This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We\'ll assume you\'re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More
Committee Members
Brittany Goldsmith, AIA, Chair
Alex Markovich, AIA, Secretary
Paul Adams, AIA
Andrea Arias, Assoc. AIA
D.A. Bertram, FAIA
Weston Burrer, AIA
TJ Carvis, AIA
Christy Collins, AIA
Ignacio Correa-Ortiz, AIA
Kevin Eronimous, AIA
Lauren Folkerts, AIA
William Furman, AIA
John Glenn, AIA
Chris Green, FAIA
Michael Holtz, FAIA
Jessica Hunter, AIA
Tana Lane, AIA
Alex Markovich, Assoc. AIA
Terra Mazzeo, AIA
David Needleman, AIA
Joede Schoeberlein, AIA
Scott Shea, AIA
Brian Sipes AIA
Zachary Taylor, AIA
Caleb Tobin, AIA
Mike Wisneski, AIA
Alfred Zarlengo
2026 Meeting Dates
Jan 8
Feb 5
Mar 5
Apr 2
May 7
Jun 4
Jul 2
Aug 6
Sep 3
Oct 1
Nov 5
Dec 3
News, Articles, and Event Recaps
- 2026 Legislative Recap
The 2026 legislative session felt quieter than in recent years for AIA Colorado due to legislators focusing on a $1.5 billion budget deficit. This played out in two ways. First was simply that legislators had to make some tough decisions about what to cut and that took up a significant portion of their time in… Read more: 2026 Legislative Recap - West Virtual Connect: 2026 Legislative Session UpdateWednesday, June 24, 2026 Members from across Colorado’s Western Slope gathered for a West Virtual Connect roundtable focused on the outcomes of the 2026 legislative session and the issues most likely to affect architects practicing in mountain and rural communities. Led by AIA Colorado Advocacy Engagement Director Nikolaus Remus, AIA, and West Section Director Will… Read more: West Virtual Connect: 2026 Legislative Session Update
- 2026 Legislative Session Update
March 31, 2026: Legislative Session Update It’s been an interesting year at the state capitol as legislators grapple with an extreme budget deficit while still trying to chip away at challenges such as housing and climate change. It’s been a very active year for housing bills in particular, with a common theme of the state… Read more: 2026 Legislative Session Update - How Architects Can Take Advantage of New Colorado Housing PoliciesThe session “How Architects Can Take Advantage of New Colorado Housing Policies” explored two groundbreaking legislative measures in Colorado: House Bill 25-1273: Residential Building Stair Modernization and House Bill 25- 1272: Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing. Led by AIA Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Sean Jursnick, AIA, and John Glenn, AIA, the session provided architects with actionable insights into adapting their… Read more: How Architects Can Take Advantage of New Colorado Housing Policies
- AIA Leadership Summit 2026
AIA Leadership Summit 2026 is the premier advocacy and leadership training event for AIA chapter leaders. The annual event is always one of AIA’s best attended leadership events—offering attendees a unique platform to engage in critical policy discussions with lawmakers while enhancing their leadership skills. One component of the Leadership Summit experience is Hill Day,… Read more: AIA Leadership Summit 2026 - 2026 Architects Day at the Capitol
On Friday, January 30, AIA Colorado members gathered at the Colorado State Capitol for our 2026 Architects Day at the Capitol, an important milestone in our ongoing advocacy work and relationship-building with state legislators. The morning brought architects directly into conversations shaping Colorado’s future, reinforcing the value of design expertise in policy discussions around housing,… Read more: 2026 Architects Day at the Capitol - 2025 Legislator Awards
AIA Colorado and our Government Affairs Committee were proud to present seven awards this year to state legislators. In addition to our two annual awards, a busy legislative session justified additional recognition for our growing number of allies at the state Capitol. Rep. Andrew Boesenecker is our 2025 Legislator of the Year for his dedication… Read more: 2025 Legislator Awards - 2025 Legislative Session Summary • Part 2
2025 was a busy year at the State Capitol for AIA Colorado. Despite a significant state budget shortfall, we tracked more legislation than usual affecting the architecture profession. We identified 26 bills of interest to our members and took positions on 12 of them, listed below. We’re proud to report that every bill AIA Colorado… Read more: 2025 Legislative Session Summary • Part 2 - 2025 Legislative Session Summary • Part 12025 was a busy year at the State Capitol for AIA Colorado. Despite a significant state budget shortfall, we tracked more legislation than usual affecting the architecture profession. We identified 26 bills of interest to our members and took positions on 12 of them, listed below. We’re proud to report that every bill AIA Colorado… Read more: 2025 Legislative Session Summary • Part 1
- 2025 Legislative Session HighlightsAIA Colorado is proud to stand up for the profession as your legislative champion. This year was one of our most successful sessions ever. We took a position on 12 bills and each one got the result we lobbied for! We’ll publish our full report next month, but here are the major highlights from the… Read more: 2025 Legislative Session Highlights
