OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF AIA WYOMING WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
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©2026 The Wyoming Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA WY) | The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. Wyoming Architecture is published once per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for AIA WY and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of AIA WY, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Wyoming Architecture is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of AIA WY. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. AIA Wyoming PO Box 35 Gillette, WY 82717 (307) 286-5519 info@aia-wyoming.org aia-wyoming.org PUBLICATION COVER: MHP, LLP Downtown Offices Cheyenne, WY Winters Griffith Architects Contents PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 5 Year in Review 7 2026 Upcoming AIA Events 7 2025 Board of Directors and Staff 8 Meet Jessica Howard AIA Wyoming’s New Executive Director 9 AIA Wyoming Standing Committees Why You Should Wear Another Hat 10 Government Advocacy Committee Issues on Our Radar 11 Public Awareness Committee Consistently Promoting Wyoming Architecture 12 Membership Development and Education & Resources Committees Engagement and Participation Activities 14 AIA Leadership Summit 2025 16 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025 18 A Tribute to Emily Cronbaugh Bogstie Former Executive Director of WBALA 22 Small Firm Exchange 23 2025 AIA Strategic Council Report AIA WYOMING SPRING CONFERENCE 24 Insights from the “Edges” of Architecture AIA WYOMING ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE 27 Reinvented: Rethinking What Currently Exists INDIVIDUAL HONORS 30 Eric Logan, FAIA Inducted into the AIA College of Fellows INDIVIDUAL HONORS 31 Dan Stalker, AIA Awarded the Louise Blanchard Bethune Fellowship 32 AIA College of Fellows Western Mountain Region 2025 Design Award Recipients 36 Stephan A. Pappas, A Renaissance Man 38 A Conversation With Tom Ward Reflections on Innovation, Integrity and Designing for Place 40 In Memoriam: Bob South Jan. 11, 1938-Dec. 28, 2024 41 In Memoriam: David Gerald Wellington Aug. 18, 1948-June 26, 2025 42 In Memoriam: John L. Frullo, Architect: The Exemplar Career of Dedication and Fun July 31, 1930-Mar. 17, 2020 43 2026 AIA Wyoming Calendar 44 Architectural Education Foundation 46 AIA and Associate AIA WY Member Directory 54 AIA WY Allied Member Directory 4 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Year in Review BY MITCH BLAKE, AIA In February, AIA Wyoming was represented by Jessica Howard (executive director), Ellen Martin (associate director), and myself at the annual Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. During the summit, AIA National President Evelyn Lee, FAIA, pointed out that membership in AIA National has passed 100,000 people, a big milestone for our professional organization. She identified several areas where our profession is evolving in response to emerging technologies and expanding spheres of influence. Evelyn also led an engaging panel discussion with Leah Alissa Bayer and Illya Azaroff. Leah has a virtual firm that is staffed remotely and does multi-family housing, custom residential, master planning and workplace design. Illya is the president-elect of AIA National and runs a practice focused on disaster response, climate adaptation and resilient design. Illya’s office operates on a 32-hour work week. Keynote speaker Baratunde Thurston, host of the podcasts “How to Citizen with Baratunde” and “Life with Machines” and host of the TV show “America Outdoors,” spoke on the importance of active citizenship for professionals. He shared his philosophy of using the word “citizen” as a verb, encouraging us to get involved in our communities and utilize our skills as architects for the greater good. Another item discussed at the summit was AIA National’s focus on the Framework for Design Excellence in its awards programs. They are encouraging local AIA chapters to incorporate these principles into their local awards. At the conclusion of the Leadership Summit, we went to Capitol Hill to lobby Wyoming’s congressional leadership. Jessica, Ellen, and I were privileged to meet with Senator Barrasso, Senator Lummis, and Representative Hageman, as well as their staff members, at “Wyoming Wednesday,” where we discussed the following topics given to us by AIA National: \ Design Freedom for Federal Architecture h Requested support for the Democracy in Design Act and opposition to any efforts to remove local control, hinder design freedom, or add bureaucratic hurdles for approval of federal building designs. \ Arbitrary Fee Limitations for Federal Contracts h Requested that Congress should direct the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council to amend the FAR to align with clear statutory language, pass legislation to eliminate arbitrary fee limitations and mandate Qualified Based Selection (QBS) fair fee negotiations for all architectural and engineering (A/E) design contracts across the federal government. \ Architects Support More Housing h Requested that Congress fund or expand programs that enable more affordable and workforce housing to be built. h Requested support for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. h Requested support for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. h Requested support for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Workforce Housing Tax Credit. \ Architects Support Community Resiliency h Requested that Congress act decisively to prioritize resilience in the nation’s built environment. h Requested support for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. h Requested that Congress introduce legislation similar to the Resilient AMERICA Act to better protect our communities from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. h Requested that Congress introduce legislation similar to The Shelter Act that offers a 25% tax credit for qualified disaster mitigation expenditures, capped at $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses. Also requested that Congress incentivize investments in resilience by individuals and businesses, encouraging proactive measures to protect properties and communities. 5
