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THE POWER OF: 2025 Practice + Design Conference
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Keystone for the 2025 Practice + Design Conference and to those who followed along from your studios across the state. Whether you were onsite or catching updates from colleagues, this year’s gathering made one thing clear: THE POWER OF is not just a theme, but a call to action for Colorado architects.
Over three days, attendees explored the power of design to drive meaningful change, the power of technology to reshape practice, the power of a resilient and supported workforce, and the power of architects to lead with clarity in a rapidly evolving world.
Session Summaries and Conference Photos
New this year, catch up with session recaps and key takeaways from this year’s conference sessions! On the AIA Conference webpage, you’ll find write-ups and imagery from our keynote presentations delivered by Hank Koning, FAIA, and Julie Eizenberg, FAIA, Mark Bacon, AIA, Michelle Delk, and David Zach, plus insights from eleven breakout sessions and all three tech connect sessions!
Also, view and download photos from the conference, and feel free to share them! When you do, please credit AIA Colorado and Amp Media.
2026 Call for Volunteers
The 2026 AIA Colorado Call for Volunteers is now open. We are seeking members to serve on committees that reflect our mission, vision, and values. Volunteering with AIA Colorado is a great way to develop leadership skills, connect with colleagues, and help shape the future of the profession. We encourage candidates from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds including career stage, firm size, practice type, location, and personal demographics. Apply today and make your impact on architecture in Colorado! Application window closes Monday, December 1st, at 11:59pm. More information is available here.
2026 Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) aims to train the next generation of leaders in architecture through a series of nine half-day sessions. The curriculum focuses on honing skills like:
- Entrepreneurship and firm management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Negotiation skills
- Client development
- Community leadership
- Understanding industry trends
Each year, this competitive program accepts 16 emerging professionals to collaborate,
learn together, and develop as leaders in architecture. This program is ideal for members who are eager to advance in their career and either have not yet become a licensed architect, or have been licensed for 10 years or less.
Applications for the 2026 Class are now available with the window closing Monday, December 1st, at 11:59pm. More information about the program can be found here and the application link is here.
2026 Ascend Mentorship Program
The Ascend Program connects emerging architecture professionals with mid-career architects through mentorship as an intentional first step into the profession. These connections will support EP’s in the early stage of their careers, guiding through challenges, setting goals, and developing the skill set to succeed. Ascend groups are organized locally.
Program Outcomes:
- Guidance
- Awareness and identification of culture of architecture profession. Training on professional etiquette and expectations. Negotiate the adjustments from academia to profession.
- Support, Problem Solving
- Preparing for and dealing with challenges in the working environment.
- Career Planning, Goal Setting
- Understanding the different career paths in architecture. Setting goals in a career and developing a pathway to achieve those goals.
Mentors and Mentees for the 2026 program are now invited to apply now until Monday, December 1st, at 11:59pm. More information about the program can be found here and the application link is here.
America ByDesign
Season 4’s finale episode features two projects by AIA Colorado members. Click on the video thumbnails to skip ahead to the Colorado project segments.
Kyle Webb, AIA, and Lauren Walton, AIA, of KH Webb Architects, show us Wild Rose, a luxurious custom home in Avon.
Wells Squier, AIA, and Rachel Kolski, AIA, of Anderson Hallas Architects, take us through the Gunnison County Library, an AIA Colorado Design Award Honorable Mention recipient.
In Season 5’s premier episode of American ByDesign, Randy Shortridge, AIA, and Anne Nelsen, AIA, of [au]workshop + urbanists, give viewers a tour of the thoughtful project, Confluence, in Fort Collins.
Do you have a project that you’d like to see in a future America ByDesign episode? The show’s producers are looking for more Colorado projects! Information about the show and next steps can be found here.