Kaylyn Kirby Named AIA Colorado's 2025 Young Architect of the Year

We're celebrating one of our own this month. Kaylyn Kirby, Associate Principal at Semple Brown, has been named AIA Colorado's 2025 Young Architect of the Year—an honor that recognizes exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the profession within the first decade of licensure. The award acknowledges architects who demonstrate both design excellence and unwavering commitment to advancing the field. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kaylyn and our sincere gratitude to the AIA Colorado awards committee for recognizing her remarkable contributions to architecture and community.

This recognition reflects something we've witnessed firsthand since Kaylyn joined us in 2017: her ability to listen deeply before putting pencil to paper. The jury noted that her nomination distinguished itself in a year filled with remarkable talent—a testament to how she approaches each project as both a design challenge and an opportunity to strengthen connections between people and place. Her work spans intimate renovations and large-scale civic projects, but what unites them is her commitment to creating spaces that respond authentically to their communities.

What makes this award particularly meaningful is how it captures Kaylyn's dedication to strengthening the profession for everyone. Her path to architecture began at thirteen, inspired by her grandfather's respect for the craft and the original drawings of his Colorado home designed by architect Cab Childress. That early spark has grown into passionate commitment—she serves on the AIA Colorado Board of Directors and represents Colorado on the national AIA Young Architects Forum, always working to create space for everyone at the table. As the AIA Colorado announcement noted, she is "unwavering in her commitment to the profession and its people," leading with empathy whether she's mentoring emerging professionals or tackling complex mixed-use projects. Her approach goes beyond solving architectural problems; she strives to help make both the built environment and the profession better for all.

Once again, congratulations to Kaylyn on this well-deserved recognition—a testament to her belief that architecture, both in practice and once built, can truly engage teams, communities, and users in meaningful ways.