La Mesa Elementary School
Albuquerque
Garrett Smith

Rooted in the local history, a New Mexico school provides a safe haven for children and families

© Nick Merrick/Hedrich Blessing

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

La Mesa Elementary School serves a culturally diverse group of children, inhabiting one of Albuquerque’s first post-World War II neighborhoods, home to much of its immigrant population and largest Native American community. This neighborhood sees its share of crime and drug use, while new families with small children strive to gain a foothold in this setting.

The existing school, built in the 1970s, sits in the center of the site with a rather unsafe city park forming its eastern boundary. The architect sought to give the school a stronger identity and presence in the neighborhood—one that reinforces a sense of security with strong reference to the fortified settlements of the early Spanish settlers in New Mexico. High walls and linear arrangement of rooms form the plaza, while entrance through a zaguan gate links with the past and establishes a new sensibility for the school.

The master plan lays out the campus development in three phases over 10 to 15 years. The first-phase classroom building establishes a plaza and main entrance for the school. It provides 18 classrooms, a teaching kitchen, and an administration area with nurse station and counseling spaces. In order to support La Mesa’s philosophy of team teaching, the master plan clusters classrooms according to grade level. Three preschool classrooms, an infant and toddler classroom, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms occupy the new building. A new administration area lies adjacent to the new entrance, just off the plaza and at the center of the campus.

Since the school’s opening, administrators report that the plaza has become a gathering place for families of the community, who enjoy picnics and other activities there on weekends.

Formal name of Project:
La Mesa Elementary School

Location:
Albuquerque

Gross square footage:
38,900 sq. ft. (Addition: 29,400 sq. ft ; remodel: 9,500 sq. ft)

Total construction cost:
$2.9 million

Owner:
Albuquerque Public Schools

Architect:
Garrett Smith Ltd.
514 Central Av. SW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
v: 505.766.6968
f: 505.243.4508
www.garrett-smith-ltd.com