“Not only does Jeff create captivating designs well recognized by their many awards, he represents a level of professional engagement—in mentoring students, hosting competitions, chairing juries and writing—that advances the profession of architecture and repositions it within the community at large,” said Jury Chair Brad Tomecek, founding principal of Denver-based Tomecek Studio Architecture.

“This award is very special to me because it not only recognizes our work, it honors our firm’s larger vision of raising the level of design expectations in Colorado,” said Sheppard, who was also the AIA Colorado Architect of the Year in 2014. “My hope is that we will always expect more and not be satisfied with the status quo. It is this passion that drives us, often leading to amazing, unexpected, out-of-the-box solutions that break the mold, yet are deeply rooted in an understanding of culture and human behavior.”