Taking the Long View: Design, Landscape, and Legacy | DOD 2026 Keynote Lecture

Join the Denver Architecture Foundation for an inspiring afternoon with Ray Calabro, FAIA, Principal at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, one of the nation’s most celebrated architecture firms. Renowned for creating timeless buildings that seamlessly connect people, place, and landscape, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson’s award-winning portfolio spans civic, cultural, academic, residential, and workplace projects, including iconic designs for Apple, visitor centers in our national parks, and residences that have redefined contemporary architecture.

In his engaging keynote lecture, Ray will share behind-the-scenes details of the firm’s design process, conveying and confiding the ideas, collaborations, and craftsmanship that have shaped some of his most acclaimed work. Following the presentation, Ray will be joined by Mike Albert, FASLA, Principal at Design Workshop, for a personal conversation about their decades-long partnership and recent collaboration on Highbank, one of the subjects of A Long View: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Houses 2016–2026, to be released in Fall, 2026. Together, they will explore how architecture and landscape architecture work in concert to create places of enduring beauty, environmental stewardship, and lasting community impact.

This lecture is made possible by presenting sponsor the Denver Design District, supporting sponsor Design Workshop, and venue sponsor the Historic Evans School.

About the speakers: Mike Albert believes the most enduring landscapes arise from a deep understanding of place – its ecology, history, culture, and people. Raised on a third-generation ranch, he developed an early appreciation for working landscapes and natural systems that continues to shape his design philosophy. His work seeks to reveal the unique character of every site while creating landscapes that are timeless, regenerative, and deeply connected to their surroundings.

As a Principal and Board Member at Design Workshop, Mike leads residential estates, conservation landscapes, urban districts, and planning projects. He is known for forging enduring collaborations with many of the nation’s leading architects, creating landscapes where architecture and ecology become inseparable expressions of place. His work has received more than 50 professional design awards, including fifteen National ASLA Awards.

Mike earned a Master in Landscape Architecture with distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He is committed to advancing the profession through design leadership and mentorship.

Ray Calabro’s work emphasizes the relationship of a building to its surrounding landscape; he believes that architecture is a response to the culture and spirit of each place. His buildings embody the principles of site-responsive architecture, robust forms and innovative use of material. Yet each responds differently to the special nature of client, program and place, qualities that elevate buildings to the realm of sensitive and lasting architecture. 

For nearly 30 years, Ray has led the BCJ team in a collaborative design process across a diverse range of projects, but with a special focus on extraordinary private residences in the western United States, Hawaii, and Canada. His work has been recognized with numerous national and international awards for design, and has been published in Architectural Record, ArchDaily, Dwell, The PLAN and Architectural Digest. He is a curatorial leader within BCJ and has been instrumental in the creation of its celebrated monographs, including its most recent publication A Long View. In 2014, he was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. 

About the venue: The Evans School, constructed in 1904, is one of the last surviving and most notable buildings by Denver architect David W. Dryden. Dryden’s design – inspired by the City Beautiful movement – was intended to become a prototype for Denver’s public school system. Throughout the 20th century the school’s educational mission evolved with the needs of the community, but it eventually fell victim to declining enrollment, closing in the late 1960s. The building was subsequently purchased at auction and held privately by the Eber family for over forty years, undergoing a number of substantial renovations until its sale to the current owners in 2019.

Run of Show:

• 2:30pm Doors Open and pre-sale of A Long View: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Houses 2016–2026
• 3pm Keynote Presentation begins
• 4pm Keynote Presentation concludes, followed by reception with refreshments and book sales and personalization by Ray Calabro
• 5pm Keynote concludes

Accessibility: There is an accessible entrance at the northeast side of the building and an elevator to move between floors of the building.

Refund policy: The Denver Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization. Ticket sales support the Foundation in continuing to provide quality events to the public. We are unable to provide refunds or credits for any reason less than 14 days prior to the event.

Please note that DAF tours take place rain, snow or shine. If your tour includes an outdoor portion, please dress for the weather. DAF staff will contact all attendees directly should a tour be cancelled for any reason.