PUBLIC WORKS
Manuelito Rest Area Alterations

LOCATION: Arizona-New Mexico state line, US Interstate 40, Manuelito, New Mexico

DATE: 2005-2008

COST: $8,000,000

PROGRAM: The New Mexico Department of Transportation and the New Mexico Department of Tourism retained our firm to work on the following Renovations and Expansion to this Welcome Center for visitors to New Mexico coming from Arizona:

1. The Visitor Center building is 9,500 sq. ft.  There are Men’s and Women’s restrooms and traveler information available on a 24/7 basis. 
2. The Rest Area will have 16 picnic shelters, 80 car spaces, 18 truck spaces. 
3. “Green” technology, photovoltaic solar electric system will generate 20% of the facility’s electrical needs.
4. 100% recycling of the facility’s wastewater during summer months will be useed in the site irrigation system.
5. The Visitor Center building incorporates high efficiency “green” technologies in its heating and cooling systems and is super insulated to minimize heating and cooling costs.
6. The Visitor Center building design reflects New Mexico’s Native American Heritage with symbolism of New Mexico’s 22 Tribes and Pueblos. This is seen in the 22 divisions of the hallway ceilings, which are in turn unified in the central 11 (1/2 of 22) sided skylight covered visitor information center.
7. The plan of the building is a circle, again to suggest unification and refer to the sacred Kiva forms of the Anasazi.
8. The building has an east facing entry in deference to the similar Navajo Hogan traditional entry.
9. Picnic shelter designs refer to the octagonal Navaho Hogan plan.
10. The flagstone veneer on the Visitor Center is a reference to the great Native American stone building traditions as found at nearby Chaco Canyon. This stonework also ties the facility to the spectacular stone cliffs which surround the Rest Area.
11. The future landscaping design incorporates native plantings from the Western half of New Mexico.