The University of Colorado Denver has announced a $12 million pledge from architect and alumnus Don Johnson and his wife, Maria, and the Dr. C.W. Bixler Family Foundation in support of the university's College of Architecture and Planning (CAP).

The gift will be allocated to three student-focused areas: $4 million for scholarships; $4 million for international programs (the Johnsons previously created CAP's "Finland Initiatives" project); and $4 million for experiential learning initiatives — including the Design Build program, which the Johnsons have supported for many years. Experiential learning enables architecture and design students to learn by doing with their hands, often as part of a socially conscious project.

The couple's desire to give back to CAP is tied to a singular vision: making the program a recognized leader. "CAP is uniquely positioned in its location in the middle of the country, in a vibrant, growing city, to sit at the front table, including in the area of 'arid architecture'," said Don Johnson. "You will see more and more stories about issues with water, and I think it's one of the areas where CAP, in collaboration with other colleges here at the university, can become a world-renowned leader."