- Q2 Letter from the President
Hello AIA members! One of AIA Colorado’s most important roles is the advocacy that it does on behalf of its members’ interests. The AIA Colorado staff, Board of Directors, and committees have been busy for the last few years and we are incredibly fortunate to have Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director, Jerry Johnson, lobbyist, and Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA, CEO,… Read more: Q2 Letter from the President - AIA Leadership Summit 2025
AIA Leadership Summit 2025 is the premier advocacy and leadership training event for AIA chapter leaders. The annual event is always one of AIA’s best attended leadership events—offering attendees a unique platform to engage in critical policy discussions with lawmakers while enhancing their leadership skills. One component of the Leadership Summit experience is Hill Day,… Read more: AIA Leadership Summit 2025 - AIA Colorado 2025 Day at the Capitol recapBuilding upon our success last year in support of our practice act renewal, AIA Colorado returned to the state capitol this year to meet with legislative allies and share our expertise on policy issues important to the architecture profession. We had a group of twenty members across four different committees to talk about construction defect… Read more: AIA Colorado 2025 Day at the Capitol recap
- 2024 Legislator AwardsThe AIA Colorado Government Affairs Committee is thrilled to announce Sen. James Coleman as the recipient of our 2024 Legislator of the Year award and Rep. William Lindstedt as 2024’s Outstanding New Legislator. Thank you to both Sen. Coleman and Rep. Lindstedt for their continued support of the architectural profession’s interests at the Capitol as… Read more: 2024 Legislator Awards
- ARCpac and ARCsdc announce 2024 recipients of campaign contributions
ARCpac and ARCsdc accept contributions from AIA members and use these funds to support state legislative race candidates who support the architecture profession. Issues affecting the architects at the capitol are non-partisan and we have allies on both sides of the aisle. Below are the candidates supported in 2024. With the successful effort to renew… Read more: ARCpac and ARCsdc announce 2024 recipients of campaign contributions - AIA Colorado 2024 Legislative Session Summary Part 2With the 2024 legislative session in the book, let’s review the bills of interest to AIA Colorado. This year, there were 46 bills on our tracking list out of 705 introduced. Most importantly, our practice act was renewed! Five of the nine bills we supported passed and both bills we opposed failed. 2024 was a… Read more: AIA Colorado 2024 Legislative Session Summary Part 2
- AIA Colorado 2024 Legislative Session Summary Part 1With the 2024 legislative session in the books, let’s review the bills of interest to AIA Colorado. This year, there were 46 bills on our tracking list out of 705 introduced. Most importantly, our practice act was renewed! Five of the nine bills we supported passed and both two bills we opposed failed. 2024 was… Read more: AIA Colorado 2024 Legislative Session Summary Part 1
- 2024 Colorado Legislative Bills Tracked To Date
Published March 5, 2024 The 2024 legislative session is one of the most interesting for architects we’ve seen in years and we’ve only just hit the halfway point. AIA Colorado is taking positions on the following bills so far: HB24-1008: Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors AIA position: Oppose/amend Status: Passed in first committee hearing and… Read more: 2024 Colorado Legislative Bills Tracked To Date - AIA Colorado meets with Colorado Congressional delegation
AIA Colorado was in Washington, D.C. for the AIA Leadership Summit and also on the Hill discussing issues that are important to Colorado architects. “Architects can change the course of history. On a fly-in day in February, hundreds of architects convened and flooded the Capitol halls visiting congressional members, all discussing three important legislative bills… Read more: AIA Colorado meets with Colorado Congressional delegation - 2023 Legislator AwardsAIA Colorado recently presented our 2023 legislators awards to Senator Dylan Roberts as our 2023 Legislator of the Year and Representative Jenny Willford as our 2023 Outstanding New Legislator. Despite representing very different districts, both Senator Dylan Roberts and Representative Jenny Willford share a number of the same qualities. They are smart. They focus on the needs… Read more: 2023 Legislator Awards
- Letter From 2024 AIA Colorado PresidentI hope everyone has had an inspiring start to the new year. What’s in store for you this year? Well, we have the Architecture Practice Act, Design + Honor Awards, Practice & Design Conference, and opportunities for engagement brought to you by your fellow member volunteers. Architect’s Practice Act Renewal 2024 is a critically important year… Read more: Letter From 2024 AIA Colorado President
