Leo A Daly and Conron & Woods Design New LEED-Registered Building for State of New Mexico

State of New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association headquarters. Image courtesy Leo A Daly

The design for the new Public Employees Retirement Association headquarters, which is a collaborative effort of the Phoenix office of Leo A Daly and Conron & Woods Architects of Santa Fe, N.M., was recently completed.

The environmentally-sensitive building, located in Santa Fe, is projected to achieve a certification level of LEED silver. The sustainable design for the State of New Mexico building is notable for its beneficial use of indigenous materials and technologies.

The design uses a modern interpretation of historical and cultural influences, local geographic features, vegetation and indigenous building techniques as inspiration.

The 35,000-sq-ft building grows from its central courtyard much like a native yucca plant growing from its core. In form, the building was envisioned to echo the timeless presence of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Santa Fe.

24-in.- thick rammed-earth walls wrap the exterior of the building and create a sense of permanence and stability.

The use of multiple courtyards, a feature commonly found throughout the region, allows light to penetrate into the building. Salvaged steel will be used for a trellis and vertical shade fins. Many of the windows in the building will feature operable low-E, high-performance glass, which allows daylight in but greatly reduces the amount of incoming heat and harmful UV rays.

The project is anticipated to be complete by late 2008.

Comanche Nation Selects ASCG and Flintco for Casino/Hotel

ASCG Incorporated of New Mexico and the Okla.-based construction company, Flintco Inc., both American Indian-owned companies, have been selected by the Comanche Nation to provide design and construction for a casino/hotel complex near Lawton, Okla.

The facility is slated to open in Fall 2009 and is located south of Lawton on the Texas border. The Red River forms the southern edge of the property and is also the Oklahoma state line. Access will be from Interstate 44. Total project costs are $97 million.

The casino will feature 1,100 slots, 15 table games, a poker room, steakhouse, buffet, 24-hour restaurant/deli and retail shops. The 151-room hotel will have indoor/outdoor pools, spa, health club, and direct access to the golf club house and conference center.

Structural engineering services will be provided by Chavez-Grieves Consulting Engineers of Albuquerque.

Lowe Enterprises Acquires Premier Santa Fe Boutique Hotel

Lowe Enterprises Investors has acquired the Inn and Spa at Loretto, a 134-room luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, for $47.5 million. The firm plans to invest an additional $6.2 million in interior and exterior renovations. LEI acquired the hotel from Noble House Hotels & Resorts Inc., on behalf of an investment client. Another Lowe affiliated company, Destination Hotels & Resorts, will assume management of the property. The property also includes existing entitlements for additional guest rooms and ballroom/meeting space.

The Inn and Spa at Loretto epitomizes classic Santa Fe architecture and style. The property design was inspired by the famed Taos Pueblo, a national historic landmark. Earth-toned stucco covers multiple blocks of flat roofed units stacked at various angles reflective of the native Pueblo Indian style which creates guest rooms that offer intimate outdoor terraces with views of the city and historic surroundings.

Built in 1975, the 134 guest rooms were renovated earlier this year. Lowe plans a program of additional improvements to be implemented in the first part of 2008. Additional accent pieces from local craftsmen and Native-American art will be used in the guest rooms to enhance the character and warmth of the richly-hued interiors while the public spaces and meeting rooms will be refreshed with new paint, lighting fixtures and furnishings.

To submit project news, events and personnel announcements, please email them to Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com. Include a color photograph or project rendering if applicable.