Reclaiming a ghost: several prominent architects conjure up ways to use the old Albuquerque High School

New Mexico Business Journal, Nov, 1996

Joe Boehning: A Home for School Administrators and a Museum

As an old Albuquerque Bulldog, the campus on Broadway and Central is an enigma to me. It brings back great memories, yet it is a sore sight for eyes. When I graduated, it was the only public high school in town. The campus and my AHS friends bring back fond memories of three very enjoyable years. I toured the campus a few years back, and that sight tends to destroy those great memories.

To me, as an architect, the redevelopment potential is as exciting as any project could ever be. It could be "high end" multifamily, or it could be mixed commercial with retail, restaurants, entertainment and office. It could even be a mixture of multifamily and commercial. The existing campus and architecture is ideal for any of these concepts.

During the past 20 years, a variety of experienced developers have considered similar concepts. For well documented reasons they have found such development to be financially unfeasible. An Albuquerque developer tried office development with a federal tenant but the feds dropped the project. A Santa Fe developer planned mixed commercial, and couldn't get the financing. A Nebraska developer tried multifamily residential, and his proforma did not work. They all found that the rents required to make the project feasible are much higher than the local market can bear.

The most feasible concept is to re-use the facility in a manner similar to those for which it was originally designed, namely education and administration. The majority of buildings should be used for education and offices, while the gymnasium/cafeteria with its wide expanses of large volume spaces can best be adapted to a museum.

One scenario: the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Administration. APS could sell its existing facility adjacent to Albuquerque TVI, so TVI could expand its main campus. With the funds received, APS could remodel the space it needs at the old campus. Educational uses would most likely be post-secondary. TVI and UNM Continuing Ed have discussed working together on programs and this could be the right place. With over 18,000 downtown workers, as well as a substantial residential base, AHS would be a logical location for adult re-training opportunities.

The Children's Museum, the Explora Museum, the Lodestar astronomy education project and even the Atomic Museum are in the market for new quarters. These uses have a strong synergistic tie to the overall educational and office functions that could make this area an important center of activity for the entire city. What a great concept for the Albuquerque community.

Our computer-generated sketches clearly illustrate that little has to be done to the existing architecture to create a very handsome development. This approach allows more of the funding to be used to update mechanical, electrical and structural systems; provide the required code and ADA upgrades; repair the exterior skin, including roof and windows, and install a unifying landscape plan.

Dale Dekker: A High School, of Course

MAY 31, 2001

This is not the first class to graduate from Old Albuquerque High School, now known as Heritage High, nor will it be the last. The students to graduate tonight reflect the commitment and values of a community that pulled together to save the old school back in 1996. Now, five years later, the Class of 2001 heads into the future. How did this happen? From a falling-down shell of a building to one of the top high schools and educational facilities and programs in the country, the story is truly one of our city's great accomplishments.

When the City finally acquired Old Albuquerque High School in 1996, it was in desperate need of repair and renovations, and it was obvious that a bold new approach to solving problems within our community must be taken. The City, Albuquerque Public Schools and the business community all demonstrated the leadership and partnering necessary to raise the capital, develop the programs and build the community consensus regarding the re-use of the old school.

The School Board, faced with increasing high school enrollments and searching for ways to retain and engage students in the learning process, developed a concept whereby Old Albuquerque High was given a new mission and lease on life. The City and Albuquerque Public Schools joined forces to create a world class learning, performing arts and technology center for Albuquerque youth. The facilities were upgraded to include state-of-the-art computer laboratories, distance and video conferencing studios, and music and performing arts spaces. But the collaborations did not stop here. The business community, taking the lead from Intel's support of a new high school for Rio Rancho, stepped in to assist in developing an exciting new curriculum and in providing the technical support and a portion of the funding and equipment necessary to develop such a program.

The benefits of Heritage High are now being distributed to all of the public schools in Albuquerque. Programs and classes are developed and video conferenced into classrooms throughout the district. Albuquerque's world class teachers are now able to be accessed via the Internet, and students are learning both in the classroom and from their homes. Innovative features include the "Web Cafe," mini-branch campuses of both TVI and UNM and, by far, the best performing arts space and theater in the City, which was once the old gymnasium. The combination of these innovative features creates a stimulating and creative learning environment that has students, teachers and families onsite from 6 in the morning to 12 at night seven days a week.