COLORADOBUILDINGWORKSHOP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Dean, Hekma School of Design and Architecture
Alaa Q. Al-Ban is Dean of the Hekma School of Design and Architecture at Dar Al-Hekma University in Saudi Arabia.
Located in Jeddah, Dar Al-Hekma University is a private institution of higher education for women. Dr. Al-Ban formerly served as an assistant professor at the school and chair of its Interior Design Department.
Dr. Al-Ban holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Dar Al-Hekma University, and a terminal degree/Master of Fine Arts in Design from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. In 2016, she received her doctoral degree at CAP, which she completed in three years. Her dissertation was focused on architecture and cultural identity in relation to Jeddah's traditional housing.
Dr. Al-Ban is the first alumna of both Dar Al-Hekma and the University of Colorado Denver to be named a Dean at Dar Al-Hekma. In addition to her academic experience, she is an interior designer who has worked across Saudi Arabia on residential, commercial and historic preservation projects.
Dr. Al-Ban has lived and worked in both the East and West, and she now brings all of the international standards back to her country. Her work is part of the realization of the Saudi 2030 Vision, which aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy and develop its public service sectors, among other goals.
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor / Director of Strategic Initiatives
Amir Ameri received his Ph.D. in the History of Architecture and Urban Development from Cornell University, M.S.Arch from Cornell University, and B.Arch from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught architectural history, theory, and design at various academic institutions, including Temple University, Parsons School of Design, and Cornell University. His research and teaching explore the complexities of the dialogue between architecture and culture.
His publications range from critical studies in the history of theoretical discourse on architecture to the history of cultural institutions and secular building types to critical studies in architectural pedagogy. His articles have appeared in various academic journals, including Art History, Poetics Today, Architectural Theory Review, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Semiotica, SubStance, Screen, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, and Journal of Art and Design Education.
His recent book, Architecture, Aesthetics, and the Predicaments of Theory, was published by Routledge in 2022. His previous book, The Architecture of the Illusive Distance, was published by Ashgate in 2015.
Job Titles:
- Building Systems Engineer
Job Titles:
- Manager of Horticulture Outreach Programs, Denver Botanic Gardens
Barbara Ambach has 25+ years of experience teaching in the Fine Arts and Architecture. She is a licensed Architect and Associate Professor CTT atthe University of Colorado Denver | College of Architecture & Planning. With an education in the Fine Arts and Architecture, she encourages her students to value the "art" of design, engage their intuition, reflect upon the contemporary culture and respond with appropriate design methodologies. Herteaching interests are emphasized in Digital Portfolio Design courses, Drawing and Digital Graphics seminars and Architecture Design Studios. Ms.Ambach's own creative work provides the impetus for her teaching approach as well as her design practice in both the built and virtual environments. She offers web design, consultation services and a series of web-based tutorials to her students and clients. She believes that the image and accessibility of virtual and printed media are crucial aspects for attaining success in the educational or business environments.
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner of Raw Creative
Breton Lujan is Co-owner of Raw Creative, a multi-faceted company specializing in creative architectural design and fabrication. He also serves as Senior Design Principal.
Breton grew up in the mountains of Colorado, immersed in the local restaurant industry of the Roaring Fork Valley. He earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Colorado Denver.
Following his studies, Breton saw an opportunity to provide customized design, fabrication, and installation to local food and hospitality businesses, leading to the establishment of Raw Creative in 2014. The company's growing portfolio ranges from custom residential work to award-winning projects for the food and hospitality industry. Its distinctive work has been featured in numerous publications, including Modern in Denver, 5280 Home, and Eater Denver.
Approaching each project with an understanding of its unique complexities, Breton has managed challenging design concepts and installations for Denver's most innovative hospitality concepts. With each project, Breton's love of the mountains and passion for raw materials continue to distinguish Raw Creative as a local leader in designs with a sense of place.
Job Titles:
- Arch Admissions Counselor, Summer Camp Manager, and Study Abroad
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor & Department Chair
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator for the Therapeutic Horticulture Programs at the Denver Botanic Gardens
- Program Coordinator, Denver Botanic Gardens
Catharine McCord is the program coordinator for the therapeutic horticulture programs at the Denver Botanic Gardens. She is the producer and host of the Gardens' new web series, Therapeutic Thursdays, developed to maintain a connection with people to plants in response to the quarantine surrounding COVID-19. Catharine also serves as a sensory garden design consultant in the Metro Denver area, supporting cultural institutions and other non-profits as they plan and build sensory gardens.
