Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is constructing a new skilled trades facility to help supply the demand for labor in welding; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and mechatronics.
The building will replace the 50-year-old Ted Chavez Hall and will be located at 961 Buena Vista Drive SE. Following construction, Ted Chavez East and West will be torn down.
The new facility is 60,750 square feet and costs $58.7 million, said Project Manager Maia Mullen. Funding for the project came from voter-approved bonds and the State General Fund approved by the New Mexico Legislature, according to CNM Executive Director of Physical Plant Marvin Martinez.
The new facility is yet to be named. Vigil and Associates, Architekton and Franken Construction will construct the project. Mullen said construction is set to be completed by the start of fall classes in 2025.
“The new facility is to take our skilled trades programs to the next steps with the advancement of technologies and where skilled trades are moving to,” Martinez said.
A few years ago, CNM completed a facility conditions assessment, whereby engineers and architects evaluated the school’s building infrastructure. Based on the report, Martinez said school officials found it more cost effective to construct a new facility instead of remodeling Ted Chavez Hall.
In addition to the architects and contractors involved in the project, Albuquerque Public Schools, University of New Mexico, Rio Rancho Public Schools, the Economic Development Forum and Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance all took part in the building’s visioning process.
The new building will be made up of two single-story buildings. Labs can shift in size to respond to changing needs of instruction, Mullen said. The facility is designed to adapt to the needs of future job demands, she added.
This fall, CNM expects to admit 30,000 total students, and the school has seen a high interest in welding and health care classes. They currently have a waitlist for their welding program, only admitting 90 students per term due to a lack of lab space, Chief Strategy Officer Angela Sims said.
CNM has a total of seven campuses throughout the state. The school designs each campus based on the skillset students will learn. Students at CNM have access to more than 80 programs including aviation mechanics, taught at the school’s Advanced Technology center, located at 4700 Alameda Blvd. NE.
Source: “Central New Mexico Community College to replace Ted Chavez Hall with skilled trades facility“
