Class of 2025

Connections through design

Allyson Maturey — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:11:14 +0000

Connections through design Allyson Maturey Wed, 05/07/2025 - 10:11

For Serena Langdon-Dimidjian, a graduate with a dual degree in architecture and ethnic studies, design is about building community, asking deeper questions, and making space for connection. As this year’s outstanding graduate in environmental design, she has spent the past four years discovering how architecture can bridge design and social impact.

Hands-on design in Colombia

One of Langdon-Dimidjian's most memorable projects was from a global seminar in Medellín, Colombia, during the summer of her sophomore year. Alongside students from the Universidad de San Buenaventura, she and other ENVD students co-designed and constructed an outdoor kitchen and workshop space. “Living with host families and learning in such a hands-on, cross-cultural environment taught me so much about design practice and process,” she said. “It was a great reminder of how design can build real and lasting connections.”

Community near and far

In addition to spending time in Colombia, Langdon-Dimidjian spent a semester studying in Granada, Spain. She considers this one of the most meaningful experiences from her time at CU, where it taught her the value of exploring unfamiliar places, new experiences, learning both in and outside the classroom, and stepping outside comfort zones.

“More than anything, I’m endlessly grateful for the friendships I’ve built here and the supportive, inspiring community of peers, professors, and staff who made CU feel like home,” she said.

Making memories

One of Langdon-Dimidjian's favorite memories is from this spring when her capstone studio took a “ski day” to Eldora Mountain, a ski area in Nederland, Colorado. “We were working on redesigning one of the lodges there, so getting out on the mountain and actually experiencing the site in person was such a cool way to connect with the project,” she said. “And it was amazing to have a studio day on the slopes!”

Langdon-Dimidjian's cheat sheet for underclassmen

If you press the button twice on the vending machine at CINC, it will give you two Starbucks coffees instead of one. Always go to the end-of-semester clean-out for model materials. Make friends with someone who works at the DMC, and don't forget that McGuckin's has everything!

Milestones

For Langdon-Dimidjian, graduating is a key milestone for her education and one she is deeply proud of. “It represents not just years of hard work, but also the support, resilience, and determination that my classmates and I have shared throughout our time in the program,” she shared. “We’ve been through so much together, and as we cross the stage, we carry with us our families, our histories, and the stories that shaped us.”

Langdon-Dimidjian will graduate summa cum laude for her honors thesis in architecture, where she conducted a participant-based research study. Following graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school, continuing the research and design thinking that have defined her undergraduate journey.

“That process taught me how to ask better questions, engage deeply with communities, and explore complex ideas through design,” she said. “I was lucky to work alongside an incredible cohort of students who pushed me to grow, and I’m excited to continue this kind of research in the future. ENVD helped me develop a sense of curiosity and taught me to think critically about the built environment and the world around me.”

For Serena Langdon-Dimidjian, design is about building community, asking deeper questions, and making space for connection. As this year’s outstanding graduate in environmental design, she has spent the past four years discovering how architecture can bridge design and social impact.

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Connect, protect, restore

Allyson Maturey — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:51:34 +0000

Connect, protect, restore Allyson Maturey Wed, 05/07/2025 - 09:51

Blending her design education with influences from ecology and evolutionary biology, Rachel Martino is on her way to design landscapes that connect, protect and restore. As this year’s distinguished graduate in landscape architecture, Martino reflects on what she considers to be one of the biggest lessons from her time at ENVD.

“I think that the greatest lesson ENVD taught me is how to visualize a better world and then develop innovative and well-researched solutions to make that world a reality,” she shared.

In the moment

Reminiscing about the past four years brings back fond memories for Martino. One of her favorite memories is participating in a tree planting event hosted by the student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). “I was able to help select trees, including a Ginkgo–one of my favorites–to be planted on the Wolf [Law Building] lawn,” she shared. Seeing the project through, from start to finish, is what stands out the most for her.

Considering the future and when it comes to advice for other students, Martino encourages her peers to embrace growth by exploring design outside their comfort zone. “You will get what you put in,” she said. “One thing I wish I knew in the beginning is that the only way to grow as a student and a designer is to push yourself beyond what you are capable of.”

Designing for resilience

Martino is especially proud of her design proposal for her senior capstone project. Titled Reclaiming the Floodplain: Creating a New Ecological Edge at the Gateway to Boulder, the design site is located in ɫ��Ƶ�� South and addresses the issue of flooding in the area.

“I focus on expanding the South Boulder Creek floodplain to inundate a series of constructed wetlands, while a berm and a floodwall help protect nearby residents from extreme flood events,” she said.

Graduation and beyond

Martino describes graduating as a culmination of effort and perseverance. “It also represents all the wonderful love and encouragement that I have received from family and friends,” she shared. “I am so thankful for their support.”

After graduation, Martino will pursue a career in landscape architecture. She is confident in her degree and the experience she’ll carry with her into the real world.

“I can’t tell you where I'll be in six months, but ENVD has prepared me to be adaptable and take advantage of opportunities,” she said.

Blending her design education with influences from ecology and evolutionary biology, Rachel Martino is on her way to design landscapes that connect, protect and restore.

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Designing with purpose

Allyson Maturey — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:38:23 +0000

Designing with purpose Allyson Maturey Wed, 05/07/2025 - 09:38

The Collaborator received top honors in the Synthux Hackathon 2024, a global competition supported by his ATLS sound lab class.

