Celebrating Achievements of Longtime Pre K-12 Education Leader

HED Celebrates the Career and Retirement of Bruce Larson, AIA, Longtime Pre K-12 Education Leader and Founder of LIA

DENVER, CO, September 3, 2026 — HED is pleased to celebrate the career and honor the retirement of Bruce Larson, AIA, principal-in-charge and national sector leader for Pre K-12 Education, whose more than four decades of practice have helped shape learning environments across Colorado and beyond.

A registered architect in Colorado and longtime advocate for thoughtful, high-performing school design, Larson has contributed to the programming and design of more than 250 school facilities throughout his career. His work has served public, private, and faith-based education and civic clients across the Denver region, including Jefferson County Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools, School District 27J, Denver Public Schools, Boulder Valley Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, the Archdiocese of Denver, and more.

Larson co-founded Larson Incitti Architects, later known as LIA, in Denver in 1998 with Pete Incitti and others, building a respected practice rooted in Pre K-12 education, civic work, community engagement, and local relationships.

“As both a friend and business partner, I’ve had the privilege of watching Bruce lead by example,” says Pete Incitti, AIA. “He has always put people first and shown us how to build lasting relationships, deliver great work, and help others grow. The schools he’s helped create are an important part of his legacy, but so are the people he’s mentored and the trust he’s earned over the years.”

In June 2024, LIA merged with HED, expanding HED’s Denver presence and strengthening the firm’s education practice with a team deeply connected to Colorado’s communities. In his decades of work, Larson has been known for a collaborative process that brings educators, administrators, students, and community stakeholders into meaningful dialogue.

Nora Brooks, AIA, LEED AP, Architect at HED, who has worked with Larson for more than 20 years, pointed to the lasting usefulness of his work.

“Bruce has contributed more than a portfolio of great schools,” says Brooks. “He’s built a team that has learned from the way he worked. He taught us to listen first, to put people at the center of every project, and never compromise on quality or integrity. Those lessons don’t retire with him.”

Larson’s design approach places public spaces and circulation at the heart of the school experience, creating flexible environments where teaching, gathering, and support functions work together with clarity and purpose.

“Schools are among the most consequential civic places we build,” says Larson. “I’ve been fortunate to work with educators, communities, colleagues, and clients who understand that good design can support curiosity, belonging, and growth. I’m proud of what we built together through LIA and now HED, and I’m especially proud of the Denver team that will continue serving these communities with care, imagination, and deep local knowledge.”

As Larson moves into retirement, HED reaffirms its commitment to the Pre K-12 sector, the Denver region, and the communities that have long been central to his work. Backed by the resources of a national integrated design firm and strengthened by the local leadership, relationships, and expertise of the Denver studio, HED will continue advancing Larson’s legacy through schools and community environments that serve students, educators, and families for generations to come.

 

About HED

HED delivers architecture and engineering excellence through integrated and all-encompassing design. They leverage imagination, purpose, process, and advocacy to create efficient, sustainable, and responsive solutions to their clients’ evolving needs. As one of the top 200 design firms in the U.S., HED serves clients in healthcare, education, mission-critical, housing, science and technology, workplace, community, and the federal government. The firm’s diverse team of 400+ professionals operates in every time zone nationwide to consistently produce award-winning projects and designs. To learn more about what they can help you achieve, visit www.hed.co.