In 2017, as part of her master's thesis project, McCord designed a sensory garden for Denver's Sewall Child Development Center. This garden was constructed with the aid of a $75,000 grant McCord helped secure from the Colorado Garden Foundation. These accomplishments led to her selection as a National Olmsted Scholar Finalist. She presented her work at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture conference held in Beijing, China, and she was awarded the 2020 American Horticultural Society's Great American Gardeners award in Horticultural Therapy.
McCord earned a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. She also holds a master's degree in Biochemistry from SUNY Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Molecular Biology from the University of Central Florida.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Urban Roots Development
Chris Achenbach is the founder of Urban Roots Development, a company focused on crafting sustainable, mixed-use, outside-the-box development projects. As a licensed architect and Class A general contractor, Chris brings technical know-how together with extensive experience while developing some of the most sustainable and successful projects in the Denver region.
Before Urban Roots, Chris co-founded Zocalo Community Development, where he served as principal for 12 years, overseeing the design, development, and construction of signature mixed-use and residential projects throughout the city. These projects have helped shape the character of Denver's redeveloping neighborhoods and have helped redefine the role of sustainability in large-scale, institutional-sized development projects.
Chris's companies and projects have received numerous accolades, including the Grand Tribute Award from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver and the Denver Business Journal's Residential Developer of the Year award. Chris is very active with the Colorado Urban Land Institute (ULI) and has held several leadership roles with the organization, including serving as chair and vice chair. He also cofounded the ULI Sustainable Communities Committee. In addition, Chris has contributed his time and expertise to Habitat for Humanity and the Denver Mayor's Development Advisory Committee.
Chris grew up in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where he received a Psychology degree from the University of Vermont. In 1998, he earned his Master of Architecture degree from the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver.
Explore the renovated Union Station, a transportation hub, historic landmark, and vibrant space for staying, eating, gathering, and shopping.
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Director, Design Build Certificate Programs and Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor & Co - Chair
- Planner
- Senior City Planner With the City
- Senior City Planner, City and County of Denver
Eugene Howard is a prominent urban planner who continues to give back to his community and alma mater.
Eugene serves as a Senior City Planner with the City and County of Denver, where he works within Denver's Community Planning and Development Department. As a member of the Neighborhood Planning Team, Eugene manages the development of area plans for the city's Neighborhood Planning Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Senior Architect
- Distinguished Architect
Euk Kwon is a distinguished architect and real estate professional. Based in the New York metropolitan area, Euk is currently is a Senior Architect at Consolidated Edison (ConEd), one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States. He also is a board member at Job Haines, an assisted living facility in New Jersey.
Euk formerly served as Head of Global Design and Construction at Bloomberg LP. In this role, he aligned Bloomberg's strategic real estate growth in 160 offices and oversaw its headcount rise from 10,000 to 15,000 employees. Prior to Bloomberg, Euk worked for seven years as a Design Architect at the world-renowned architecture firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects (formerly IM Pei & Partners). Projects he worked on include the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Stanford University's Science and Engineering Quadrangle in California; and the Tour EDF just outside of Paris.
Job Titles:
- Founder of DesignBuildBLUFF
Job Titles:
- Western Slope Studio Advisor
Job Titles:
- Senior Design Architect Senior Associate
Job Titles:
- Lecturer Senior Policy Director, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Job Titles:
- Arch Admissions Counselor, Summer Camp Manager, and Study Abroad
Job Titles:
- Director of Professional Development and Internships
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor CTT & Associate Chair
Job Titles:
- Professor & Director of PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Instructor and Associate Chair of Architecture
Job Titles:
- Manager of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Design for Health and Well - Being Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Professor, Florida Atlantic University
John L. Renne, Ph.D., AICP, is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University, located in Boca Raton. He also serves as Director of the university's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. Moreover, John is the managing director of the TOD Group, a private real estate investment and master development firm.
John's research is focused on creating sustainable, resilient, and livable cities. He is the co-editor of two publications: Transport Beyond Oil: Policy Choices for a Multimodal Future (2013) and Transit Oriented Development: Making It Happen (2009). He has published numerous papers, book chapters, and professional reports on the topics of transit-oriented development, sustainable transportation policy, and land use planning.
