About Us

International District Library

International District Program and Conceptual Design: Final

August 2018

From the Town Hall meeting input, RMKM Architects, Library staff, and the City Architect began work on the first phase of design, the Program, which was completed in June. The Program phase includes a cost estimate, defines what spaces will be included in the building and how they will relate to each other, and also lays out the site plan and how those spaces will be oriented. The next phase of the design is Design Development and is expected to be completed in the fall.

April 2018

 A very successful “Town Hall” meeting was held by the City and RMKM Architects to collect community input on the new library for the International District. This input was for the program phase of the project in which the various components that will make up the building and the site are determined. Over a hundred people attended this drop-in interactive event! Results are attached here: 

December 2017

The City of Albuquerque purchased land for a new library building in the International District, Council District 6, in December of 2016. This area is one of the three service gaps identified in the Library Facilities master plan of 2007. The site is on the north side of Central Avenue between San Pablo and Charleston streets, where the Caravan East nightclub was located.

Early work related to this site was completed by the Department of Cultural Services as part of a National Endowment for the Arts program. Community meetings, exhibitions, and performances were held over a three year period. Students with the UNM School of Architecture and Planning’s Citylab created site proposals for the Library and the Story Plaza. Details of this work are available here.

In March of 2017 RMKM Architects were selected to design and supervise construction and the City finalized the contract with RMKM in November of 2017. 

Neighborhood meetings to gather input on the project will begin in January of 2018 and design should be complete in 2019. The new building could be ready to open as early as 2021 or 2022.

Westgate Library is improving!

Update - June 4, 2018: Westgate Library re-opened on Monday June 4th at 10am and has resumed normal hours. The first phase of remodeling is complete.

February 28, 2018: Westgate Library renovations continue as several major components are completed. The new roof and HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) units are in place. The exterior stucco has been freshly painted and new signage installed. The emergency exit door has been replaced and reconfigured to meet current code. The new ceiling is also in place. There is still much work to be done but we are nearing the end of the renovation project. Thank you all for your patience while everyone involved works to make Westgate Library an even better community resource.

September 2017: Westgate Library will be closed from October 13th through Spring of 2018. During this period extensive remodeling will occur, the renovated library will include:

• New ceiling
• New heating and cooling
• New stucco
• New roof
• Improved safety
• New parking lot asphalt

We would like to thank Councilor Peńa and our State Legislators for providing the funding.

Northwest Mesa Library

December 2017.

Early in 2017, the City of Albuquerque purchased land for a new library building, new community center and new pool in the northwest mesa area of Council District 5. This area is the third of three service gaps identified in the Library Facilities master plan of 2007. The site is within Cibola Loop just off of Ellison Drive north of Cibola High School. The Library is planned to be a 25,000 square foot facility. Funding needs to be secured for design and construction.