Plans are moving forward for the creation of a new executive office building that will belong to the State of New Mexico and go up in downtown Santa Fe.
The project has been long discussed by state leaders and officials and will cost around $194 million to build. Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved around $85 million in capital outlay and general fund spending for the project.
The idea of building a new administrative structure was given a green light in 2021 by members of the Capitol Buildings Planning Commission who viewed the proposal as an economy move, noting that it would ultimately save the state money by housing several agencies under one roof.
The commission is composed of state legislators and cabinet members.
Currently, the state is spending upwards of $10 million annually leasing more than 500,000 square feet of space in various locations in Santa Fe.
Officials also note that having state employees in a new space will make it easier to renovate other office space in need of upgrading.
The new building would go up near the intersection of Don Gaspar Avenue and S. Capitol Street, across the street from the State Capitol. Initial descriptions of the structure see it as having two floors, measuring around 192,000 square feet.
Before any construction could begin, four one-story residential structures would have to be demolished. Because those structures are historic casitas and part of the officially designated Santa Fe Historic District, the demolition would need city approval.
That approval would most likely not come until later this year. If all goes as planned after that, the demolition will occur next summer, with a Request for Proposals for the construction of the new building issued in June 2024.
By Garry Boulard
