Event Calendar
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If you like to have your event featured on the APA Colorado event calendar, please submit event information here! Questions? Please contact Admin@APAColorado.org. Thanks!
Interested in offering AICP CM Credits at your event? Simply fill out this form and return it to us!
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APA Colorado Denver Metro / Legislative Committee Fall Happy Hour
Come network with fellow planners for a Fall Happy Hour at Downhill Brewing in Greenwood Village!
The APA-Colorado Legislative Committee will also be presenting the 2025 APA-Colorado Legislator of the year award to Representative Meg Froelich, who successfully ran House Bill 25-1198: Regional Planning Roundtable Commission. The Commission is expected to be assembled this fall to draft policies and procedures to convene a series of regional roundtables in early 2026.
Downhill Brewing
9672 E Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80112
Monday, October 13, 2025
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
APA-Colorado will provide pizza from Downhill Brewing.
Progressive Design-Build: CDOT and ACEC Colorado Quarterly Roundtable
DBIA Rocky Mountain Region is please to co-host the upcoming ACEC Quarterly Round Table with CDOT. This quarter, the community will hear from Keith Molenaar from University of Colorado presenting on Progressive Design-Build.
AIA Colorado: West Virtual Connect - Designing for Wildfire, Beyond Code Minimums
Connect with Western Slope AIA members for a discussion about designing for wildfires, beyond code minimums.
Connect with Western Slope AIA members for a discussion about fire resistive construction focusing on the issue specifically for western Colorado. There will be a brief presentation to get the conversation started, following by Q+A and discussion.
Where: ZOOM A link to join via Zoom will be in your confirmation RSVP email from Eventbrite and will be visible on this Eventbrite listing page once you’ve successfully RSVP’d and are logged into Eventbrite.
COSSA: Happy Hour
COSSA’s Monthly Happy Hour is your go-to event for networking, industry conversations, and great company! Join us on Tuesday, October 14th, at Little Machine Beer to reconnect with the Colorado solar and storage community. Sponsored by FMI Capital Advisors.
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 14th | 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: Little Machine Beer (2924 W 20th Ave, Denver, CO 80211)
Parking: On-site parking available
Free to Attend! Two drink tickets per guest
WHY ATTEND?
✅ Expand your network – Meet and connect with fellow industry professionals
✅ Stay informed – Engage in discussions on the latest industry trends
✅ Enjoy a relaxed evening – Unwind with colleagues in a casual setting
The Alliance Center: October Community Coworking Day
Plug in. Power up. Get inspired (and maybe spooked).
On October 15, bring your laptop, your to-do list, and maybe a friend (or your well-behaved pup)—it’s time for October Coworking Day, Halloween edition!
Whether you’re looking for deep focus, spontaneous collaboration, or a spark of midweek motivation, this is your space to get things done and connect with purpose-driven people doing impactful work.
Coworking here isn’t just about sharing space, it’s about showing up with intention. It’s the perfect balance of independent productivity and shared energy, all within a community that values sustainability, connection, and creativity.
What to Expect:
- A welcoming, shared workspace
- Open desks, cozy corners, and quiet nooks for focus
- High-speed Wi-Fi + full access to amenities
- A thoughtful environment designed for collaboration and care
- 10:00–11:00am: Fika! Enjoy a Swedish-inspired coffee break with tea, snacks, and space for organic conversation and connection.
- 4:00–6:00pm: Halloween Happy Hour Wrap up your workday with spooky snacks, festive drinks, and community connection. Costumes encouraged (but not required)!
Stay a few hours or the whole day; either way, you’ll leave feeling recharged, reconnected, and ready for Halloween.
AIA Colorado: Denargo Market Tour
Join AIA members for a tour of Denargo Market, the largest mix-use development under construction in the City of Denver right now.
Sasaki and Goettsch Partners will discuss the development of Denargo Market, the largest mix-use development under construction in the City of Denver right now. The riverfront development will soon host over 3M square feet of new development including thousands of new residential units. The master plan lays out a public realm framework that repositions the site with the river as a front door, with retail and food and beverage spilling out onto a new extension of the RiNo promenade.
The first phase of construction includes over 4-acres of new public space including streets, plazas, and parks. Within this space several iconic features exist including one of the largest and most dynamic public art installations in the City’s recent history, Rhingo the Rhino. We will explore the complexities of implementing the master plan through the lens of phasing, placemaking, and engagement with the City.
