"Neutraface 2 Text Book",sans-serif’>PRESS RELEASE
ChiefBuilding Official Stephen Kanipe Retiring After 30 Years of Service
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Contact: Stephen Kanipe, ChiefBuilding Official, 970-429-2766 or Stephen.kanipe@cityofaspen.com; Jessica Garrow,
Community Development Director, 970-429-2780 or Jessica.garrow@cityofaspen.com
Aspen, Colorado – January 2, 2019 –bold’> Stephen Kanipe, the City of Aspen’s Chief Building Official is retiringafter working for local government for 30 years. Kanipe started with the City of Aspen in 1989
as an entry level plans examiner when the building department was sharedbetween the City and County. Kanipe
worked diligently to bring Aspen’s new buildings like The Little Nell intocompliance. He coordinated the plan
reviews and inspections on some of Aspen’s largest buildings like the RitzCarlton, now the St. Regis and the Highlands Base Village.
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“It was like being on the Olympics of building
departments because we saw things that only big jurisdictions got to see but wewere doing it here in our little town. I loved it and I still love it,” Kanipe
said. “Working on Harris Hall, the musictent, the ARC, and some very unique houses have all been great experiences
during my career.”
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>In 1995 Kanipe became the Chief Building Officialfor the joint City and County building department. He worked to create an
atmosphere of collegiality where builders, developers, and building officialsworked together to accomplish compliance with the development codes. At that time Aspen was beginning to see
another round of large and complex buildings being planned. “Everybody took their jobs really seriouslybefore that time, but the complexity of designs and systems that were coming
onto the scene in the late 80s and early 90s really ramped up our reviews andinspections.”
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During his tenure with the City, Kanipe championed
the City’s energy code development, REMP, and worked to improve processes andfind ways to handle the demands of the construction and design community to
permit and inspect projects.
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“The way the building department is running now is
one of the things I am most proud of. It’s well respected in the community. We partner with the design and
construction community to get the best product we can. We respect those that are investing inAspen,” Kanipe said.
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“Under
Stephen’s leadership, the City has been at the forefront of building codes ofnearly 30 years. From local amendments to the IBC that end up getting
adopted by other communities, to the creation of REMP, Stephen has ensuredAspen and Colorado push the envelope on innovation and energy efficiency,” said
Jessica Garrow, City of Aspen Community Development Director.
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>Over the three decades Kanipe served the City ofAspen and the building community he wrote and reviewed three books on energy
code. Under his leadership the City ofAspen won the Harvard Innovations in Government Award in 2007 for the REMP
program, which was used as a model for governments around the country that havereplicated the program. He has spoken
around the nation about the REMP program.
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>“It was just the way we do business,” he saidreferring to the City’s energy sustainability and code initiatives. “The programs are typical of what we want
other cities to be aware of and we give it all away, that is the great part.”
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>Kanipe was appointed to the International EnergyConservation Code Development Committee and served five years, including two as
chair. He also helped develop theInternational Green Construction Code and the Renewable Energy Membership
Advisory Council Solar Rating Certification Council Standards.
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>“I’ve been to a lot of meetings,” he said with alaugh.
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Kanipe will be retiring on March 1, 2019. The
City’s search for a new Chief Building Official is underway. Therewill be an open house for the community to meet the Chief Building Official
candidates on Thursday, January 10 at 3:30pm. Look for the location to beposted on "Neutraface 2 Text Book",sans-serif’>www.cityofaspen.com next week.
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