Colorado Architecture News | 12.03.25

News from the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects

12.03.25

In this Newsletter:

AIA COLORADO’S

NEWS

Mayor Johnston, the City of Denver, and AIA Colorado to Reveal Winners of International Affordable Housing Design Challenge on December 10

Colorado architects and City of Denver representatives will gather on Wednesday, December 10th at 5pm for the public reveal of the winning entries in Denver’s Affordable Housing Challenge. Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the event, which takes place at the Denver Arts Complex, 1245 Champa Street. 

The competition, organized by the City of Denver, AIA Colorado, and Buildner attracted hundreds of submissions from around the world. Entrants explored how affordability, sustainability, and design excellence can be combined to create innovative housing solutions tailored to Denver’s local context. Submissions were reviewed by a jury of architects, City of Denver leaders, Council members, and affordable housing developers. 

Architects are welcome to invite their developer and media friends! All attendees must register in advance and no walk ups will be allowed entrance. Read more here and RSVP for the announcement event here.

2025 Practice + Design Conference 

If you missed this year’s Practice + Design Conference and its corresponding coverage, catch up with session recaps and key takeaways from the keynote presentations and pick up insights from breakout sessions and the tech connect event. Also, view and download photos from the conference, and feel free to share them! When you do, please credit AIA Colorado and Amp Media. View conference coverage here. 

All attendance for the conference has been reported and available on your transcript. If you have any questions, please contact Rylee Younger.

Congrats to Mary Fiore, AIA, for winning the $100 gift card from a random draw of conference attendees who completed the attendee survey!

Is your AIA record up to date?

If you haven’t do so lately, this is your reminder to check your transcript to ensure it meets AIA and State requirements for continuing education. This is a license renewal year and as part of that process, you’ll need to confirm that you’ve completed the continuing education requirements:

For specific Colorado-related CE requirement questions, visit DORA here. If you need to take additional courses, find them at AIAU.

2026 Sponsorships |
2026 Sponsorships |

Secure you 2026 sponsorship opportunities

We’re opening early access to 2026 sponsorships for anyone ready to plan ahead. By purchasing before the end of the year, you can use remaining 2025 budget dollars, lock in discounted rates, and guarantee early access to next year’s most in-demand opportunities! AIA Colorado has a range of opportunities for you to engage throughout the year as a Premier Partner, and two signature events in the Fall. Learn more here.

AIA COLORADO’S

EVENTS

Dec 9 • West Virtual Connect

Tuesday, December 9th, from Noon – 1pm, connect with Western Slope AIA members for a discussion recapping the past and upcoming government affairs work of AIA Colorado with a focus on the impacts in Western Colorado. There will be a brief presentation to get the conversation started, following by Q+A and discussion. More info and RSVP here.

Dec 10 • Denver’s Affordable Housing Challenge: Celebration of the Winning Projects

Wednesday, December 10th, at 5pm, join leaders in architecture, development, the City of Denver, and Buildner for the unveiling of the Denver Affordable Housing Challenge winning projects. We will host the celebration at the Denver Arts Complex to reveal the top submissions from an international ideas competition focused on design excellence, sustainability, and affordability. Light refreshments will be provided and capacity is limited, so please RSVP. All attendees must register in advance! More info and RSVP here.

Dec 10 • Business of Architecture: Owner Burnout

Wednesday, December 10th, networking from 5:30 – 6pm, roundtable discussion from 6 – 7:30pm. Join in person or online for a discussion about owner burnout. Topics to be discussed include: 

This is a hybrid event with hosted locations in Denver and Carbondale, as well as online via Teams. RSVP here.

Dec 15 • AIA Colorado Denver Section + IMEG Holiday “Roll with Us” Bowling Party

Monday, December 15th, from 6 – 8pm, join AIA Colorado Denver Section members and AIA Colorado’s Premier Partner IMEG for a Holiday “Roll with Us” Bowling Party at the Denver Athletic Club. This holiday season, we’re trading blueprints for bowling pins and specs for strikes! Join us as we celebrate a year of building great things together—no hard hats required (but festive sweaters are encouraged!). More info and RSVP here.

Dec 16 • North Section Holiday Happy Hour

Tuesday, December 16th, from 5:30 – 7:30pm, join the AIA Colorado North Section members for a Holiday Happy Hour Party at Teocalli Cocina in Longmont (460 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501). Festive holiday sweaters encouraged! RSVP here.

Dec 17 • West Section Holiday Happy Hour

Wednesday, December 17th, from 5:30 – 7:30pm, join the AIA Colorado West Section members for a Holiday Happy Hour Party at Carbondale Clay Center (135 Main St. Carbondale, CO 81623). RSVP here.

Dec 18 • Cancel Culture in Climate

Thursday, December 18th, at 8am, join AIA Colorado’s Committee on the Environmentto meet Jenny Morgan and discuss her book Cancel Culture in Climate. This event is open to AIA members and RSVP is here.

Dec 18 • South Section Holiday Happy Hour

Thursday, December 18th, from 5:30 – 7pm, join the AIA Colorado South Section members for a Holiday Happy Hour Party at COATI, in Colorado Springs (

514 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903). RSVP here.

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CAREER CORNER

JOB BOARD UPDATES

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:

AIA Colorado Job Board

AIA COLORADO’S

PREMIER PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

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

AIA COLORADO’S

ALLIED MEMBERS

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.

Become an Allied member

Helpful Links:

AIA Colorado Firm Directory

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