Groundbreakings Galore in Rio Rancho

Hewlett-Packard Breaks Ground in New Mexico

Hewlett-Packard Center groundbreaking in Rio Rancho, N.M. Photo courtesy Reid & Associates

Hewlett-Packard's new customer service and technology support center broke ground in Rio Rancho. The 17-acre, 218,000-sq-ft center is located next to the new Rio Rancho City Hall and the Santa Ana Star Event Center. Albuquerque-based design build contractor Reid & Associates is targeting a December 2009 completion for the shell and first two floors of tenant improvement. The third floor is expected to be complete by January 2010.

The Dekker/Perich/Sabatini-designed project is being developed by Titan Development.

Intel's Stimulus Plan: $7 Billion in Facility Upgrades

Intel Corp. will spend $7 billion over the next two years to build and upgrade its manufacturing facilities in New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon, says Paul Otellini, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company's president and CEO in an announcement on Feb. 10. The funds will be used to produce Intel's 32 nanometer manufacturing technology to build faster, smaller chips that consume less energy.

The commitment represents Intel's largest-ever investment for a new manufacturing process.

"We're investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation," Otellini says. "These manufacturing facilities will produce the most advanced computing technology in the world."

Intel's investment will be made at existing manufacturing sites and includes an estimated $2.5 billion in Rio Rancho, N.M.

UNM to Break Ground on Phase I Building in Rio Rancho

The University of New Mexico broke ground on its UNM-West Phase I building northeast of the Rio Rancho City Hall in Rio Rancho.

The 42,000-sq-ft, two-story building will provide space for classrooms, a bookstore, food service area, office space for student support and a learning commons.

The eight and one-half acre site was master planned to ensure that future buildings will be appropriately sited around a shared parking lot. The building is near CNM's first Rio Rancho building, with a new road connecting the two campuses with the Rio Rancho City Hall.

Estimated construction cost of the Phase I building is $10.5 million. Flintco is the general contractor and the Hartman + Majewski Design Group is the architect. Both firms are Albuquerque-based.

Sandia Foundation is financing the construction, with plans being developed for UNM to purchase the facility post-construction. The initial infrastructure costs of approximately $860,000 are being paid by the City of Rio Rancho, as well as half the cost for purchasing the building. Funding is being provided from a gross receipt tax that citizens of Rio Rancho voted upon themselves in 2007 to support development of UNM-West.

State Approves $17.9 Million for GRIP II in 2009

The New Mexico State Transportation Commission announced more than $17.9 million worth of infrastructure improvement projects has been funded by the department.

A total of 10 projects have been approved throughout the state for 2009.

"Transportation infrastructure projects are a key component of economic stimulus because they not only help to create jobs, but they create long-term benefits for the state by improving roadways," says newly-designated Transportation Secretary Gary Girón.

Projects funded include $3.6 million for construction of the Siler Road Bridge in Santa Fe, $2.6 million for reconstruction improvements on Spruce Street from Pine to 13th Street in Deming, $3.5 million for eight miles of construction on West Rim Road in Taos County. Other projects are located in Las Cruces, Clayton, Las Vegas and Eagle Nest.

The projects were selected based on the requesting entity's ability to generate matching funds and how prepared they were to start and complete the job. Funding for GRIP II was allocated during the 2007 Legislative session and includes severance tax bonds.

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