Housing Strategies Peer Exchange
Topic: Affordability and Displacement Mitigation Strategies Directory and resources
The Community Development Office is hosting a monthly peer exchange series for local governments working on affordable housing strategies and land use issues. Each month will feature a different topic with presentations from selected Colorado communities, with ample time allowed for questions and discussion.
This interactive virtual series will take place on the third Thursday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. Register for the series to add the Zoom event to your calendar and receive updates about future scheduled topics. Upcoming and previous events are listed below with links to the videos and presentations.
AIA Colorado: Health Horizons Symposium
Women in Healthcare (WIH) and the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) proudly present our second healthcare symposium! This event is oriented to both AEC & healthcare professionals.
Windsor Mill Project Learning and Happy Hour
When: Thursday, Oct. 16 at 4:00 p.m. to approx. 5:30 p.m.
Where: Windsor Mill, 301 Main St – Meet around back.
What: Learn about the historic Mill and its redevelopment story and stick around for happy hour with planning colleagues and friends.
Hear from planners, project and development manager, and the owner. Learn about:
- Project history, challenges, and planning.
- The town’s incentive package, economic development aspects of the project.
- Current activities, successes and lessons learned
- Tour the building and view historic photos.
- Convene in the back room at TIHOS for happy hour.
Free event.
Please RSVP to Lesli at NorthCentral@apacolorado.org – First 10 eligible for free drink also.
AIA Colorado: Drawing on Life - 50 Years with Barrett Studio
Join AIA as we celebrate 50 years of Barrett Studio Architects at one of their most recent projects—Groundworks Art Lab in Boulder. The event will feature a presentation by David Barrett, a tour of Groundworks’ unique facility, and an exhibition of Barrett’s work spanning five decades of Living Design.
Western Slope Planning Confernce
October 23 - 24, 2025
Grand Junction, Colorado
Join us for the premier event for planners and community leaders across the state. We'll head to Grand Junction this year for the opportunity to earn 11 CM credits through a full day of sessions on October 23rd and a half day of sessions the morning of October 24th. This conference will feature a dynamic lineup of sessions, mobile tours, and networking opportunities that highlight innovative planning practices, local and national trends, and the unique challenges facing Colorado communities. Join us to exchange ideas, gain professional development, and celebrate the impact of planning in shaping vibrant, resilient places.
DCI: 2025 Annual Tax Increment Finance Summit, Pueblo
Join Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) and our partners in Colorado Tax Increment Finance (TIF) as we celebrate what is working and strategize for the next phase of public-private partnership to attract and focus investment in Colorado that drives the vision set by the community. The 2025 Colorado TIF Summit will be an interactive discussion for the Colorado URA community and hosted by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA).
AIA Colorado: The Burrell Tour
Join AIA members for a tour of The Burrell.
Studio Completiva will conduct a 20-minute overview and a 40-minute tour of the workforce housing development located at 3575 Chestnut Place in Denver’s River North Arts District (RiNo) and Five Points neighborhoods. It is a key example of a public-private partnership aimed at creating affordable homeownership opportunities for middle-income residents.
During the tour, we will explore the lobby and the ground-level commercial space. We will also visit typical one, two, and three-bedroom units, before heading up to the rooftop amenity area, where you may enjoy breathtaking views accessible to all residents.
We also encourage everyone to walk along the riverfront promenade, which is one of the key assets of the project.
Drive. Lead. Succeed. 2025
Calling All Economic Development Professionals & Stakeholders: Join The League of Change Makers!
Prepare for a powerful assembly! The #DLS2025 Conference is your call to action, uniting the industry’s top influencers and thought-leaders to forge a brighter future for Colorado’s economic landscape. Just like a team of #superheroes, we’re gathering the best and brightest to tackle the most pressing economic challenges. Discover innovative solutions, engage in quality collaboration, and exchange fresh, groundbreaking ideas with fellow economic, workforce, & community development professionals, visionary business and non-profit leaders, dedicated government staff and officials, & more!
Fall Into Nature with APA Colorado Hike
- What: Join your North Central Area planning colleagues for a 3.9 mile, moderate hike in Boulder County near Lyons.
- Where: Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain, 15140 N. 55th St. Longmont, CO
- Date: October 30, 2025
- Time: Meet at the trailhead at 8:00 am.
- Other Tidbits: Dogs on leashes allowed. Bring water and snacks. No day use fee. Weather dependent (will cancel if snowing).