- Q&A With Vail Town Council Candidate Brian Sipes
I graduated from the University of Kansas in 1991 and immediately plunged into community advocacy. In 1992, I co-chaired the inaugural local chapter of COTE under the direct mentorship of Bob Berkebile and Kirk Gastinger, the founders of the national COTE for those who may not recognize the names. It’s truly remarkable to see how… Read more: Q&A With Vail Town Council Candidate Brian Sipes - 2023 Legislative Session Recap – Part 1
With the 2023 Colorado legislative session behind us, let’s take a look at the bills that will most impact the architecture profession. Thank you to our Government Affairs Committee members and especially the legislative subcommittee members who collectively reviewed all 610 bills introduced. 2023 Legislative Subcommittee Roster And, as always, a special thanks to our… Read more: 2023 Legislative Session Recap – Part 1 - 2022 Legislator Awards Presentation
Both Rep. Bird and Sen. Simpson approach issues as problems to be solved, choose issues that will help the constituents and communities they serve, while avoiding ideological battles. They are smart, decent people, and fair in their approach to issues. AIA Colorado is lucky to have them as champions. Jerry Johnson, lobbyist and Honorary Member… Read more: 2022 Legislator Awards Presentation - SB23-213: Members Weigh the Pros and Cons of the Land Use and Housing Bill
This year’s legislative session has produced one of the most contentious bills we have ever seen that affects the architecture profession in SB23-213: Land Use. While most everyone agrees that we have a shortfall across the state for housing units in general, and for affordable housing in particular, this bill takes a heavy-handed approach that’s caused… Read more: SB23-213: Members Weigh the Pros and Cons of the Land Use and Housing Bill - Letter from the President
Hello AIA Colorado Members, It is my honor to be your 2023 AIA Colorado President. Thank you for your trust and support as we have embarked on another year full of exciting opportunities and fulfillment of goals. I hope that 2023 has started strong for each of you and that you share my optimism surrounding… Read more: Letter from the President - 2022 Elections and How They Impact The Architecture ProfessionThe dust has settled on the 2022 elections and we’d like to let our members know what to expect as we look ahead to the 2023 legislative session here in Colorado. Races for all four statewide offices (Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer) always occur during presidential midterm elections. This year all four… Read more: 2022 Elections and How They Impact The Architecture Profession
- 2022 ARCpac / ARCsdc ContributionsThe Architects of Colorado Political Committee (ARCpac) and Architects of Colorado Small Donor Committee (ARCsdc) empower architects to play an active role in the election process. Through these efforts, AIA Colorado members can collectively donate to candidates who fight for issues on behalf of architects. In 2022, we supported 17 state legislative candidates that align… Read more: 2022 ARCpac / ARCsdc Contributions
- Historic Evening with Denver Mayorsby Margarita Gonzalez, Assoc. AIA Whether you like politics or not, it deeply affects our profession. On Thursday, August 18th, as part of “Building Denver: Visions of the Capital City” exhibition event series, History Colorado Museum hosted a rare (apparently only second ever) discussion with the most recent majors of Denver: Federico Peña (1983–1991), Wellington… Read more: Historic Evening with Denver Mayors
- Statewide Energy Code Update Bill Passed
AIA Colorado was proud to recently support HB22-1362: Building Greenhouse Gas Emissions, an energy code modernization bill that will result in more use statewide of the 2021 and 2024 International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) as the new baseline for energy performance for every new building in Colorado. Representative Tracey Bernett of Longmont introduced the bill… Read more: Statewide Energy Code Update Bill Passed - Architecture Rules UpdateIn 2021, AIA Colorado led a bill that successfully amended the practice act to remove a requirement for architects to demonstrate retention of the material presented in continuing education courses. The goal of this change was to end the need to complete DORA structured report forms for each course taken. Although the bill was signed… Read more: Architecture Rules Update
- Meet the 2020 Legislator of the Year
How do you feel as though you are making a positive impact on the built environment here in Colorado? Every day, we witness the harmful effects of the changing climate that have a direct impact on tourism, jobs, and the natural beauty of our state. We must work together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,… Read more: Meet the 2020 Legislator of the Year - A Conversation with a Boulder City Council Candidate
