes, and certified Passive House projects. Previous tours have hosted over 400 attendees including curious college students, industry professionals, and homeowners who are eager to see latest in high performance construction and learn about the techniques that make the magic happen. At the tour you can expect:
Visit the event website here. Buy tickets here.
Lectures are held at the Second Floor Gallery, CU Denver. More info and RSVP here.
Denver Architecture Foundation’s signature event is exactly as it sounds – an opportunity to open the doors to the places and spaces that make the Mile High City such a special city in which to live, work, study and play. This year, we will explore Denver’s past, present, and future with our theme Denver Through Time September 26-29. Learn more here.
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.
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:
Back by popular demand, AIA Trust Week is back! With a free full week of two daily webinars, take advantage of a total of 10 sessions and 15 learning units!
Join AIA to explore what you need in order to Start your firm, Run your firm, and also – when the time comes – transition your firm to new ownership. This informative week will not only follow information we provide to you for every stage of your career in our guides, but also will feature informative sessions on all of the amazing benefits that are such a great member value you have as an AIA member. Learn from former Trustees, plan providers including Victor/CNA, Equitable, Gallagher, LegaLine and even some guest sessions by our friends at the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and well known firm Lee/Shoemaker – 10 learning sessions, each offering 1.5 AIA CEU, one great week. See course descriptions and register here.
This October 8–10, 2024, held in Chicago, Illinois, experience the industry’s premier event dedicated to accelerating women into leadership positions in architecture, design, and the allied building industries. WLS 2024 is three days of networking, education, community, and inspiration designed to change the workplace experience and help create gender equity for women in AEC. Learn more and register here.
A newsletter from the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). Look out for important news, AIA updates, and ways to engage, no biggie. Read here.
Submissions are currently open for the 2025 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Architectural Education, Architecture Firm Award, Edward C. Kemper Award, Fellowship, Gold Medal, Honorary Fellowship, and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award. Begin your submissions here.
We’re proud to highlight one of AIA Colorado’s Premier Partners, The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), and look forward to their ongoing support and involvement serving Colorado’s architecture community.
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), headquartered in Chicago, is a non-partisan, not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, market development, and advocacy. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information. View AISC website.
This competition, established by The American Institute of Steel Construction in 2018, recognizes visionary emerging architects, architecture faculty, and graduate students for design concepts that embrace innovations in steel as a primary structural component.
In short: We’re looking for your version of the future. What will people build with, live in, work in, or play in?
The Forge Prize is a unique opportunity to experiment with a conceptual design without limit to scope or complexity–the sky really is the limit here, and the industry is paying attention.
Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. Central on November 22, 2024. Enter here
Friday, September 6th, Living Design Studios (LDSI) is hosting “Metalpalooza”, a metalworking event that will include demos, competitions, networking, a sculpture unveiling, festivities for kids of all ages, dinner, and music to mark the 30th anniversary of the company. Part of the event includes a two hour class covering project talks, a tour, blacksmithing demo, a patina demo, and a panel on architecture and technology (2 AIA CES). Learn more about Metalpalooze and RSVP here.
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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