Designing Within the Limits: Water Innovation & the Future of Resilient Development in Colorado

Registration is required and only available to members. Active AIA member number required for RSVP.

Designing Within the Limits: Water Innovation & the Future of Resilient Development in Colorado

Join AIA Colorado's COTE on examining how water scarcity is shaping the future of development in Colorado and explores strategies for creating more resilient, water-conscious communities. Participants will learn about innovative water management approaches, emerging technologies, and integrated planning solutions that support public health, safety, and welfare through sustainable resource stewardship and resilient infrastructure design.

SPEAKERS:

Sybil Sharvelle One Water & CSU Hydro Building 

Dr. Sybil Sharvelle is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a member of the Environmental Engineering focus area. Her research interests include water reuse (graywater and reclaimed water), integrated urban water management, and waste conversion to energy. Her doctoral work included development of a system for treatment of graywater for potable reuse during space missions. This project led to her current interest in fit-for-purpose water systems, in which she has led projects funded by the Water Research Foundation, USEPA and National Science Foundation. Dr. Sharvelle was a member of the National Research Council Committee for Beneficial Use of Graywater and Stormwater and chaired the NWRI panel for Decentralized Non-Potable Water Systems.

Lauren McNeill Group 14 

Lauren McNeill is an Associate Principal with Group14 Engineering – a woman-owned sustainability & energy efficiency consulting firm based in Denver, Colorado. In her 16 years of experience at Group14, Lauren has led over 100 projects in meeting their sustainability goals, including several projects that incorporated creative water reuse: Aspen Distillery, Northglenn City Hall, Yannell Conservation Habitat, and the Hydro Building at National Western Center.

Russel Slade Denver Water 

Russ Slade is a Senior Planner at Denver Water with 19 years of experience supporting the utility’s water resources and operations. He spent a decade in the Water Rights group, where he played a key role in adjudicating and defending Denver Water’s water rights. For the past nine years, Russell has been part of the Raw Water Supply team, focusing on the operation and accounting of water rights across Denver Water’s collection system. His work bridges legal, operational, and planning perspectives to help ensure reliable and sustainable water supply management.

Mike Riggs Pikes Peak RTA

Mike Riggs, AIA, LEED BD+C, Principal, has over twenty years’ experience at RTA. Mike has a diverse background while working on a number of K-12, retail, office, and healthcare projects. Mike served as the Project Architect on the Pikes Peak Summit Complex, and he was responsible for the technical execution of the design and construction documents. Mike’s role continued through construction as the lead representative for the design team and he continues in that role through the LEED Certification and Living Building Certification processes, which are still ongoing.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22nd, Noon - 1pm MST

WHERE: Zoom (linked emailed prior to event)

EDUCATION: Session has been approved for 1 LU|HSW

Registration is required. RSVP window closes 1 hour prior to the start of the event.

The Zoom meeting link will be emailed 1 day before the event from an AIA Colorado staff member to the email address used to complete RSVP.

Registration is required and only available to members. Active AIA member number required to complete registration.

AIA Colorado Allied Members: Allied Members use "Allied2026" as member number and register using the email address in your Allied Member Directory listing to register for free.

AIAS students: use your .edu email address to register and type AIAS into the member number field.