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Breakout Sessions Are Set for The Work of Tomorrow
The full breakout session lineup for the 2026 Practice + Design Conference is now set. Across three breakout session blocks, attendees will choose from sessions exploring the questions shaping practice right now, from AI and firm leadership to climate, risk, resilience, embodied carbon, and the future of architectural education.
Build a conference experience around the ideas most relevant to your work and practice. Explore the conference schedule here.
The Expo Hall is officially sold out! If you’d like to connect your company with Colorado’s architecture community at this year’s conference, sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Regularly priced registration ends October 31st. Register today!
Business of Architecture: Design Build recap
At a recent AIA Colorado Business of Architecture discussion, architects, builders, landscape architects, and consultants shared lessons from decades of design-build experience. A special thank-you to our panelists, Greg Gidez, FAIA, John Kudrycki, AIA, and Mark Wilcox, for sharing their expertise and leading a thoughtful conversation about choosing the right partners, engaging builders and trades early, designing to the budget, protecting design quality, and building relationships grounded in trust and transparency. One message rose above the rest: “Build the team, and then build the project.” Read the recap here.
Architects in Wildfire Recovery recap
Architects and local government leaders recently shared lessons from wildfire response and rebuilding efforts in Colorado and California. Panelists Scott Rodwin, AIA, Kim Sanchez, Jessica Orlando, AIA, and Weston Burrer, AIA, joined moderator Nikolaus Remus, AIA, to discuss how architects can support affected residents, navigate regulatory and infrastructure challenges, and help communities pursue safer, more resilient recovery. Read the recap for key takeaways from the conversation here.
Winning the Work recap
What makes a client choose one architecture firm over another? In the second session of AIA Colorado’s Marketing for Architects series, developer Chris Viscardi joined architects Andy Rockmore, AIA, Wells Squier, AIA, and Steve Scribner, AIA, for a candid conversation about how firms build trust, communicate value, and secure meaningful projects. The panel explored what clients consider when selecting a team, how firms can differentiate themselves beyond design quality, the importance of relationships and referrals, the growing demands of construction administration, and how specialization and strategic partnerships can create new opportunities. Read the recap and watch the full conversation here.
Health Horizons 26
October 15th, from 10am – 2:30pm, at McCarthy Building Companies in Denver, AIA Colorado’s Academy of Architecture for Health Knowledge Community (AAH) and Women in Healthcare Denver present their third annual Healthcare Symposium, Health Horizons 2026. Oriented to both AEC & healthcare professionals, the event will explore technological advancements, emerging challenges facing clinicians, and the evolving healthcare landscape. Don’t miss this chance to connect with peers, share ideas, and envision the future of healthcare. Speakers include Donna Lynne, DrPH, President and CEO of Denver Health and Dr. Kati Peditto, Environmental Psychologist & Design Researcher. Lunch provided. Register or secure your sponsorship here.
Design Like a Girl seeks mentors
Design Like a Girl, a design mentoring program that introduces a diverse cohort of middle school girls to architecture and allied design professions, is seeking female-identifying design professionals and students to mentor a diverse cohort of middle school girls interested in exploring careers in architecture and allied design fields. Mentoring takes place across three full-day Friday workshops during the 2026–2027 school year. Participation in all three workshops is encouraged but not required. Partial-day shifts and other flexible volunteer options are available. Program Dates are Friday, October 30th, Friday, February 26th, and Friday, April 30th. Register by October 14th. More information here and sign up here.
Funding Opportunity: Large Building Decarbonization Grants
The Colorado Energy Office is accepting applications through October 23 for the second and final funding round of its Large Building Decarbonization (LBD) Showcase Grant Program supporting implementation-ready projects that help large buildings meet Building Performance Colorado targets ahead of their deadline or reduce emissions beyond their selected target.
Awards range from $500,000 to $2 million, with $8.5 million available in this round. Funding can cover 50% of implementation costs for standard buildings and 65% for under-resourced buildings. Eligible projects can include electrification of heating and water heating systems, high-efficiency electric HVAC and heating equipment, onsite renewable energy and energy storage, and other qualifying improvements.
AIA Colorado members are encouraged to share this opportunity with building owner clients who may have eligible projects. Even if your firm isn’t pursuing the funding directly, making clients aware of available resources is another way architects can provide value as trusted advisors.
Already working with clients on Building Performance Colorado upgrades? We’d also like to hear what you’re seeing. Are building owners moving forward with necessary improvements? What challenges are affecting their decisions or timelines? Share your experience with Nikolaus Remus, AIA, AIA Colorado’s Advocacy Engagement Director at nikolaus@aiacolorado.org. Learn more and review eligibility requirements here.