work set to begin on big santa fe museum renovation

A project that has been much anticipated in New Mexico’s capital city is expected to soon see work.

The state’s Department of Cultural Affairs, along with the New Mexico Museum of Art, want to both repurpose an existing space, as well as build an addition to that space.

The Vladem Contemporary Museum will be the result of an adaptive reuse of a 22,700 square foot warehouse space that is more than 80 years old.

The site of the former Halpin State Archives Building at the southwest corner of Guadalupe Street and Montezuma Avenue will also see the construction of 12,400 square feet of new space, resulting in a combined gallery of just under 35,200 square feet.

The $12.5 million project will preserve the existing structure’s interior steel columns, while also exposing its brick walls.

Landscaping at the north entry plaza will include Aspen trees and native plants, with native and drought-tolerant plants along the complex’s east façade.

Architectural designs produced by the Albuquerque-based DNCA and Studio GP architecture firms are expected to soon be completed.

With a possible completion date of late this year or early 2021, the Vladem Contemporary Museum will house the Museum of Art’s extensive modern art and photography collection.
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The new facility will also include educational space allowing for classes, artmaking, and other hands-on activities, as well as an artist’s studio.

​By Garry Boulard

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