\ Tax Incentives for Architects h Requested that Congress protect or extend the tax relief provisions affecting the architecture profession in upcoming tax-focused legislation. h Requested support for the R&D Tax Credit. h Requested support for R&D Expensing. h Requested support for the 199A Pass-Through Deduction. h Requested support for LIHTC and Workforce Housing Tax Credit. h Requested support for the 179D Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction. h Requested support for the Historic Tax Credit (HTC). At the AIA 2025 National Conference, Roger Stewart (AIA WY president-elect), Matthew Miller (strategic council), and I represented Wyoming at the Annual Business Meeting and Candidate Caucus Meeting. The Annual Business Meeting passed three bylaw amendments and one resolution: \ College of Fellows applicants who apply but become deceased during the jury process continue to qualify. \ The quorum requirements at Institute meetings were amended such that a quorum is represented by a majority of accredited member delegates present and a majority of the Institute’s state and local chapters with member delegates. \ Vacant director-at-large positions can be filled if a board member vacates their position before their term is up; the position may be filled by the entity or individual holding original authority over filling that position, or the board will be authorized to temporarily fill the vacancy until the delegates at the annual conference can fill the position permanently. \ A resolution was established to create an official policy on AI use in the profession. The treasurer reported that 2025 was the first year that AIA balanced its operating budget without drawing from the 1735 Investment Fund following the sale of Contract Documents in 2020. Voting for national officers resulted in the following: \ Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, was elected as 2026 president-elect/2027 president. \ Jason Takeuchi, AIA, was elected as 2026-2028 at-large director. \ Lisa L. Kennedy, FAIA, was elected as 2026-2027 treasurer. On the home front, the AIA Wyoming Board of Directors and our executive director have been actively involved in developing high-quality conferences for our membership. We have had many excellent, renowned architects speak to us this year, along with great activities and building tours designed to elevate and stimulate our architectural development. This was achieved through the tireless efforts of our conference planning committees and our partnerships with generous sponsors, who contributed to our mission to improve the practice of architecture throughout the state. We encourage our members and any guests who share our commitment to design excellence, sustainability and improved practice management to attend our next conference in Casper, Wyoming, in the spring, along with our AIA Wyoming Design & Honor Awards. In addition to our inspiring conferences, we have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the AIA Western Mountain Region College of Fellows to participate in restoring the Jason Pettigrew Scholarship that promotes leadership in our profession. The scholarship will also send recipients to the AIA Leadership Summit, where they will learn leadership skills and agree to serve as the scholarship director for the following year. AIA Colorado will manage the scholarship, and we encourage any of our interested members to apply. We have been coordinating with Mike Wilson, executive director at AIA East Bay, who has created an affordable Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) study guide called “PrepARE: A Better Way to Help with the ARE.” Here are a few highlights: \ There are options to buy a license and share it with membership, to become an affiliate and sell discounted licenses, and to create a program based on their study materials. \ The program includes office hours for live tutoring. \ The cost for a license is $750 per year. \ Individuals can pay $288 per year to become Associate AIA Wyoming members and access the study guide for no additional charge, rather than pay as much as $3,300 per year for Black Spectacles. We currently have two licenses available for all Associate AIA Members to access free of charge. We are hoping that these two licenses will be effective in helping our Associate AIA Members prepare for and pass the ARE. If demand requires more licenses, AIA Wyoming will consider purchasing additional licenses. And finally, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ByDesign to feature Wyoming architects in their TV program that airs on CBS. “America ByDesign” started airing in the U.S. in 2020 and is now in its fourth season. The show has been popular enough to be aired during primetime in some major markets, and CBS is requesting 50 episodes for next year. You can watch new episodes for free on aia.org five days before they air on CBS. We recently received entries from several architects throughout the state, and “America ByDesign” has made its initial selections. Additional entries will be considered, and each project story will be 5-6 minutes long. AIA Wyoming will set the pace, but ByDesign is pushing to start production as soon as possible. 6 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
AIA Wyoming is anxious to have members join our standing committees. We want to invite everyone to consider joining one of the following: \ Education and Resources Committee \ Government Advocacy Committee \ Membership Development Committee \ Public Awareness Committee Please contact Jessica Howard at AIA Wyoming if you are interested. Keep the passion for our profession alive and continue to strive for excellence in all your work. We all benefit from a beautiful, sustainable and safe environment. 2025 Board of Directors and Staff AIA Wyoming Board of Directors and Staff (left to right): Mitch Blake, AIA, President; Brandon Daigle, AIA, Treasurer; Roger Stewart, AIA, President-Elect; Ellen Martin, Assoc. AIA, Associate Director; Carl Kohut, AIA, Secretary; Jessica Howard, Executive Director; Dale Buckingham, AIA, Past-President; Tim Schenk, AIA, Director (not pictured) 2026 Upcoming AIA Events AIA Leadership Summit Washington, D.C. Feb. 11-14, 2026 AIA Wyoming Spring Conference Casper, WY April 23-25, 2026 AIA26, AIA Conference on Architecture and Design San Diego, CA June 10-13, 2026 AIA College of Fellows - Western Mountain Region Conference and AIA Wyoming Annual Fall Conference Jackson, WY Oct. 7-9, 2026 7