From global UX hackathons to instructing a tech series to underclassmen, Nick Lankau, this year’s Distinguished Graduate in environmental products of design, leaves ENVD with a toolkit shaped by creativity and empathy, with a drive to make things that matter.

Pairing his ENVD major with a minor in creative technology and engineering, Lankau’s education blended artistry and engineering, combining creativity with purpose. He considers The Collaborator to be one of his standout projects.

“The prompt was virtual human connection,” Lankau said. “Our group settled on making a four-person, collaborative music device, with quantized inputs to allow people of any music ability to jam with their friends.”

Teaching with empathy

When Lankau was in second grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia. School experiences were challenging to navigate. “I always swore that if I were ever in the teacher’s position, I would be more empathetic and aware of students’ challenges, especially those with learning disabilities,” he recalled.

That vow came full circle when Lankau got to instruct the ENVD tech series for four semesters. “It was incredible to meet all these students who were one to two years younger than me, and to teach them through the experiences of going through the exact same class, and what I would’ve done differently on projects,” he said. “I tried to make it as exciting and as engaging as possible.”

Lankau’s cheat sheet for underclassmen

These aren’t just motivational phrases–they’re key strategies from someone who’s experienced designing, prototyping, and pulling all-nighters to bring an idea to life.

Procrastination is your enemy. Perfection isn't real. Using the right tool for the job will save you hours of frustration AND give you a better result. Take learning into your own hands. The internet usually has the answer. You're more capable than you think. Starting is the hard part. Put in the work. Try hard. Play hard, and if you're not having fun, then you're doing it wrong.

College in candid moments

It wasn’t one specific moment that defined his college experience, but rather the collective rhythm of it all. Late nights in the studios. Celebrations after a final pinup. Field trips to art museums and tea houses. A warm day at the creek. Seeing a local band play at a house concert. Stopping to appreciate the design of something or trying to see how it works, having the best company to do all the above with.

Reflections and the road ahead

As Lankau prepares for the big day, it’s a transition he recognizes as bittersweet. “It’s been a wonderful experience here at CU,” he said. “It’s strange not to be a student anymore and to enter the ‘real world,’ but equally exciting. I just hope that I keep having the ability to make the things that I’m passionate about.”

After graduation, he’s heading to Denver to begin his design career, with plans to launch his own company one day. As he translates his education into the job market, he holds deep appreciation for the unique perspective the EPOD major instilled in him. “What makes this program special is that we’re taught to care deeply about the impact of what we create,” he shared.

Navigating a world where values and viability often collide, Lankau leaves ɫ��Ƶ�� equipped with the conviction and clarity to seek out the balance. “It’s a hard balance–to want to make meaningful work, to need to support yourself, and to not compromise your values in the process–but ENVD gave me the awareness, the empathy, and the drive to keep navigating that tension,” he said.

From global UX hackathons to instructing a tech series to underclassmen, Nick Lankau leaves ENVD with a toolkit shaped by creativity and empathy, with a drive to make things that matter.

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Finding community

Allyson Maturey — Tue, 06 May 2025 23:54:23 +0000

Finding community Allyson Maturey Tue, 05/06/2025 - 17:54

Allyson Maturey

For Jillian Draheim, this year’s Distinguished Graduate in sustainable planning & urban design, graduating from environmental design isn’t just a milestone, it’s a launching pad. Over the past four years, she’s built a rich academic foundation, forged deep friendships, and discovered a design philosophy rooted in community engagement, creativity and sustainability.

Transforming industrial waste

Reminiscing about past projects, Draheim is most proud of one from her 2100 planning studio. The task? Redesigning an abandoned industrial site, on the edge of downtown Longmont, into a thriving community. “It was based around a transit station and focused on providing more opportunities for affordable and missing middle housing,” Draheim said.

This was her first semester-long studio. One where she and other students got to dive into details and use new programs to create more professional graphic presentation elements. “My favorite part of this project was balancing technical planning elements with elements of fun and whimsy,” she said.

Spring in Copenhagen

Draheim’s junior year took her across the Atlantic to Copenhagen. Living abroad blossomed new memories, and through her spring classes, the experience offered new opportunities and perspectives. “Going abroad was inspirational,” she reflects. “The new landscapes and even just being in a new studio environment were invaluable. Copenhagen is such a sustainable and people-focused city, and it has influenced my approach to planning and urban design.”

More than coursework

The heart of Draheim’s college experience wasn’t just completing coursework or spending time in the design studio–it was in the community. “The relationships you build in the four years at CU are just as important to the college experience as the education,” she said.

“Finding your people and having a support system is imperative, and I have learned far more from my friends and peers than I could’ve from just formal education.”

At an end-of-year jubilee event, during her freshman year, there’s a moment that stands out as her favorite. “It was one of those times where you look around at the people surrounding you and have a feeling–you know you made the right decision coming to Boulder and being in ENVD,” she said.

What’s next?

With graduation on the horizon, Draheim acknowledges this accomplishment. “As much as I feel that I have grown in the last four years, I know this next step will be another time of self-discovery, which is equally terrifying and exciting,” she said. So, what’s next?

She is setting her sights on Chicago, where she hopes to enter the private sector of urban planning and design. “ENVD has helped prepare me by giving me a strong interdisciplinary education that balances elements of design and technical planning,” she said. “This has opened the different types of work that I feel interested in and qualified for.”

For Jillian Draheim, graduating from environmental design isn’t just a milestone–it’s a launching pad. She spent the past four years building a rich academic foundation, forged deep friendships, and discovered a design philosophy rooted in community engagement, creativity and sustainability.

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