By Vanessa Dabovich
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/krwg/local-krwg-927513.mp3
Las Cruces, NM – On Monday the Council awarded ASA Architects of Las Cruces with a contract for the new facility totaling over four hundred seven thousand dollars.
A feasibility study recommended a relocation of the Museum of Natural History to a location downtown closer to two other museums. In 2007, the City acquired the former Bank of the Rio Grande building for a new location.
In 2008, the City Council created a new mission, logo and name for the museum followed by the master planning process.
City Facilities Director Brian Denmark says the new location is almost three times larger and will allow for shared resources with the Museum of Art.
Denmark-"This is going to be a LEED certified project and we have renewable energy. It's definitely a project that is totally built around a team concept and we look forward to getting this project underway."
Five proposals were submitted to the city's Selection Advisory Committee and they recommended that ASA Architects be awarded the contract. According to city documents, in addition to the four hundred thousand, there will be just over one point five million dollars available to renovate the building and connect it to the Museum of Art.