For most kids, Saturday mornings consisted of watching cartoons; while Andrew Duckett-Emke did that too, you could also find him watching home improvement shows like This Old House. Growing up, his parents were always hunting for a historic home they could restore—so naturally, Andrew tagged along. Throughout his time in school, Andrew enjoyed math, science, history, and art. Going into architecture was a great way to combine his love of buildings with all his other passions.
With more than 25 years of experience under his belt, Andrew is now a Senior Architect III in CSHQA’s Denver office. He is responsible for identifying character-defining features of historic structures, crafting preservation strategies to protect and rehabilitate the existing buildings, recognizing code inadequacies, and coordinating structural deficiency repairs. Andrew also generates energy efficiency strategies that maintain the historic qualities of older buildings but allow for updates to accommodate more modern uses. In addition to his historic preservation work, Andrew has spent the majority of his career working in National Parks, generating a long list of impressive projects across the country.
Andrew’s favorite part of his job is being able to breathe new life into old builds, and discovering the historical background of the projects he works on in the process. He thrives in a team setting and knows that the most successful projects stem from a cooperative team of designers, engineers, owners, and contractors all working together – solidifying the owners’ goals into physical form. “When a client is passionate about their project, that energy finds its way into the project team.”
Outside of work, you can find Andrew and his partner exploring the great outdoors, trying new restaurants and wineries, or taking long walks with their rescue beagle, Finn. They’re also avid world travelers and have visited more than a dozen countries and various U.S. cities.
Education
MS, Architecture, Washington University, St. Louis
BS, Architecture, Washington University, St. Louis
Licensing and Certifications
Licensed Architect: CO
Professional Affiliations
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Denver Lower Downtown Design Review Commission (LDDRC)
Colorado Preservation Inc. Board Member (CPI)