Hilton Hotels has begun construction on the Buffalo Thunder Resort at the Pueblo of Pojoaque.

Groundbreaking for the Pueblo of Pojoaque's Buffalo Thunder Resort is scheduled for January 2007. Located on Highway 84/285, north of Santa Fe, the project will occupy a 587-acre site that currently is home to the Towa Golf Course.

Buffalo Thunder is designed to be a four-star destination resort and will include the 390-room Hilton Santa Fe North. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2008.

The Pueblo of Pojoaque, through the Buffalo Thunder Development Authority and certain other of its tribal corporations, is the owner of the entire destination resort. The hotel and resort will be managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation. The new facility will feature a 151,000-sq-ft casino, 66,000 sq ft of meeting space and a 1,200 seat ballroom. There also will be a 16,000-sq-ft Native American-themed spa/salon and exercise facility, a 12,700-sq-ft retail promenade, restaurants, an 8,000-sq-ft children's recreation area and a 100-seat outdoor performance space.

The destination resort will be built in the traditional Pueblo style, and was designed by Thalden-Boyd of Tulsa, OK. The Centex Corporation of Dallas is the contractor for the project and under a directive from the Pueblo of Pojoaque, will be utilizing local contractors and local labor as much as possible.

The substantial planned infrastructure includes construction of an environmentally responsible wastewater treatment facility that will have 100% water recycling capability. In addition, the project will harvest and purify rainwater through the use of settlement basins. When completed, all irrigation for the Towa Golf Course will come from recycled water.

Villagra Building Gets the Gold

The recently completed Paul Bardacke Attorney General Complex, which serves as the office of the New Mexico State Attorney General, has achieved LEED Gold certification from the USGBC. The complex consists of the newly renovated historic Villagra building, originally constructed in 1934, and an attached four-story office addition. This certification for Commercial Interiors recognizes the sustainable design and construction of the facility.

Construction was completed by Cameron Construction in March 2006. Some of the environmental benefits of the Villagra Building include energy savings of 31 percent and water savings of 71 percent. 100 percent wind power was purchased to offset carbon emissions from electricity use. Construction waste was recycled by 82 percent or diverted from the landfill.

To submit New Mexico news announcements, please send information and color photographs to: Scott Blair, editor, at scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com.

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