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December 7-December 20, 2016 — COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL — Page 21
O ver the past year,
we have used this
column to express
how architects and design
professionals improve the lives
of individuals and enhance the
vibrancy of communities. We
have ventured back in time
to explore the evolution of
Colorado’s built environment
and also looked to the future
in anticipation of trends that
will shape our state for years to
come.
As we near the end of 2016,
we are proud to acknowledge
the achievements of our AIA
Colorado members, the success
of the architecture industry here
in Colorado and the results of
our collective efforts to elevate
the profession.
The strength of Colorado’s
economy is bolstering design
work in all sectors. Time and
again AIA Colorado members tell
us they are burning the midnight
oil to complete work locally,
nationally and internationally.
Our job board is booming. The
results of member efforts are
evidenced statewide by the
cranes and scaffolding becoming
normal features of Colorado’s
landscape.
AIA Colorado was able to
leverage this heightened visibility
of building in our everyday
lives by focusing on increasing
awareness and understanding of
the profession and architecture
professionals this year. We
launched a “Real Architecture”
campaign to highlight the
work of our members through
Colorado media outlets to tell
stories of
industry
trends and
unique
projects,
developing
an enhanced
online
member firm
directory, and
providing
our members
tools and
templates to
help them
continually
showcase the
value of what architects do for
people through design every day.
Through this campaign, we also
highlighted economic forecast
and design trend data provided
by AIA’s national experts, giving
each story a local perspective.
In addition to consumers,
policymakers remain a key
audience for us. We have
increased volunteer training
and opportunities, better
equipping architect members to
engage in local issues affecting
our profession and protect the
health, safety and welfare of
occupants in the buildings we
design. We have also been able
to allocate a portion of member
dues to better support our top
legislative champions as a way
to help shape the architecture
profession in the most grassroots
way possible.
Our internal audience – our
members – continue to balance
its needs for professional
development and networking
with meeting today’s work
demands.
Even while
stretched
for time, our
strongest
programs
remain solid.
Close to 700
individuals
participated
in our annual
Practice
+ Design
Conferences
two years in
a row, and our State and Local
Awards Gala attracted a record
425 guests in 2016. The Code
Classes we offer continue to be
in high demand, and the annual
Building Enclosure Council’s Fall
Seminar remains popular.
In addition to these programs,
over 100 Colorado members
attended the 2016 AIA National
Convention in Philadelphia,
which saw record attendance
of over 20,000. We also hosted
our inaugural Emerging
Professionals Symposium,
a summit for emerging
professionals held at the CU
Denver College of Architecture
and Planning. More than 100
individuals attended and took
advantage of the opportunity to
hear from a range of speakers on
professional development, career
advancement and what to do
after licensure.
We are working to harness
our collective knowledge and
voices to accomplish greater
achievements together than we
can on our own. We are also
working to equip our members
with tools, resources, connections
and information that make them
more powerful as individual
architects.
AIA Colorado is a strong
voice and a strong community.
Looking forward, we will
continue to build and support a
robust, leading-edge community
of architects in Colorado.
And by continuing to work
collaboratively with you –
the developers, contractors,
engineers and designers – we can
elevate the understanding of the
architecture and design industry.
On behalf of our members, we
thank you for your continued
support of AIA Colorado. To
learn more or find an architect
Cathy Rosset
Executive vice
president/CEO, AIA
Colorado
Angela M.T. Van
Do, AIA, LEED
AP BD+C
President, AIA
Colorado
Members chat with Michelle Delk, ASLA, (Snøhetta) after her session at
the 2016 Practice + Design Conference.
Honor Awards Chair Gregory Friesen, FAIA, (CSNA Architects) presents
the 25-Year Award to Anderson Ranch Arts Center.