- For Questions: Contact Lesli Ellis, North Central Area APA Rep, 970-222-8400
Zoning for our Future: Solar, Windfarms, EV, and Manufactured/Modular Homes
Zoning for our Future: Solar, Windfarms, EV, and Manufactured/Modular Homes” is a forward-looking presentation that examines how modern zoning policies are evolving to support sustainability reforms, specifically solar and wind energy installations, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the integration of manufactured and modular housing. Attendees will learn about regulatory frameworks, best practices, and ordinance examples that support these uses and structures. The session provides practical strategies and technical guidance from zoning specialists that have worked across the country.
CM | 1.5
DBIA: Design-Build Annual Conference and Expo
The Design-Build Conference & Expo is the largest design-build event in the nation. In addition to the largest number of education tracks, we also honor the nation’s best design-build projects, teams and individuals at our annual awards night celebration. It’s a jam-packed three-day session that leaves everyone energized and equipped to deliver the best design-build projects possible.
APA Colorado Board Meeting
APA Colorado is served by an Executive Board consisting of Officers, Area Representatives, and specially appointed positions. The Board is responsible for creating and overseeing the implementation of the overall strategic mission of the organization through activities such as adopting an annual budget, setting chapter policies, and reviewing APA programs. The Board generally meets on the first Friday of every month and board meetings are open to all members to attend.
Signs of the Times: Mastering Content-Neutral Ordinances
With two US Supreme Court cases dealing with sign regulations since 2015, and lower court cases percolating across the country today, the importance of crafting content-neutral sign codes is essential for communities seeking to balance free expression, legal compliance, and effective local governance. We all know that local regulations cannot be based on a sign’s message, yet many communities still struggle with translating these legal requirements into clear, useful local ordinances. This interactive webinar will equip planners, zoning officials, and code enforcement with the knowledge and tools needed to develop and implement sign codes that are robust, enforceable, and fully compliant with First Amendment standards. Attendees will learn the core legal definitions and take away practical strategies for ensuring their sign regulations are as “content neutral” as possible on their face and in their application. Real-world examples will be explored, highlighting both pitfalls and best practices - from addressing political and directional signs to managing digital signs and murals. Speakers include planners, academics and industry experts who have worked on sign codes across the country. Attendees will also receive a copy of the Sign Research Foundation’s publication on Content-Neutral Sign Codes After Reed and Austin.
CM | 1.5
L | 1.0
AIA Colorado: 2025 Practice + Design Conference
The annual event attended by over 500 AIA members, allied members, and industry professionals is a yearly testament to the vitality of Colorado’s design community and 2025’s edition promises to be yet another milestone moment!
Save the dates! The 2025 Practice + Design Conference will take place at Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO, November 12 – 15!
All conference information will be shared as available at AIA Colorado’s conference webpage.
Accelerating Housing Supply: State Chapters Take the Lead
In 2023 and 2024 APA partnered with NLC to form the National Housing Supply Accelerator, culminating in the release of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook. However, as planners we all know that a one size fits all approach often does not work in the real world. States and local governments all have their own histories, cultures, legal precedents, and politics that make them unique. As planners, we need to find unique solutions that will be most effective in the states and local places where we live and work. Since the completion of APA's national effort, some states have pursued their own state-focused housing supply efforts. Many have formed their own statewide housing supply accelerators. In this panel session we will hear from three states that are pursuing such efforts in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Michigan. Each of these efforts will offer opportunities and challenges that can be helpful to planners and advocates who want to see our housing supply crisis get addressed as soon as possible. Speakers from these three state chapters will share lessons learned from their efforts and provide key insights for those who are working to improve housing supply in their own state, region, or local community.
CM | 1.5
CML Effective Governance On the Road: Meeker
We are bringing CML's popular Effective Governance workshop on the road to our members. This interactive workshop focuses on practical governance skills from staff/council relationships, ethics, liability, open meetings, leadership, grass roots advocacy and more. Don't miss out on the opportunity to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and empower your community.
Housing Strategies Peer Exchange
The Community Development Office is hosting a monthly peer exchange series for local governments working on affordable housing strategies and land use issues. Each month will feature a different topic with presentations from selected Colorado communities, with ample time allowed for questions and discussion.
This interactive virtual series will take place on the third Thursday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. Register for the series to add the Zoom event to your calendar and receive updates about future scheduled topics. Upcoming and previous events are listed below with links to the videos and presentations.
