Basalt Set the Bar High: Passive House Event Recap

What a night in Basalt!
Our Passive House event brought together architects, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, Passive House consultants, GCs, and other industry pros, all fully engaged from start to finish. Most were taking notes, and the focused energy in the room was undeniable.

The panel delivered more than just ideas, it was a deep dive into real-world, practical solutions. The Q&A session brought a ton of sharp, back-and-forth volleys, showing how ready our industry is for collaboration and high-performance building strategies.

A huge thank you to our incredible panelists:
• Marisol Sanchez Gallagher, AIA, CPHD – Marisol Studios
• Steven Forrester – DMA Engineering
• Enrico Bonilauri – Emu Systems
• Amanda Poindexter – Full Circle Construction
* Thank you, Elizabeth Provo for the Event coordination.

We’re already talking about planning the next Passive House event on the Front Range this winter, stay tuned! Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event a success!

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA) NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Marisol Gallagher was a panelist at the AIA’s National Conference in Boston, MA. She spoke about her expertise with sustainable technology integration for small to medium firms alongside Hafsa Burt, Barry Yoakum, and Paul Doherty, moderated by Vicki Patel.

BRINGING GCS & SUBS TO THE DESIGN TABLE

Marisol coordinated a series of knowledge share meetings to review building science concepts with contractors and their subs and discuss what they are experiencing in the field. This collaborative approach allows teams to field questions before projects go out for pricing.

FIRM EXERCISES

Bring your team together with a fun charrette that challenges them to design with well being in mind.

AIA COLORADO CONFERENCE

Shannon Wehner, Marisol Gallagher, and Jessica Hunter discuss the impacts of the Marshall Fire on local communities and CGBG’s role in providing educational material to build back better.

DENVER, CO 2023

Attending the 2023 Passive House Network Conference in Denver was an energizing experience filled with learning, collaboration, and inspiration. From deep-dive technical sessions on building systems, policy, and climate resilience to hands-on tours of Passive House homes rebuilt after the Marshall Fire, the conference showcased the growing momentum of high-performance design. It was a powerful reminder that Passive House is not just a building standard—it’s a movement toward healthier, more sustainable communities.

DENVER, CO 2024

Attending the 2024 Mass Timber Group Summit in Denver was an inspiring deep dive into the future of timber construction. Surrounded by over 260 architects, engineers, and developers, I explored everything from procurement strategies to seismic design through packed sessions and keynotes. The energy was high—truly a “drinking from a fire hose” experience. What stood out most was the spirit of collaboration and the openness to share both successes and challenges. I left with actionable insights, new connections, and a renewed commitment to integrating mass timber into our work at Marisol Studios with even more confidence and clarity. Keynote by the one and only, Japanese Architect: Shigeru Ban.

AIA COLORADO

As the former Chair of the AIA Colorado Design + Honor Awards, Marisol presented award winners with Julianne Scherer, the former AIA CO President

COLORADO GREEN BUILDING GUILD

As a Board Member of the Colorado Green Building Guild, Marisol has been a part of the fantastic team to plan the annual Green Home Tour. Visit CGBG.org for more information on upcoming tours.