Santa Fe Convention Center Tops Out

Designed in Pueblo Revival Style, the Santa Fe Convention Center topped out in late November, with a scheduled completion of fall 2008.

Rendering courtesy of Fentress Architects

The 262,000-sq-ft, $61-million Santa Fe Convention Center topped out on Nov. 21 with a party hosted for the public on the corner of Marcy and Grant streets in Santa Fe. The building was designed in Pueblo Revival Style with sustainable elements by Fentress Architects of Denver and associate architect Spears Architects of Santa Fe.

“As the new convention center rises in the heart of downtown, citizens and visitors alike will witness a blending of Pueblo Revival Style architecture with current trends in meeting and exhibit space design a combination sure to produce long-term benefits for decades to come,” said Curtis W. Fentress, principal-in-charge of design at Fentress Architects.

The design was inspired by traditional southwestern architecture: textured stucco walls, softly rounded corners and a desert earth-tone color palette. In keeping with Pueblo Revival style, the building will feature flat roofs of varying heights with rounded wood beams expressed in the portals. Fireplaces will add a cozy feel to rooms within the center, including the Registration Hall. Overall, the architecture reinforces the building’s role as a community gathering place, Fentress said.

The building will maintain an open and approachable feel, in part by sharing its scale with the surrounding environment.

“The new Santa Fe Convention Center represents an innovative approach to convention center design. Portals and zaguans disguise the building’s massing and keep it in scale with downtown Santa Fe,” said Michael Winters, project designer, Fentress Architects.

While the Santa Fe Convention Center’s design is inspired by traditional southwestern architecture, it is contemporary in implementing green design and providing extensive flexibility. An interconnected courtyard, meeting rooms and the exhibit space will be highly flexible to accommodate a diverse set of concurrent users. The central outdoor courtyard is designed to host events such as private parties and weddings or serve as an outdoor break-out area for visitors.

The primary drop-off point for the convention center will be relocated from Marcy Street to Grant Street to reduce traffic congestion.

The center broke ground in November 2006 and is currently on schedule and on budget for completion in fall 2008.

Cameron-Swinerton of Santa Fe is the general contractor.

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