Jessica Howard AIA Wyoming’s New Executive Director BY ELLEN MARTIN, ASSOC. AIA It is my pleasure to officially introduce our new executive director, Jessica Howard. Jessica came on in April 2024 and hit the ground running. Many of you have already met her at our conferences in Laramie, Jackson, Cheyenne and Sheridan. Jessica holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, as well as a Master of Business Administration. She has previous experience working as the outreach coordinator for the Wyoming Cancer Coalition, theater manager for the CAM-PLEX event facility in Gillette, and, most recently, as executive director of the Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation (GARF). I recently had the opportunity to interview Jessica: Jessica, welcome to the chapter. We’re so excited to have you working for us. What’s it like being the executive director of AIA Wyoming? What do you enjoy most about our chapter? Thanks, Ellen, I’m very excited to be here! I truly love this job. I have a passion for nonprofits and event planning, so this is a perfect fit! I love all the people I have met! All the members across the state and nationally have been so welcoming and helpful! It’s pure joy working with this group. I’m truly blessed to have found this position. We really enjoyed the icebreaker activity that the Membership Development Committee did at the last conference in Sheridan. What was your outrageous fact, and what else do you want our members to know about you? My outrageous fact was that when I was 18 years old, I was on “Judge Judy” — yes, the TV show. The cases and people on those shows are real! It was an experience for sure, and Judge Judy sided with me, so that is always a good thing! She is tiny but scary! What is one thing you took away from your first AIA Leadership Summit? I learned so much from that conference! But I really enjoyed learning about all the different resources National has for the local chapters. I also loved hearing about how people run their chapters in other states. So many great ideas. We are all unique and operate differently. Who is your favorite architect, or what is your favorite building, and why? Well, as some might know, I don’t have a background in architecture, so learning about architects and buildings has been a fun learning curve for me. I’m not sure I know enough to have a favorite yet. My favorite building I have ever been in is the Chicago Theatre; it’s beautiful inside. I was dumbfounded and took so many pictures. That was the first time I realized I really enjoyed looking at buildings and what can be done with them. What are you looking forward to? The future, of course! I’m looking to expand my knowledge of architecture, and I’m excited to be part of the Wyoming chapter. I’m also looking forward to the AIA Wyoming Design & Honor Awards! Meet 8 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
Why is it that architects wear so many hats? Maybe it’s because, as many of our conference speakers have said, we are one of the few professions that are able to effect change in the world around us. There’s a quote that’s always stuck with me from motivational speaker Scott Lang: “The more you give, the more you get.” The programming, relationships and benefits that AIA Wyoming facilitates are all thanks to the amazing volunteer work of our members. Maybe we wear so many hats because the more you give, the more you get. We host two conferences annually, publish a calendar and an annual publication, and offer SWELL events and other Membership Development Committee events throughout the year. We have achieved incredible participation in AIA National committees, including the Strategic Council, YAF and SFX. Want to wear another hat? Join a standing committee and see how your unique ideas can benefit Wyoming architects, associate members and emerging professionals. Have an architect in mind you’d like to see speak at a conference? Reach out to a conference planning committee and help get that speaker to Wyoming. Joining a standing committee — such as Public Awareness, Membership Development, Education and Resources or Government Advocacy — or a conference planning committee is a great way to share your ideas and talents, meet other professionals across the state, advance your career, and contribute to the advancement of the architectural profession. I encourage anyone interested in getting involved to reach out to our executive director, Jessica Howard, with your ideas. Many of our members have made significant contributions to AIA Wyoming. I hope they have gotten as much out of it as I have. AIA Wyoming Standing Committees Why You Should Wear Another Hat BY ELLEN MARTIN, ASSOC. AIA Overhead Door Company of Casper™ has been serving homeowners and commercial clients in Casper and the Central Wyoming area since 1968. With a reputation for quality garage doors service that we have built up over the years, we strive to put our customers first. We are a third‑generation family‑owned company, and the only local authorized dealer of the American‑made Overhead Door™ products. Whether you need a new residential garage door, the right door for your commercial application, or are in need of service, we’ve got you covered. www.ohdcasper.com (307) 266-1440 contactus@ohdcasper.com 9
Over the past year, the Government Advocacy Committee has been actively involved in a number of issues, including architectural licensure in Wyoming and new rules being considered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). They are considering opening licensure to individuals who lack accredited architectural degrees but have traveled alternative paths or internships and can pass the Architecture Registration Examination (ARE). NCARB is currently in the study phase of this issue and may need several more years to gather the necessary data. Currently, the committee is monitoring and discussing three additional issues. Protecting Homeownership At the national level, the committee is monitoring the Stop Predatory Investing Act bill, which is being considered in the 119th U.S. Congress. In the coming years, a movie may be made about the exponential increase in bank- and institution-owned homes since 2008, which led to a banking crisis that swept the United States. Presented here are samples of such bills preventing the conditions currently impacting the financial and lending markets. The federal Stop Predatory Investing Act is a bill proposed to deny interest/depreciation deductions for investors acquiring 50 or more single-family rental homes. There are also several similar state bills in process or pending. For example, Minnesota HF 685/SF 365 limits corporations, LLCs, and investment funds from purchasing or renting more than 10 single-family homes. New Mexico prefilled a bill in 2025 that would ban private equity/corporate entities from buying single-family homes. In Nebraska, Justin Wayne’s bill prohibits out-of-state corporations, hedge funds, and other entities from purchasing single-family homes