PHOENIX, AZ.- The University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque has announced the selection of a team led by internationally recognized architecture firm Studio Ma to create a new master facility plan for its College of Fine Arts. The plan will guide the continued expansion of UNM’s acclaimed arts education programming and advance its leadership position in the statewide arts community. A focus on leveraging strategic partnerships will promote lasting career success for UNM students and support long-term economic development.

“I am delighted to announce our alliance with Studio Ma on behalf of the UNM College of Fine Arts and UNM’s master facility planning team,” said Amy Coburn, University Architect and Director of UNM Planning, Design and Construction. “I am confident this collaboration will provide the strategic guidance to successfully develop long term growth plans for the college that improve the student experience and creative growth. We are thrilled to launch this partnership with these talented and engaged architects and planners.”

Studio Ma will collaborate with Albuquerque-based architecture firm Dekker/Perich/Sabatini and arts consultant Greg Esser. Together, the team brings a unique combination of national experience, local knowledge and strong expertise in campus and cultural design to create a comprehensive plan for the College of Fine Arts that will help UNM achieve its future growth objectives.

The plan will encompass five areas: strategic visioning; partnership development; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging assessment; sustainability; and physical design. This holistic process will establish a thoughtful, valuable approach to solving root issues and preparing for the effective implementation of new partnerships and building projects at UNM.

“The University of New Mexico is a locus in the state’s vibrant arts community, and we’re honored to partner with a transformative institution that serves as a key cultural and economic driver,” said Christiana Moss, FAIA, Studio Ma Co-founder and Principal. “Our team is excited to create a forward-thinking vision for the College of Fine Arts.”

Studio Ma – a leader in campus planning and architecture – has executed similar efforts for Arizona State University, most recently for the new Downtown Phoenix Residence Hall and Entrepreneurial Center for the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. The firm has also served as architect on significant projects for Washington University in St. Louis, Princeton University, the Scottsdale Museum of the West, Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum, among others.