John has served as the chair of the Mobility Committee for the Urban Land Institute, SE Florida/Caribbean Council, and chair of the Transportation Research Board's Transportation and Land Development Committee (renamed Economic Development and Land Use Committee). John also chairs for the board for the nonprofit organization Evacuteer, which serves communities in Southeast Louisiana.
John holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy Development from Rutgers University, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Job Titles:
- John Rogers Professor of Practice
Job Titles:
- Lecturer, Director of Bixler Global Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Director of Urban Design, Assistant Professor CTT
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Managing Principal for AECOM 's Buildings
- Vice President and Managing Principal, AECOM Buildings Places
Kevin Keady is Vice President and Managing Principal for AECOM's Buildings + Places practice in the Rocky Mountain region. His studio is made up of over 100 professionals in a range of disciplines, including architects, engineers, urban designers, landscape architects, economists, and construction managers. The studio is spread across five offices in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Prior to joining AECOM, Kevin held positions at RNL, Studiotrope Design Collective, and Anderson Mason Dale Architects. Kevin has served on a number of boards and committees, including the AIA Colorado Board of Directors, the Colorado Space Coalition Board, and the Colorado Metro Chamber Economic Development Council Executive Committee.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a concentration in Sculpture, from Colorado State University, which he earned in 2001. He received his Master of Architecture degree from CU Denver in the spring of 2009. He was named an AIA Colorado Intern Architect of the Year in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Owner of Regular Architecture
Kevin Nguyen is the owner of Regular Architecture, a Denver-based practice that operates from the core principle that good design can enrich the environment and improve lives. He also is cofounder of Immersion Workshop, a nonprofit organization that develops and leads traveling design studios for design professionals, recent graduates, and advanced students in professional architectural degree programs.
Kevin has experience in a range of typologies and contexts, from sustainable and affordable housing to retail space and installation design. Recently, his work has been focused on hospitality projects. His firm is critically engaged in research, and it actively works to improve architecture through involvement in both academic and professional communities.
Since launching his career, Kevin has received a number of honors, including being named the 2019 Young Architect of the Year by the Colorado chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In 2018, a project he designed-The Wolf's Tailor-was named "Restaurant Design of the Year" by Eater Denver.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, which he received in 2006. He earned his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Colorado Denver in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Architect and Planner, DLR Group
- Associate at DLR Group
Based in Chicago, Korey D. White is an Associate at DLR Group, an integrated design firm with offices around the United States. Serving as an architect and planner, Korey primarily works with K-12 school districts, for which she develops master plans to help districts align their facilities with their educational readiness. Additionally, she is on the firm's Educational Research and Design Team, which focuses on research in K-12 education as it relates to design and planning.
Prior to joining DLR Group, Korey held positions at Stantec, RNL, and Path21 Architecture & Planning. Korey is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She was recently elected to the AIA National Strategic Council as an At-Large Representative.
Locally, Korey volunteers with AIA Chicago and is a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. At a state level, Korey serves on the executive board for the AIA Illinois Emerging Professionals group. In addition to her professional service, she is an executive team member of the University of Colorado Denver Alumni Board.
Korey has received numerous honors, including a 2018 AIA National Young Architects Award and a 2017 Building Design + Construction "40 Under 40" Award. She also won an AIA Colorado Leadership Award in 2016.
Korey holds master's degrees in Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning, which she earned in 2013 from the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. She received a BS in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2011. Korey is currently working on her MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on two areas: global challenges in business, and entrepreneurship and strategic innovation.
Job Titles:
- Senior Undergrad Academic Advisor
Job Titles:
- Senior Academic Advisor for Graduate Architecture
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Academic Services
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- JEDI and Real Estate Advisor / Kentwood Real Estate & the Diversity Difference
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor and Department Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Professor and Chair of the Architecture Department
Job Titles:
- Instructor & Director of Design Fabrication Lab
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor & Interdisciplinary Advisor
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner of Raw Creative
Mike Blea is Co-owner of Raw Creative, a Colorado-based company specializing in creative architectural design and fabrication. As both a licensed architect and general contractor, Mike has become a prominent local leader in digital fabrication.
Before launching his career, Mike was learning the ropes from his family on construction sites across the Denver metro area. As an undergraduate, he earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Certificate of Construction Management from Colorado State University. He later earned a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Colorado Denver.
In 2014, Mike co-founded Raw Creative, which operates from the belief that everyday objects and spaces should provide extraordinary experiences. The company's growing portfolio ranges from custom residential work to award-winning projects for the food and hospitality industry. Its distinctive work has been featured in numerous publications, including Modern in Denver, 5280 Home, and Eater Denver.
