I Am AIA:

Chris Colley AIA, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA

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I started my career with LMN, Mahlum, and SRG, focusing on K-12 and community college projects delivered through design-bid-build. After collaborating with Forma Construction, I joined their team to gain the builder’s perspective—first as a project engineer, then as a project manager. That path led naturally to preconstruction, where I found the right balance of strategy and collaboration. Now at Graham, I focus on building integrated teams and aligning design, construction, and owner stakeholders to break down communication barriers and deliver successful projects.

WHY DID YOU JOIN AIA SEATTLE?

I joined AIA Seattle to reconnect with my design roots. Working as a General Contractor, it’s easy to slide deep into construction mode. Getting involved with AIA helps me keep one foot in the world of design—and makes sure I’m still fluent in both dialects of the built environment.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

At the heart of it, I’m a translator and communicator. Architects, engineers, subcontractors, owners—they all speak their own language. While my role shifts day-to-day, the common thread is making sure everyone’s on the same page and communication flows smoothly across the project. After all, only architects use the word “fenestration,” and framers wish everyone dimensioned to the face of stud!

WHERE IS THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, OR ENGINEERING HEADED?

I hope to see the silos within architecture, engineering, and construction continue to break down. The goal is to create thoughtful, collaborative teams that design beautiful, people-centered spaces while still respecting the realities of budgets and schedules. We’re fortunate to have such a strong, supportive community of professionals here in Seattle and across the state.

CAN DESIGN SAVE THE WORLD?

Not on its own, but it’s definitely part of the team that can.