El Zocalo Complex Historical Renovation
Bernalillo, New Mexico

Owner: Sandoval County of New Mexico

Architect: James Patrick Lynch

Project: Historical Renovation

Contract Amount: $2,962,249

Completion Date: November 2007

This project covered historical restoration and renovation of two adobe buildings. The Convent, built in 1876, housed the Catholic Sisters and the cafeteria and the Salazar Building, built in 1922, was the community school. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties.

The project comprised stabilizing the existing structures, removing and replacing deteriorating structural elements, upgrading to meet the current Americans with Disabilities Act, providing a new roof membrane and stucco, and upgrading all mechanical and electrical systems. The renovations followed strict guidelines and standards to maintain their status on the historical registers.

Major issues with the Convent included large voids in the exterior adobe walls, decaying wood viga beams and wood decking, and interior doorways that had settled, as well a heating and cooling system and an updated electrical system. Additionally, the floor had settled a great deal in several areas, necessitating storing original brick flooring and wood doorways while remedial work was performed.

Due to the historical nature of the project, a variable refrigerant flow zoning system by Mitsubishi Electric was concealed in the walls so as not to detract from the building’s historical look. The new electrical systems were also concealed in the walls and ceilings.

The Salazar Building, one of the oldest two-story adobe buildings in the New Mexico, also endured structural damage with deterioration of a section of the adobe wall separating the second floor and roof, and deterioration and damage to the wood beams and interior services. The renovation included installing a new heating and cooling system, updating the electrical systems and an addition to house the elevator and restrooms.

The first challenge was to secure the building structurally to eliminate the chance of collapse, after which, the exterior walls were rebuilt and the roof beams replaced. The roof membrane could not be replaced until the heating and cooling system was designed and the roof trusses strengthened. The second challenge was installation of the heating and cooling ductwork and electrical systems. Damaged sections of floor and ceilings were patched with salvaged material and the walls were re-plastered, and all the windows were refinished. The masonry addition housed the restrooms and elevator.

MSR has been performing historic renovation for over twenty years and the El Zocalo Complex Renovation and Restoration was the most challenging to date. The most challenging issue was the expectation of a renovated and restored historic building that met the budget constraints of Sandoval County. The historical requirements of the State of New Mexico Historical Preservation Division also needed to be met while ensuring modern-day systems were added to the building. The mechanical systems were re-engineered to meet the client’s expectations to find the optimum system that would be cost effective and have minimal aesthetic impact, structurally and esthetically.