New Mexico Media Academy + CNM Film

SMPC has been working with CNM and the New Mexico Film Office to design a headquarters for a new, innovative educational facility for the New Mexico Media Academy (NMMA) and the CNM Film Program, a planned collaborative workforce development initiative that will teach skills to work in the film production industry.

Sited at the historic ABQ Rail Yards, the NMMA & CNM Film Production Center is a joint-use facility located within the historic Boiler Shop.

The project includes restoring the existing historic shell with updates to comply with historic preservation and life safety requirements. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the design team is working closely with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to develop the building.

The design concept uses a “building within a building” strategy as independent buildings nestled under the steel, glass, and concrete shell of the original Boiler Shop. The existing building will remain largely untouched by new building elements, preserving its historical significance.

The new instructional facility will include soundstages for filmmaking, classrooms, offices, screening rooms, recording studios, a construction mill, equipment storage and support spaces. The anticipated completion date is Fall 2025.