2026 Resiliency Fair

2026 Resiliency Fair

Colorado faces a changing climate that is affecting precipitation patterns and water availability. This highlights the importance of resilient design but the change has occurred so quickly that we're still grappling with the best solutions for individual projects. These challenges aren't unique to architects. Whether it's the threat of more common wildfires or just limiting annual water use, architects and landscape architects must work together to ensure that both buildings and sites are designed in harmony with the same goals in mind.

The AIA Colorado and ASLA Colorado/Wyoming Resiliency Fair brings together members from both organizations to learn how we can better address drought and wildfire challenges as a team.

Our keynote for the afternoon will be from Colorado Resiliency Office director Anne Miller, AICP. She'll speak about the state's resiliency framework as it relates to wildfires and drought, as well as the framework's 5-year update in progress. We'll learn about resiliency hubs and how they factor into community resilience beyond regular building occupants.

Attendees will also have time to ask questions and participate in small group conversations with a variety of experts. We'll cover topics including the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, what local resiliency policies look like, and more.

Finally, we'll reconvene with our speakers for a panel discussion on the overlap in work they do with how design professionals make resilience decisions with our clients.

WHEN: Friday, May 15, 2026, 2 - 5pm

WHERE: The Alliance Center, 1536 Wynkoop, Denver, CO

WHO: AIA members and ASLA members

EDUCATION: 2 LU|HSW

• If you are seeking ASLA continuing education credit, you will need to register with ASLA here

Program includes:

• Keynote Speaker: 2 - 3pm

• Breakout Session: 3 - 4pm (3 options)

• Roundtable Discussion: 4 - 5pm

Registration is required

• $25 members

• $40 non-members

• $10 students.

AIA members and AIA Colorado Allied Members can register for $25.

Allied Members, please use your email address listed in the AIA Colorado Allied Member Directory.

Students: register using your .edu email address.

Discount codes are not applicable to reservations for this event.

Keynote Speaker:

Anne Miller, AICP is the Director of the Colorado Resiliency Office (CRO) in the Department of Local Affairs. The CRO supports local governments in building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities. She has over 25 years of community development experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Anne has worked in Colorado and across the nation to build adaptive and sustainable communities. She has a Master's degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a founding member of the American Planning Association’s Sustainable Communities Division. Anne serves as an ex-officio member of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board and a board member of the Colorado Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise.

She'll speak about the state's resiliency framework as it relates to wildfires and drought, as well as the framework's 5-year update in progress. We'll learn about resiliency hubs and how they factor into community resilience beyond regular building occupants.

Breakout Rooms

WUI - Lessons Learning - Join designers and governmental agencies as they discuss the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) code and how it is changing how we address wildfire in the built environment. We’ll address the lessons we’re learning as the code is put to the test throughout Colorado on a variety of project scales.

Speakers:

Jeffrey Woodruff, AIA, Architect and Pitkin Co. Commissioner

David Lowrey, Chief Fire Marshall at Boulder Fire Rescue

Aaron Johnson, WUI Professional Development Educator at CO Fire & Life Safety

Jason Newsome, Landscape Architect/Urban Designer at CIVITAS

Anne Ness, AIA, Architect at Andersen Hallas Architects

Materiality Topic Room - What does the future of our landscapes and buildings look like in order to better address drought and wildfire? Check out the Future of Materiality room to talk to experts and researchers who are changing the way we build throughout Colorado in a relaxed gallery-style setting.

Participants:

Marissa Sterrett, Horticulturalist at Denver Botanic Garden

Jared Tanaka, Environmental Inspection Supervisor at Douglas County

Sara Tabatabaie, Teaching Assistant Professor at CU Boulder

Patti Abrecht, Vice President Architectural Strategies & Engagement at USA Shade

Architect and Materials Scientist at Stantec

Policy Topic Room - What are local and state agencies concerned with and looking to prioritize as they address drought and wildfire? What resources are available from the policy leaders that can help designers better address resiliency needs? Check out the Future of Policy room to talk to experts and researchers who are changing the way we build throughout Colorado in a relaxed gallery-style setting.

Participants:

Dr. Khai Nguyen, City and County of Denver

Renee Azerbegi, AIA, National Decarbonization & Sustainability Leader at Mead & Hunt

Colorado Resiliency Office

Colorado Climate Preparedness Office

County of Boulder Mountain and Open Space

Kim McDonald, WUI Professional Development Educator

Questions? Contact AIA Colorado at office@aiacolorado.org