ASUNM hosts a ribbon cutting for the UNM campus gateway monogram at the northwest corner of Central and Girard, on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. The $436,500 upgrade to the area enhances safety and establishes a welcoming gateway to campus.
Speakers include UNM Architect Amy Coburn, ASUNM President Ian May and former ASUNM President Adam Biederwolf (2019-2020).
Free parking will be available to attendees during the event in the R/E lot at the corner of Central and Girard.
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) were awarded $400,000 by the NM State Legislature in 2020 to design and implement safety improvements to the area. UNM Facilities Management contributed additional funds to the project.
MRWM, an Albuquerque-based landscape architecture firm, in partnership with UNM Planning and Design, designed the new corner using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. It is now visually unobstructed with improved lighting and new landscaping, all of which play into creating a clear sense of managed environment. Community feedback was incorporated throughout the design process. Construction began in July 2022 and the monogram was installed in December.
“This powerful UNM marker and supportive landscape result from ASUNM's desire for improved safety and access between student housing and Nob Hill amenities. The student's commitment to an improved street experience inspired their successful bid for state funding and launched this project,” Amy Coburn, UNM Architect, said. “The design team took the opportunity to remove walls, open up sightlines and develop UNM's brand 'mark' in three dimensions. We are thrilled with the result - a positive, energetic space on our Route 66 campus address.”
The installation marks the completion of a project nearly three years in the making for ASUNM. The student-led organization has helped secure funding from the New Mexico State Legislature for several past UNM projects.
“It is an amazing experience to see student advocacy leave a tangible mark on campus. I know that I’ve been looking at this construction since it started last summer, excited to see the final product and I am happy to say that I think it is a great way to welcome our students, staff, faculty and visitors to UNM,” Ian May, ASUNM President, said.
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