Campuses, workforce training programs and the small businesses that grow around them all need buildings that are rugged, flexible and affordable to maintain. We build maintenance shops, training labs, storage and light-industrial space in the Santa Fe Community College District for owners who expect their buildings to work hard for a long time.
The Community College District plan covers about 17,000 acres south of Santa Fe and was incorporated into Santa Fe County’s Sustainable Land Development Code in 2016. The district hosts the campuses of Santa Fe Community College and the Institute of American Indian Arts. The community college has a 366-acre campus about 12 miles southwest of the city center, and the arts institute has a 140-acre main campus about 12 miles south of downtown Santa Fe.
That scale produces particular kinds of work: facilities buildings, vehicle and equipment storage, shops for construction and trades programs, and spin-off businesses that want to be near their students and partners. Our industrial tenant improvements and maintenance shops and service bays suit those needs.
Building for people who learn and teach
Training and teaching spaces put people near equipment, so safety is built into the layout. We plan clear aisles, visible fire exits, good lighting and ventilation, and we separate teaching areas from storage and mechanical rooms. A trades lab needs strong floors, plenty of power and a layout that allows an instructor to see every station.
We also build for change. Programs come and go, and a space that serves welding this year may serve electronics next year. Slabs, conduit sleeves and wall framing are planned so a room can be reconfigured without demolition.
Two campuses and a county plan
Santa Fe Community College lists about 4,027 undergraduates and opened its Higher Education Center in January 2015, and the Institute of American Indian Arts shares the district. Institutions of that kind have steady needs for facilities, maintenance and storage, and they draw a community of related businesses around them.
A campus also keeps its own pace. Grounds crews, facilities staff and contractors share the same roads and parking as students and visitors, and the best support buildings sit where they can be reached without crossing the busiest paths. We look at the circulation of the whole district, not just the lot, before recommending a site for a shop or yard.
The district’s plan is a framework for how the land south of the city is meant to develop, and it influences everything from road layout to building form. We read the plan before we advise an owner on a site, because the plan’s expectations about density, access and character affect what can be built and where.
Owners who benefit from a campus neighbor
Training programs often partner with employers in advanced manufacturing, building trades and technical services. Employers want to be near the people they hire, and some lease or build small facilities with space for apprenticeships and equipment demonstrations.
Some owners in pharmaceutical and life sciences support, such as laboratories for testing, calibration and small-batch production, may value the same educated workforce. We design these spaces with clean finishes, controlled access and room for services. A small laboratory building has different needs from a trades shop, such as sealed floors, filtered air and stable power, and we sort those needs out before layout begins so the owner does not pay for finishes the work does not require.
Code, plan and educational occupancy
The 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code adopts the 2021 International Building Code as amended and took effect July 14, 2023. Buildings used for instruction may be classified differently from ordinary industrial buildings, with implications for exits, fire protection and accessibility. We resolve classification early, with the code official, so the design is right the first time. Instruction space also changes the way we think about accessibility and egress, since a room full of students leaves the building faster, and with less familiarity, than a room full of employees.
Because the land falls under a county plan, we also coordinate with county staff. Our permitting and entitlements coordination keeps the plan review, the building permit and any utility approval on the same schedule.
Working around the academic calendar
Educational owners want construction to happen when students are away. We schedule noisy work in summer or between terms, deliver materials before the fall term begins and plan commissioning so equipment is ready on the first day of class. A late finish in an academic setting is costly, so we build a schedule with float and avoid placing critical tasks near the start of term.
When a project must proceed during the term, we separate the work zone, protect walkways and keep deliveries out of busy hours. The Rancho Viejo area nearby and the Eldorado community beyond it offer a pool of tradespeople and suppliers who understand the community. We also keep the job site tidy and the walks open, since a construction fence beside a campus path is visible to everyone who passes, every day, for the whole length of the project.
Talk with us about campus-area space
Tell us who will use the building, what equipment it will house and when it must open. We will review the site and the plan and give you a practical schedule.
Common Questions
What kinds of buildings does the district need?
Facilities and maintenance buildings, equipment storage, training shops and labs, and light-industrial space for businesses that connect to the campuses. Some are small, and some are shared among tenants. We work with owners to decide what is needed now and what may be needed later.
How does the Sustainable Land Development Code affect a project?
The district plan was incorporated into the county code in 2016, so projects are reviewed with that plan in mind. Expect conversation about form, access and the relationship to surrounding development. We read the relevant sections early and build the requirements into the design.
Can construction happen during the school term?
Yes, with planning. We separate the site, protect paths and schedule noisy tasks outside class hours. The most disruptive work is best done in summer or between terms.
What floor and power do a trades lab need?
Floors that carry equipment loads and resist wear, plus electrical service sized to the machines in use. Ventilation and dust collection are common requirements. We confirm the equipment list with the instructor before design is final.
Does a shared campus affect where a shop can be placed?
Yes. Shops and yards are best placed where service vehicles can reach them without crossing student and visitor paths. We review circulation, parking and utilities for the whole area before recommending a lot. The goal is a building that is easy to reach for staff and easy to ignore for everyone else.
Which electrical code applies?
The 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code, which adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code as amended and took effect March 28, 2023. Permits are now issued under that rule only. Your electrician and design team coordinate service size and panel locations early.