A member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Mike is regularly welcomed as a featured lecturer in the architectural and design community. He also teaches courses in architectural technology at the Community College of Denver.
Blending years of hands-on supervision experience with a passion for crafting intentional spaces, Mike's multi-disciplinary background continues to shape the unique design, build, and install capabilities of the Raw Creative studio.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- CTT and Associate Chair of Architecture
Job Titles:
- Visiting Assistant Professor
Job Titles:
- Certified Planner
- Development Review Manager
Rebecca Everette is a certified planner with a passion for land use regulation, natural resource protection, continuous improvement, and evolving the way local governments can serve our communities.
Rebecca currently serves as Development Review Manager for the City of Fort Collins. Her role entails leading a team of planning, zoning, and development review staff to ensure that development projects meet community goals and priorities as the city evolves.
Rebecca has also served as an environmental planner and city planner with the City of Fort Collins, developing policy and code, working on long-range plans, and reviewing development projects. Prior to joining the City of Fort Collins, she worked as a community planner with Logan Simpson and AECOM, consulting on planning projects for municipal and federal clients nationwide.
Rebecca received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado Denver in 2013. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism from Colorado State University. In 2020, she was named to BizWest's "40 Under Forty" list-an honor that recognizes young professionals who are shaping the future of Northern Colorado.
Job Titles:
- John Rogers Professor of Practice
Job Titles:
- Lecturer
- Structural Engineer
Job Titles:
- Ron Straka Urban Design Program Advisor / Gates Family Foundation
Job Titles:
- Course Coordinator and Graduate Academic Advisor for MURP, MUD, MSHP, MLA ,
Job Titles:
- Architecture
- Design for Health and Well - Being Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Director of Interior Design
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Idaho
- Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Idaho
Scott Lawrence is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Idaho, where he leads the design-build program, coordinates third-year architecture studios, and teaches multiple seminars.
Scott's research, teaching, and practice are focused on hospitality design and critical questions of context in architecture. He has received multiple honors for his teaching and design work. In 2019, the design-build studio that he leads, Idaho Design Build, received a prestigious AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Award for its Hat Ranch Winery.
Scott is dedicated to extending education beyond the classroom. He has led multiple travel studios, and as President and Co-Founder of Immersion Workshop (a nonprofit educational organization), he coordinates and leads intensive, in-residence studios for international groups of design professionals, recent graduates, academics, and advanced students focused on context-specific design.
As a Lecturer at the University of Colorado from 2009 to 2017, Scott taught a wide variety of architecture studios and design communication courses. He was a founding partner at the firm Nguyen Lawrence, which has been recognized for its work on restaurants in Colorado.
In 2009, Scott earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver. In 2006, he received a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Bio
Stephanie Ball has worked on numerous projects that have increased the safety and livability of local communities, with a focus on increasing mobility choices. She uses research, data analysis, and visual communication to support transportation planning efforts throughout the region. Stephanie has a background in graphic design and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from University of Colorado Denver. Her ability to develop clear, concise messaging on complex transportation initiatives has made her invaluable on the projects she supports.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration
Job Titles:
- Director of Historic Preservation & Classical Studies
Job Titles:
- Planner
- Planning Project Manager, Regional Transportation District
Susan A. Wood is an impassioned planner with a long list of accomplishments and honors, including a prestigious Alumni Award for Excellence from the University of Colorado Denver.
Susan serves as a Planning Project Manager with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the public transit provider in the Denver Metro area. At RTD, she oversees and conducts environmental studies, along with managing the District's environmental compliance consistent with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Prior to joining RTD, Susan worked in local government, most recently as the manager of Community Outreach and Long Range Planning for Douglas County in Colorado.
Susan dedicates much of her time to her profession and her community. Currently, she serves on the American Planning Association (APA) Board of Directors, Region V; on the APA Legislative and Policy Committee, where she co-chaired preparation of the association's first "Planning for Equity Policy Guide;" and on the APA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Susan also participates in the Colorado Water and Land Use Planning Alliance and chairs the APA Colorado Legislative Committee.
A certified planner, Susan holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Baylor University. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), one of the highest honors in the planning profession.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Development Initiative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Ron Straka Urban Design Program Advisor / Gates Family Foundation
Job Titles:
- Alumni Engagement Initiative Advisor & Dar Al Hekma - CAP Partnership Advisor / Zuhair Fayez Partnership