unless the principal members reside in Nebraska. The Government Advocacy Committee is discussing how to approach this issue and help initiate conversations so that the Wyoming legislature is aware and can begin a discussion to prepare and pass bills that protect homeownership and the financial health of local communities. Improving Document Quality The second issue the committee is studying is the apparent decline in the quality of construction documents being issued by architects and engineers. At the AIA Wyoming Conference held in April, the Board met with a representative from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department who indicated that there has been a continual decline in the completeness and coordination of construction documents over the last several years. The committee is considering leading or participating in a study group of design professionals, contractors, facilities personnel and owners to determine root causes of the decline and possible solutions to help practitioners assemble better document sets. Securing Construction Funding Finally, as part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, the AIA Wyoming Government Advocacy Committee is joining fellow AEC professionals in urging the Wyoming legislature and Joint Appropriations Committee to restore and maintain a consistent capital construction budget. This funding is vital to the health of our communities, the stability of our economy and the sustainability of our profession. The construction industry contributes significantly to Wyoming’s GDP and workforce, and the absence of a capital construction bill over the past two sessions has created serious challenges — resulting in compressed timelines, inflated costs and unpredictable workloads for architects, engineers and contractors alike. We are also advocating for a dependable annual maintenance schedule for state-owned assets to ensure long-term infrastructure integrity and fiscal responsibility. A stable capital construction budget is not just about buildings; it’s about investing in the people and communities who rely on this work to thrive. We encourage all members to stay engaged and support this critical initiative for the future of our state and profession. Being a part of the Government Advocacy Committee is a great way to stay on top of the issues that our industry faces. We welcome our members and industry partners to join the committee, join our meetings or just inform us of pending issues in the design and construction world. Government Advocacy Committee Issues on Our Radar BY DALE BUCKINGHAM, AIA AND LEWIS MATTHEW MILLER, AIA Committee Members: Lewis Matthew Miller, AIA Brandon Daigle, AIA Will Wedemeyer, AIA Cornelius Kinsey, AIA Will Wheatley, AIA Lyle Murtha, AIA Dale Buckingham, AIA 10 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
Public Awareness Committee Consistently Promoting Wyoming Architecture BY ANTHONY JACOBSEN, AIA Over the past decade, the Public Awareness Committee has consistently sought to bring awareness to the public and promote architecture throughout Wyoming. We help educate the public regarding the great projects and the impact this profession has on everyone’s life. Our committee is dedicated to promoting architecture — specifically Wyoming architecture — by engaging with the public and membership in multiple ways to keep everyone informed and educated, while also strengthening our relationships with industry partners. The Wyoming Architecture publication is a staple for AIA Wyoming and plays a crucial role in raising awareness of important projects and the architects who bring them to life. We are very grateful to everyone who provides information that goes into this publication, and we look forward to continuing to develop this valuable resource that benefits all Wyoming architects. We are particularly excited to continue spotlighting architects who have extensive experience in both architecture and life. These interviews provide a wealth of knowledge and fascinating insights into the architects’ contributions to society and the lessons they have learned. Don’t miss the spotlight articles in this year’s publication! You can explore spotlight articles from previous AIA Wyoming publications online at www.aia-wyoming.org. The 2026 calendar has been printed and is now available. Please contact the Public Awareness Committee to obtain a copy or request multiple copies for distribution or sharing. As always, the images in the calendar feature architectural projects from across the state designed by AIA Wyoming architects. Next year, we plan to invite the public to participate in voting for calendar images through social media. For more information on AIA Wyoming calendars, refer to page 43 of this publication or contact info@aia-wyoming.org. Our AIA Wyoming Instagram account is a valuable resource for staying up-to-date with Wyoming’s architectural projects and discovering the possibilities this great state has to offer. Be sure to follow along (and invite colleagues and other interested professionals to follow too) for award announcements, previous calendar entries and submissions, and more at www.instagram.com/aiawyoming (@aiawyoming). We cross-post content from our Instagram account to our Facebook page (and vice versa), so you can follow along on either platform. National Architecture Week will be celebrated April 12-18, 2026, and the Public Awareness Committee plans to extend the celebration throughout the month. AIA Wyoming will be holding its Spring Conference in April and will be inviting the public to join us on our project tours to celebrate the occasion. The Public Awareness Committee continues to inform the public about the great community of architects in Wyoming and their impact on all our lives. One of our committee members, Andrea Haro, moved out of state this year, and we are grateful for all the work she did on the calendar and for her service to the committee. We’re looking for an additional member to fill the opening on our committee. We are always open to new ideas and volunteers who can help us promote awareness of the profession through AIA Wyoming, and we look forward to expanding our outreach in 2026. Committee Members: Anthony Jacobsen, AIA, Chair Lyle Murtha, AIA Ellen Martin, Assoc. AIA Tim Schenk, AIA 11