Lauren Folkerts, AIA, is one of us. She’s an AIA Colorado member, an architect, and a passionate Coloradan. There’s one big difference, however. She’s running for Boulder City Council. Folkerts’ campaign is motivated by the city’s affordable housing crisis. “What we say we want as a community is not aligning with the policies that Boulder… Read more: A Conversation with a Boulder City Council Candidate - Meet the 2020 Outstanding New LegislatorHow are you making a positive difference in the built environment in Colorado? I’m really proud of the work we have been able to accomplish by teaming up with great groups like AIA Colorado to make a difference here in Colorado. I’ve been fortunate during my three sessions in the Colorado legislature to pass legislation… Read more: Meet the 2020 Outstanding New Legislator
- Meet the 2021 Outstanding New LegislatorWhat inspired you to seek office and how will the office allow you to make a positive difference in the built environment in Colorado? I want to make the world a better place! My dad was an engineer, and he instilled in me the values of honesty, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence. My mother… Read more: Meet the 2021 Outstanding New Legislator
- 2021 Legislative Session SummaryAnother legislative session has come to a close. This was an exciting year for AIA Colorado’s advocacy efforts with the passage of HB21-1147: Simplify Architects Continuing Education Requirement. Read on for highlights from the 2021 session, then join members of our Government Affairs Committee at noon on June 30 for a deeper dive on these… Read more: 2021 Legislative Session Summary
- Becoming a Citizen Architect: Through the Member's Lens of Testifying to the Colorado State LegislatureLast month, six Colorado architects testified to the Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee. They spoke in support of House Bill 21-1147: Simplifying Architects Continuing Education Requirement to eliminate the unnecessary continuing education provision requiring proof of retention documentation. Colorado has been the only state with this provision in its architects’ practice act and… Read more: Becoming a Citizen Architect: Through the Member's Lens of Testifying to the Colorado State Legislature
- Civic Activism and the Greater Good
- AIA Colorado’s Bill to Streamline Continuing Education Moves to House Vote
Newly proposed legislation aims to ease continuing education reporting requirements for Colorado architects. Architects who have completed their Colorado continuing education requirements will be familiar with the state’s rules regarding documentation. Specific language in the Architects Section of the Practice Act directs the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to adopt rules establishing regulations for… Read more: AIA Colorado’s Bill to Streamline Continuing Education Moves to House Vote - Architects as Advocates: Get Involved
Advocacy is often seen as something that other people do. It’s one of those things that we tell ourselves that we should be more active in doing and make deals with ourselves to get more involved “soon,” but like other mental pacts like exercising and eating more vegetables, it’s usually easier to brush it off.… Read more: Architects as Advocates: Get Involved - AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot GuideOverview Welcome to the AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide, providing a brief overview of the entire statewide ballot with a more detailed look at everything of particular relevance to the architecture profession in the following categories: Federal Elections Colorado Legislature Elections Colorado Ballot Measures An important reminder: Mailed ballots will start arriving the week of… Read more: AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide
- How to Research a Candidate
Have you been wondering who is running in our local elections? Where does each candidate stand on the issues? And what are some trusted sources to get educated on candidates and issues? We’re here to help you sift through the daunting Google search results. During our process, James Coleman will be referenced as an example—not as an endorsement, but… Read more: How to Research a Candidate - Tips for finding the right civic engagement opportunity
Architects engage with our communities every day through the work we do. Clients, contractors, building occupants, local governments, and neighborhood residents are just some of the some of the groups we interact with, educate, and inform. These skills that we bring to all our projects also create opportunities to be leaders in our communities beyond… Read more: Tips for finding the right civic engagement opportunity - 2018 Legislative Session ReportSince January, we have been hard at work advocating on behalf of architects at the State Capitol. Now that the 2018 legislative session has ended, we’ve pulled together a summary of the decisions that could impact you as an architect. Bill topics are organized by the categories used in our Directory of Public Policies and… Read more: 2018 Legislative Session Report