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June 2019 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 91 A rchitecture is art and inherently art is rather ambiguous. From the intersec- tion of program, profit and possibility, finding a meaningful point of view that remains both discernable and relevant deep into the future is no small order. David Daniel, a principal with Denver’s Davis Partnership Architects, doesn’t like to do it any other way and feels the process is as important as the purpose. “Design is a journey, best taken in the company of clients and peers,” says Daniel, who joined Davis Partnership in 2004. Now as a principal, Daniel has a hand in the design of many of the projects the firm touches. He expects that collaboration will always be the cornerstone of success in his work. He smirks at the idea of the infallible genius in a black cape and barrette. “I don’t think we benefit from believing we know the answer before we even start. I don’t think true architecture is created that way.” Daniel’s journey in design began in earnest after he was already on his way. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1993 but admits that his attention was hardly fully focused on design during his undergrad years. It wasn’t until he and a couple of friends took a cross-country trip after college exploring many U.S. cities and towns that the spark was ignited. Escap- ing the confined experience of his roots in suburban Richmond, Virginia, Daniel was able to experience places like New York, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco, Austin, Santa Fe and San Diego, and began to see the power of design on a limitless scale. “The spark for me in seeing all of these cities was that great architecture con- tributes to making great places. I wanted to be a part of that,” says Daniel. He selected the University of Colorado Denver School of Architecture in pursuit of his master’s degree in architecture and landed at Tryba Architects after graduation. There he learned the ropes, climbed the ranks and eventually became the firm’s design director over the course of a decade. Since joining Davis Partnership, Daniel’s influence has grown across a wide spectrum of market segments from mixed use and urban infill to civic to health care. However, process and collaboration remain funda- mental to any discussion on design he is willing to have on his own work. At Davis Partnership, Daniel and his colleagues have an almost holis- tic suite of design disciplines at their direction. Architecture, landscape architecture, interiors, entitlements, lighting, signage and wayfinding all under one RiNo District roof. In-housing top-flight expertise in so many interconnected and critical facets of the design process has driven Davis Partnership’s headcount to around 180. The benefit is control. “We like to help clients control everything users will touch, see or feel in the building,” says Daniel. Davis Partnership’s organizational structure allows an architect to connect with a lighting designer WORDS: Sean O’Keefe Finding clarity defines tenor, tempo and destination in design Design Intent