MDC Committee Members: Britney Sulzen, AIA, Co-chair Carl Kohut, AIA Rachel Delventhal, AIA Kendra Shirley, AIA Roger Stewart, AIA Katelynn Larsen, Associate AIA E&R Committee Members: Clint Taylor, AIA, Co-chair Brandon Daigle, AIA Ansley Mouw, Associate AIA Britt Morgan, AIA Jessica Barnhouse, AIA Suzanne Norton, Associate AIA Membership Development and Education & Resources Committees Engagement and Participation Activities BY ROGER STEWART, AIA AND CLINT TAYLOR, AIA The Education & Resource Committee’s primary goals are to promote architecture to the public and provide educational resources for AIA Wyoming members, while the Membership Development Committee’s primary goal is to enhance the membership experience. By embracing its mission, the committee organizes activities for members, associate members, non-members and industry partners at the two chapter conferences and provides other membership events throughout the year. These activities allow people to engage in conversation, network and provide opportunities for young professionals to meet seasoned architects and potential mentors. With a small group of volunteers, our committee continues to host these events and brainstorm new ways to expand our membership, recruit new committee and chapter members to enhance and grow the AIA Wyoming membership experience. As a joint committee, our members do a fantastic job of meeting these blended goals in several events. The SWELL (Second Wednesday Educational Lunch & Learn) program is in its second year. In 2025, we hosted two events: Acoustical Elements in Casper and Structural Implications in the New Building Code in Cheyenne. We are seeking firms in the state to host a SWELL event in their offices, where industry partners can join in person and virtually for group education and networking. If you are interested in hosting one of our events next year, please contact any of our committee members. Only one interactive Design Share event took place in Jackson this past year, featuring presentations by local architects who highlighted a single project to showcase their design approach. If you have a project you would like to share at a Design Share event, please get in touch with any of the committee members. The committee continued its tradition of hosting icebreakers and networking mixers at the Spring Conference in Cheyenne and the Fall Conference in Sheridan. In Cheyenne, we hosted Bingo for Architects at the Welcome to Wyoming Visitors’ Center, followed by food and videos after a tour of Railspur. In Sheridan, we hosted a tour and social mixer at the Warehouse Gastropub, followed by a picnic at the EMIT Building the next day. Katelynn Larson is starting up an ARE Study Group with an associated Discord server. Members will have access to PrepARE study materials that the Board secured through AIA East Bay. If you are looking to take your AREs or know an AIA Wyoming member who is, please reach out to Katelynn for complimentary study materials. Roger Stewart and Carl Kohut are our committees’ liaisons to the AIA Wyoming Board of Directors; Britney Sulzen represents AIA Wyoming on the National Associates Committee (NAC); Kenra Shirley represents AIA Wyoming on the national Young Architects Forum (YAF); Roger Stewart and Jessica Howard are AIA 12 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
Wyoming’s Continuing Education Services (CES) coordinators; and Clint Taylor is one of AIA Wyoming’s two NCARB Architect Licensing Advisors. Having these committee members report on what other chapters in the region and across the country are doing helps us provide the best services to our members. E&R Classroom Visit Clint Taylor, AIA, and Stephanie Lowe, Associate AIA, of TDSi, were invited to speak to a third-grade class at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Cheyenne on Oct. 16. Former Education & Resources Committee member Doug Selby, AIA, had been presenting to the third-grade class at this school for the past several years. However, his new grandchild in Fort Collins was cutting into his time. The 13 students had been discussing architecture for several weeks. They had gone on a guided trolley tour, finding architectural elements on various historic buildings in Cheyenne, before building models of their favorite buildings from the tour. The students had an outstanding vocabulary of architectural terms. Clint and Stephanie’s visit was the culmination of the class’s module on architecture. The students reviewed the drawings of St. Mary’s Catholic School (TDSi, 2006) and identified items from their classroom in the various plans, elevations, and sections. The session ended with a bridge-building competition. Students worked in groups of two or three to build a bridge that could support a paper cup containing 20 pennies. Each group was given 20 plastic drinking straws, five paper clips, 3 feet of string and 3 feet of masking tape and had 15 minutes to turn their materials into a bridge. Almost all the groups succeeded in the task, and two of the bridges were able to support a paper cup full of pennies. (We didn’t count the pennies, but there were a lot of them!) It was apparent from listening to the students that most of them had been discussing architecture with their parents during this module. We hope we were able to continue Doug Selby’s work to educate the public through the eyes of these third graders. One student even proclaimed they wanted to be an architect when they grew up. Thank you to Christine Bronder for incorporating architecture into these students’ education. As a third generation commercial glazing company we are constantly striving to be the best in our industry. There is no project too big or too small for us to handle. Whether we fabricate the job for you to install or install the material ourselves, we are the premier commercial glaziers that you want on the job. 307-266-1440 • INFO@AGCWYO.COM • WWW.AGCWYO.COM 13
In February, AIA Wyoming was represented by Jessica Howard (executive director), Ellen Martin (associate director), and myself at the annual Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. In the opening keynote, AIA National President Evelyn Lee, FAIA, noted that membership in AIA National has surpassed 100,000 people, marking a significant milestone for our professional organization. She also identified several areas where our profession is evolving in response to emerging technologies and expanding spheres of influence, and explored alternative career paths in architecture. Evelyn lead an engaging panel discussion with Leah Alissa Bayer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, who runs a remotely-staffed, virtual firm specializing in multi-family housing, custom residential, master planning, and workplace design, and Illya Azaroff, FAIA, who is our president-elect for AIA National and runs a practice focused on disaster response, climate adaptation, resilient design, and regenerative planning strategies. Illya’s office operates on a 32-hour work week schedule, which caught everyone’s attention. Baratunde Thurston provided another keynote address, “How to Citizen.” Baratunde is the writer and host of the AIA Leadership Summit 2025 BY MITCH BLAKE, AIA podcasts “How to Citizen with Baratunde” and “Life with Machines,” as well as the host of the TV show “America Outdoors.” He spoke about using the word “citizen” as a verb, and suggested that there are four key elements to being a “citizen architect”: 1. Show up and participate. 