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/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / DECEMBER 2014
Brad Buchanan Raises the Planning Bar
M
ayor Hancock’s appointment of Brad
Buchanan, FAIA, as executive director
of the Denver Department of Commu-
nity Planning and Development in February
sparked a palpable ripple through the AEC and
development industry. After abruptly learning
that a respected practicing architect from Den-
ver had been selected for the position just a week
after the prior director Rocky Piro had unexpect-
edly resigned, some in the AEC industry expressed
reservations, while others thought “it’s about time.”
As the months ticked by, and architects encoun-
tered many of the same problems they ran into un-
der the previous director, questions began to crop
up, and doubts as well.
After personally hearing multiple impromptu
comments and questions about the planning de-
partment over the last few months, yet recogniz-
ing that specifics of actual interest to the industry
were not being covered in the local press, I thought
it best to turn to Buchanan himself. I was curious
about his vision, what he is doing to elevate the de-
partment and improve services, and even learn why
the past chairman of the Denver Planning Board
and the Downtown Denver Partnership took the
position after a stellar 23-year career as a notable
Denver architect, both in his own firm and, more
recently, at Denver-based RNL Design.
Buchanan was generous with his time, and his in-
put. Here are a few excerpts from our conversation,
which took place in early September.
What do you believe led to your
appointment by Mayor Hancock?
I probably had a pretty diverse experience from
life on the other side of the counter. Because we
did most of our work with the city of Denver, I be-
came an experienced user of these services. I have
also been involved in quite a bit of volunteer work
with the city over the years. In fact, in 1998 Jennifer
Moulton (the first woman to head Denver’s plan-
ning department, appointed by Mayor Wellington
Webb) asked me to apply for the Landmark Com-
mission, where I spent seven years, then I served on
the planning board for nine years, followed by the
Blueprint Committee from 2005 to 2010. So, coming
in to this position, I knew the city.
Was this an impromptu decision by the mayor?
No. I actually had many conversations with for-
mer councilpersons, including Michael Hancock,
over the years, so when he suggested this opportu-
nity, I took it seriously. He felt that I might be the
right person at the right time.
Cynthia
Kemper
Principal,
Marketekture
Colorado Pulse