CML Effective Governance On the Road: Ridgway
We are bringing CML's popular Effective Governance workshop on the road to our members. This interactive workshop focuses on practical governance skills from staff/council relationships, ethics, liability, open meetings, leadership, grass roots advocacy and more. Don't miss out on the opportunity to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and empower your community.
Serving two Masters – How Economic Developers Impact Municipal and Business Finance
If there was one lesson that came out of the pandemic, the power of collaboration and connectivity has led to incredible advancements in today’s economy. EDCC continues its tradition of fostering a network of economic development professionals in this 2-part series, that will strengthen the performance of Economic Development Organizations (EDO), cultivate industry connections, and promote the industry and profession that will contribute to a robust constellation of EDO’s across Colorado.
Objectives:
- Cultivate high-performing Economic Development Organizations.
- Strengthen Colorado’s constellation of Economic Development Organizations across the state.
- Build a professional development network that nurturer’s well-educated and engaged professionals.
About this series:
As economic developers, we play a unique role in balancing the needs of the various stakeholders in our communities and act as a key resource for municipal and business leadership. Join us as we explore the intersection of business and municipal finance where we’ll discuss the challenges facing both sectors and the unique role that economic developers play in serving two masters.
AIA Colorado: Business of Architecture - Owner Burnout
Join AIA Colorado’s Business of Architecture Committee for a roundtable discussion. This is a hybrid event, taking place in person and via Teams.
When: Wednesday, December 10th
Time: Networking 5:30 – 6 pm; Roundtable discussion 6 – 7:30 pm.
Teams: Available at 6 pm
Where: Neoera office: 1200 Bannock Street, Denver (street parking, parking meter)
Topic: Owner Burnout. We will discuss topics such as:
- What is owner burnout and what does it look like?
- How does an owner get to burnout stage?
- Dealing with stress
- How to release/delegate responsibilities
- Taking a sabbatical
APA Colorado Executive Committee Meeting
APA Colorado is served by an Executive Board consisting of Officers, Area Representatives, and specially appointed positions. The Board is responsible for creating and overseeing the implementation of the overall strategic mission of the organization through activities such as adopting an annual budget, setting chapter policies, and reviewing APA programs. The Board generally meets on the first Friday of every month and board meetings are open to all members to attend.
Housing Strategies Peer Exchange
The Community Development Office is hosting a monthly peer exchange series for local governments working on affordable housing strategies and land use issues. Each month will feature a different topic with presentations from selected Colorado communities, with ample time allowed for questions and discussion.
This interactive virtual series will take place on the third Thursday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. Register for the series to add the Zoom event to your calendar and receive updates about future scheduled topics. Upcoming and previous events are listed below with links to the videos and presentations.
CPI 2026 Saving Places Conference
CPI’s 2026 Saving Places Conference will highlight three monumental anniversaries to include the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (establishing a national program to protect historic and archaeological sites in the United States), the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s entrance into the Union, and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
In addition to these themes, CPI will be introducing a Preservation Workforce Track that will explore preservation trades and training.
Western Places | Western Spaces Conference
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark zoning case Euclid v. Ambler, and the 250th anniversary of our nation. As we look back and all around in order to look forward, we can’t help but think that rock legends David Bowie and Queen had it right: This is ourselves…under pressure.
2026 Denver South Annual Event
2026 Denver South Annual Event
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
More details to come!
Western Planner: Western Matters Rural Summit Conference
CPI On The Road
Join us in Buena Vista on June 13th & 14th (with an optional early check-in on June 12th) for a weekend that celebrates the rich history and vibrant cultural identity of this remarkable Colorado region! Organized by CPI and local partners, “On the Road” invites you to experience what makes Buena Vista unique. More details to follow.
This immersive, two-day event brings together local leaders, preservation professionals, and curious visitors for hands-on training, behind-the-scenes tours, and exclusive access to preservation projects that highlight the unique history and character of each host community. In addition to educational sessions and site visits, the event features a lively Taste Of celebration—an evening dedicated to showcasing the area’s local music, cuisine, artisans, and cultural traditions. With an average attendance of 75 to 150 participants, Saving Places On the Road offers a unique opportunity for communities to share their preservation successes, explore region-specific challenges, and foster meaningful connections with a statewide network of advocates.
Western Planner: 2026 Conference
2026 Colorado Planning Conference
See you in Keystone for 2026 Colorado Planning Conference!
2027 Colorado Planning Conference
See you in Colorado Springs for 2027 Colorado Planning Conference!