2. Understand power (i.e., influence). 3. Commit to the collective, not individual power. 4. Invest in relationships. There were several excellent breakout sessions centered on contributing to design, developing our local AIA chapters, and understanding AIA National policies. One that caught my attention was AIA National’s focus on using the Framework for Design Excellence in their award programs. They encouraged individual chapters to incorporate these principles into their local awards. Wyoming Wednesday: Meeting Wyoming’s Congressional Leadership Following the keynote and breakout sessions, Jessica, Ellen, and I went to Capitol Hill to lobby Wyoming’s congressional leadership. We were fortunate to meet with Senators Barrasso and Lummis, as well as Congresswoman Hageman, at “Wyoming Wednesday” in the Dirkin Senate Building. We were able to spend a fair amount of time with their staff members discussing the following issues. 14 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
Design Freedom for Federal Architecture The Ask: Support the Democracy in Design Act and oppose any efforts to remove local control, hinder design freedom, or add bureaucratic hurdles for approval of federal building designs. Arbitrary Fee Limitations for Federal Contracts The Ask: Direct the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council to amend the FAR to align with clear statutory language, and pass legislation to eliminate arbitrary fee limitations and mandate Qualified Based Selection (QBS) fair fee negotiations for all architectural and engineering (A/E) design contracts across the federal government. Architects Support More Housing The Ask: Fund or expand programs that enable the construction of affordable and workforce housing. \ Support the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. \ Support Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. \ Support Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Workforce Housing Tax Credit. Architects Support Community Resiliency The Ask: Act decisively to prioritize resilience in the nation’s built environment. \ Support FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. \ Introduce legislation similar to the Resilient AMERICA Act to better protect our communities from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. \ Introduce legislation similar to The Shelter Act, which offers a 25% tax credit for qualified disaster mitigation expenditures, capped at $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses. Incentivize investments in resilience by individuals and businesses, encouraging proactive measures to protect properties and communities. Tax Incentives for Architects The Ask: Protect or extend the tax relief provisions affecting the architecture profession in upcoming tax-focused legislation. \ Support the R&D Tax Credit. \ Support R&D Expensing. \ Support 199A Pass-Through Deduction. \ Support Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Workforce Housing Tax Credit. \ Support 179D Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction. \ Support the Historic Tax Credit (HTC). 15
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025 BY LEWIS MATTHEW MILLER, AIA, ROGER STEWART, AIA, AND MITCH BLAKE, AIA The AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025 (AIA25) in Boston was my first opportunity to attend the national conference as a representative of the SFX board and a member of the AIA Strategic Council. It made for an eventful conference composed mainly of meetings held at the conference center and adjacent hotels. Many of the discussions centered around what had worked over the last century for the American Institute of Architects and the Institute’s support of the profession. The harbor cruise was a highlight, as the city boasts many excellent examples of public spaces, buildings, and vibrant commercial areas. The integration of landscape and walkways was impressive, providing numerous spaces for informal discussions. Meeting up with Roger Stewart for lunch at the harbor was another highlight of the trip. Many of this year’s speakers addressed the work of architects, the need for architecture and the importance of architectural participation in the development of holistic cities. Discussions on technology and AI were more muted than they have been in recent years. The use and limits of these tools are better understood, as are the intellectual property and copyright concerns. Firms openly discussed intellectual property concerns and the murky landscape surrounding RFPs that can be compiled in seconds (though they may amount to little more than illusions of coherent project proposals). Another topic that was broached during roundtable discussions was the impact of bank-owned properties, private equity-purchased properties and real estate comps on banks’ purchases of bank-owned units. A residential housing market where banks sell to other banks, who price residential units as assets and then borrow against the inflated value, leaves little room for home ownership among U.S. citizens. This condition is fundamentally changing the nature of U.S. citizenship and the contributions of residential architecture. Much of my effort with the SFX board and Strategic Council centered on the monthly feedback loop between state-appointed representatives and their respective state boards. Instead of thinking of these groups as knowledge groups, the focus was on these entities and their appointed representatives as knowledge conduits between states and the AIA national headquarters. It was clear that participation was fundamental to this aspect of state-appointed representatives and to the health of the American Institute of Architects. On June 4, Mitch Blake and Roger Stewart represented Wyoming at both the Annual Business Meeting and the Candidate Caucus Meeting. At the Annual Business Meeting, delegates passed three bylaw amendments and one resolution. The amendments included elevating members to the College of Fellows who apply but become deceased during the jury process; ensuring geographic diversity in the voting body at institute meetings; and filling vacant director-at-large positions. The resolution was to establish an official policy on the use of AI in the profession. The treasurer delivered a financial report, noting that 2025 was the first year AIA balanced its operating budget without drawing from the 1735 Investment Fund, which was established with the proceeds from the sale of AIA Contract Documents in 2020. For full details of the meeting, please scan the QR code. https://www.aia.org/article/2025-annualbusiness-meeting-addresses-ai-usagearchitecture-fellowship-qualifications 16 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
