Sony Pictures Imageworks and Albuquerque Studios have signed a deal that will house new Imageworks facilities in a build-to-spec 100,000-sq-ft facility on the studio's campus at the Mesa del Sol development in Albuquerque. The creation of a base in New Mexico provides Imageworks with a number of opportunities, according to Imageworks President Tim Sarnoff. "New Mexico offers a combination of quality of life plus economic advantages that will help us as a company to manage both our cost and expand our capacity."

Among the economic advantages is New Mexico's 25% tax rebate on production costs for film and TV. The tax incentive's impact on the industry in the state was a key factor in Imageworks' decision according to Sarnoff.

The deal with Imageworks is the latest announced by Albuquerque Studios, who have recently established agreements with a number of other companies including Axium Payroll Services, Clairmont Camera, NES Equipment Rentals, Quixote Expendables, Starwaggons, Studio Concierge and New Mexico Lighting and Grip, a subsidiary of NBC Universal.

In addition, Imageworks has chosen University of New Mexico to become a member of the Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence program.

IPAX, designed by Imageworks, is intended to build stronger relationships with established academic programs and to nurture and grow future generations of digital talent. IPAX is the first program of its kind, focusing on IPAX member faculty development and exposure to real-time production issues and development of standards for training future digital artists. All together the agreement indicates another step forward in the state's strategic plan for growing the media production industries.

AMEC Completes Groundwater Cleanup Systems at Superfund Site

AMEC has finished construction of three groundwater cleanup systems at a federal Superfund site in northern New Mexico and is now pilot-testing bioremediation techniques prior to full-scale operation. The $3.8 million project is designed to treat a plume of perchloroethylene contamination that stretches three quarters of a mile from Norge Town Dry Cleaners toward the Rio Grande River.

Extending as much as 260 feet below ground surface, the plume has affected at least 280 million gal of water, forced the closure of two city supply wells and threatened to spread into the river. The site is located in the City of Española on the Santa Clara Pueblo Reservation. The three systems - all of which rely on bioremediation - target the high-concentration source area, the deep-zone aquifer, and the area downgradient of the plume near the river.

Bioremediation involves the underground injection of a substance designed to encourage natural bacteria to degrade contaminants into non-toxic end products.

AMEC, during the current pilot-project phase, is testing three bioremediation amendment substances - whey, vegetable oil and ethyl lactate - to determine which is best suited for full-scale implementation in March 2008. In total there are four test cells: emulsified vegetable oil with dissolved hydrogen in the source area and then whey, emulsified vegetable oil and ethyl lactate in separate test cells.

AMEC's Albuquerque office, as prime contractor to the New Mexico Environment Department, was able to complete construction within the original budget, despite 14 change orders that were approved during construction. Most of the orders came in response to different subsurface conditions that were identified during the well-installation phase of the project.

As drilling progressed, a better understanding of the site resulted in design changes.

Architectural Firms Invited to Bid on Spaceport

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority invited architectural firms to compete for the design of Spaceport America's terminal and hangar facility, which will be the operations base for Virgin Galactic. The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has retained Roger Schluntz, FAIA, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico, to be the principal advisor on the competition. "We are seeking qualified firms and exceptional design talent-reaching through New Mexico, North America, in fact the world-that will be able to meet the very high expectations of the Spaceport America leadership team," says Schluntz. "The Governor and the State of New Mexico are also desirous of a project that will meet stringent standards related to issues of sustainable design."

The terminal and hangar facility is projected to be approximately 100,000 sq ft, and will contain the operations offices of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, hangar space for aircraft and spacecraft, and Virgin Galactic's operations facilities, including pre-flight and post-flight facilities and administrative offices.

The entire facility is projected to cost $25.7 million. Virgin Galactic intends to sign a 20-year lease for approximately 84,000 sq ft in the building. The winning firm is expected to be chosen by the end of this month. Each of the three finalists will be awarded a stipend of $40,000 as partial compensation for costs incurred during their competition efforts.

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority will break ground on Spaceport America in early 2008, as soon as the site operator's license is received from the FAA. The spaceport is expected to be operational in late 2009 or early 2010.

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