Design work for the building of a new College of Engineering structure on the campus of New Mexico State University may launch later this spring.
Last fall voters across the state approved three general obligation bonds totaling nearly $260 million for the construction of senior centers, libraries, and a variety of facilities on the campuses of New Mexico’s colleges and universities.
General Obligation Bond 3, which was approved with more than 60% of the vote, provided almost $216 million for public and tribal colleges and universities work. Of that amount, exactly $22.5 million was slated for the building of a new engineering facility on NMSU’s main campus in Las Cruces.
The idea behind the engineering project, according to a NMSU press release issued last fall, is to “expand student-centric and experiential hands-on learning.” More specifically, the new building will “foster research opportunities through multi-disciplinary lab space for student projects and faculty collaboration.”
A portion of the $22.5 million will also be used to demolish the Thomas and Brown Hall, which is located at 1305 Frenger Street.
According to a NMSU spokesperson, the general obligation bonds have not yet been sold. But once that process is completed, design work on College of Engineering is expected to get underway.
The voter-approved Bond 3 is also providing $13.5 million for the renovation of the Health and Social Services Building at NMSU, as well as the O’Donnell Hall, located at 1220 Stewart Street in the middle of the campus.
Another $2 million is dedicated to the modernization and expansion of the school’s Nursing Skills and Simulation Center.
By Garry Boulard