AIA25 included a wide variety of courses and tours designed to engage and inspire us as architects. Mitch Blake attended a tour of Boston City Hall and learned how the building is being continually renovated to meet the city’s changing needs, as well as about the incredible transformation of the plaza surrounding the building, which is now much greener and more pleasant for community events. A walking tour of downtown Boston revealed the changing ideas about street lighting and the focus on lighting sidewalks, rather than streets, to control light pollution while utilizing lower lumen levels to create safety. It is interesting to note that the old gas light fixtures still create a nicer color and light quality that lighting designers and manufacturers are striving to achieve with more sustainable LED fixtures. Kermit Baker, FAIA, provided a session that was very revealing about the challenges of affordable housing across the United States. Roger and Mitch were particularly impressed with a session titled “David vs Goliath: How Small Firms Can Compete and Win.” Roger invited the speakers from that session to present at our AIA Wyoming Fall Conference in Sheridan, which they accepted. Finally, the vast exhibit hall was packed with an impressive group of vendors, service providers and other valuable resources. We recommend that our AIA Wyoming members, associates and affiliates take the opportunity to attend the national conference in the future. It is sure to be well worth your time and valuable to your firm, given the exposure and education available to attendees. We encourage firms to support and, if possible, supplement their employees’ attendance at AIA26 and beyond. 17
Emily Cronbaugh Bogstie Former Executive Director of WBALA Emily in Jackson for a WBALA Meeting Emily Cronbaugh, Allison Fleury (WBALA VP), Colleen Nelson (WBALA Architect Board Member) and Aimee Bolton (WBALA Secretary/Treasurer) in Omaha for the CLARB Annual Meeting Emily’s career with the Wyoming Department of A&I Professional Licensing Boards began on Dec. 1, 2006. She worked as a licensing specialist until being promoted on Dec. 1, 2014, to the executive director position, serving several licensing boards, including the Wyoming Board of Architects and Landscape Architects (WBALA). Emily strived to provide top-notch service to all of her boards, and she did! The glowing reports she has received over the years from board members, applicants and licensees are testament to that. Her spreadsheets, graphs, and statistics elevated the reporting of licensee numbers, PLB milestones and board historical data to a new level. The A&I PLB provides administrative services to 20 licensing boards. Emily never thought solely of the boards she served; she always looked for ways to enhance all of the boards’ services. She was also our biggest morale booster and could always be relied upon to find the funniest meme or video. You could often hear her laughter throughout the office — as long as it was after 9:00 a.m. (For everything Emily was, she was NOT a morning person.) Emily accepted a position with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) and left A&I PLB in April 2025. Since then, if I had a dime for every time I’ve wanted to pick her brain over a broken statute or rule, needed to find a spreadsheet she created, or just wanted to talk to her, I would be rich! Fortunately, we keep in touch, but I still miss her every day. I wish her the best in her new adventure. I know she’ll do great things. — JoAnn Reid, Professional Licensing Boards Administrator, State of Wyoming Having been retired for a few years now, I can reflect on those who have left an impression on me, and Emily Cronbaugh was one of those people. She is an exception. She was an absolute joy to work with. She is very professional and a dedicated person in all she does. She was always prepared and ready for the task before her. She always made time to help me out, whether it was addressing Architectural Board needs or simply assisting this technologically challenged individual with computer applications or cell phone problems. She is always striving to do her best to make a difference. She is just one of those people you enjoy being associated with, whether it’s work or play. — Jerry R. Voigt, Past WBALA Board Member A Tribute to 18 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
I had the pleasure of working with Emily during her tenure as executive director for WBALA. Throughout her many years in this role, Emily consistently demonstrated exceptional organization, a sharp intellect and a keen ability to solve problems with efficiency and creativity. Her deep knowledge of our professions — and the regulations that guide them — was evident in every interaction. She remained fully engaged with the board’s work, providing valuable insight and guidance with a balance of professionalism and wit that made her not only an effective leader but also a joy to collaborate with. Emily is someone I’ve always admired for her intelligence, integrity and dedication. Beyond being a great colleague, she is a dear friend whose presence has made a lasting impact on all of us. — Allison Fleury, Past WBALA Vice President Emily was fabulous to work with. As a new board member, she made me feel welcome to the board and was generous with her time (which she didn’t have much of) to ensure I understood my new role and had all my questions answered. With her knowledge, kindness and sharp wit, I’m going to miss her! — Colleen J. Nelson, AIA, WBALA Board Member Emily receiving the 2025 NCARB Presidential Medal from NCARB President VanTine Andy (NCARB Moderator), Emily Cronbaugh and Katie Wilson (WBALA President) speaking at NCARB Summit Having the opportunity to work with Emily for my first term on the WBALA was awesome! Emily strives for greatness and wants to see those around her succeed. She brought a depth of knowledge to our board, drawing on her extensive experience gained while working for the State of Wyoming. Her willingness to get involved and play an active role on committees and boards for NCARB and CLARB was a gift to WBALA. The resources and friendships made available to me and our board members are broad and deep — and directly a result of Emily’s inclusive and fun nature. We already miss her, but love that she is being challenged and growing in new ways. All the best to you, Emily! — Aimee E. Bolton, AIA, WBALA Secretary/Treasurer 19
