Sixteen UNM School of Architecture graduate students are preparing to present their semester projects - concepts for the new Angel Fire Performing Arts Center building - that could eventually impact the building's design.
Sharon Floyd, executive director of the Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce and president of its arts foundation, said the village of Angel Fire received a donation in the form of property last year. The foundation then approached UNM architecture students for consultation on the building's design, she added.
The students then toured the site, taking photos and walking the terrain in preparation for the project, she said.
"We've been working for over 5 years now toward the day a performing arts center will be a reality in Angel Fire," Floyd said. "Now that we have a site for the project, we were interested in seeing some conceptual designs from the students. We are finally making significant progress toward our goal and our hopes are to announce a capital campaign in conjunction with this summer's 20th anniversary of Music From Angel Fire."
Roger Schluntz, dean of UNM School of Architecture and Planning, said the department and the students were honored to help the Angel Fire Arts Foundation realize their options as far as design possibilities and budgetary expectations before they decide upon an architectural firm to design the building.
"This was an excellent opportunity for our students to engage themselves in a real world situation," Schluntz said. "We pride ourselves on providing hands-on experience that will benefit them in making decisions regarding their own careers and at the same time allowing us to address the issues of the community."
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The graduate students, taught by architecture professor Tim Castillo, will present the projects to the foundation on May 9 at the Angel Fire Resort Hotel.
"Six teams of two students each have been working since then on their designs, to be unveiled at the presentation," Castillo said in a UNM news release. "They have had access to acoustics experts and designers of other performing arts facilities. A publication of all the conceptual designs and research findings on performing arts facilities will be produced as a final product."
Castillo has also invited two professional architectural firms to attend. Special guests will include representatives of the Angel Fire Arts Foundation, Moreno Valley Arts Council, Angel Fire Mountain Theatre and Music From Angel Fire.