I have worked with Emily for over a decade, sharing many projects, conversations and challenges through our partnership between AIA Wyoming and WBALA. More importantly, we shared progress and advancement in the profession of architecture in Wyoming and were often commended by other states. We collaborated on educational programming for the public using grants we applied for and received from WBALA, as well as provided high-level continuing education programming for architects. We convened our Board of Directors for a discussion on ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the general public. We met routinely to discuss how to educate the public on the importance and value of licensed professionals. Emily was responsible for multiple state licensing boards, but it was still important to her to participate in the meetings of AIA Wyoming. She made herself available to our members to address their questions and concerns, whether they were seasoned architects or emerging professionals just entering the workforce. Our members valued that relationship as they knew who to turn to with licensing and regulatory questions. Emily didn’t just lead, she inspired. She is praised for her leadership style marked by accountability, consistency and kindness. I close with appreciation for Emily’s dedication, laughter and making a difference. — Susan Menghini, Past Executive Director, AIA Wyoming Katie Wilson (WBALA President), Emily Cronbaugh, Allison Fleury (WBALA VP), Colleen Nelson (WBALA Board Member) and Veronica Meadows (CLARB) in Scottsdale, AZ, for the NCARB Annual Business Meeting after Emily received the 2025 NCARB Presidential Medal Emily Cronbaugh and Susan Menghini (Former AIA WY ED) in Casper, WY, after the AIA WY Fall Conference Tour and Membership Development Event Susan Menghini (Former AIA WY ED), Katie Wilson (WBALA President), and Emily Cronbaugh in Jackson, WY, for an AIA WY Fall Conference 20 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .25
Many thanks to Emily for warmly welcoming this public member and coaching her through even the most basic of presidential duties. I learned a great deal about government, but also about what it means to serve the public, as her dedication shines through in everything she does. I’m proud to call Emily a friend and role model, and I feel privileged to have been in her orbit during my years on the board. — Vicky Zero, Former WBALA President As a member of WBALA, I worked with Emily for several years and enjoyed her intelligence, outstanding good humor and incredible attention to detail. She also had the ability to see the “whole picture” and put her knowledge into perspective. She was a critical asset in guiding our board members, assisting us with our duties and even gently chiding us when we needed to move forward on something that had been stalled. When I went with a group of board members to the annual NCARB convention, Emily accompanied us. At one point, I decided to interview two opposing candidates for high office in the national organization and invited Emily to participate. Although she asked a few questions, I did most of the asking, and the candidates did most of the talking. We conferred later and agreed on the candidate we would later recommend to our board. When it came time, several months later, to explain our recommendation to our board members, I made a few comments and asked Emily if she had anything to add. She quickly retrieved her notes and delivered an incredibly cogent report of the interviews — well beyond what I had explained — making the entire board feel well-informed when it made its decision. That’s the kind of quiet delivery combined with a high level of competence that Emily brought to the board, and we appreciated it immensely. — Tim Belton, AIA Emeritus, Past WBALA Board Member Veronica Meadows (CLARB), Aimee Bolton (WBALA Secretary/Treasurer), Colleen Nelson (WBALA Board Member), Allison Fleury (WBALA VP), Katie Wilson (WBALA President) and Emily Cronbaugh in Jackson, WY, after the WBALA Board Meeting and Strategic Planning It was bittersweet news to learn that Emily was taking a new position at CLARB. She has earned an amazing opportunity and will serve the organization incredibly well. It’s wonderful to see people you care about succeed, but it’s a huge loss for WBALA and, selfishly, for me. I knew we would still have the friendship we built and would still get to work together from time to time, but I dearly miss working closely with Emily regularly. Emily works hard … maybe even too hard. I swear that we would be discussing something, and within hours, she would have whipped up a spreadsheet and at least three charts or infographics regarding the topic. Some days her job could be thankless, but she still managed to go above and beyond. Emily is an incredible source of information. Whenever I had a question, she not only answered it but also connected me with experts and directed me to resources where I could learn more. She is also never shy about asking tough questions or pushing boundaries when they need to be stretched. She listens attentively, works to understand others and is confident when voicing her opinions. Emily builds strong relationships. She connects with people, whether it’s a new board member or networking with colleagues. She has a gift for interacting with others. People are drawn to her quick wit, sharp mind and kind heart. Earlier this year, Emily was awarded the 2025 NCARB Presidential Medal at the Annual Business Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. President VanTine boasted about her numerous contributions to the organization, including service on the Member Board Executive Committee, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and several other committees. She was also pivotal in guiding Wyoming through the needed regulatory changes to allow multiple pathways to initial architectural licensure. The award was a BIG deal, and she truly earned it. I cannot thank her enough for her leadership, mentorship and friendship. — Katie Wilson, AIA, WBALA President 21
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