The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, the first urban wildlife refuge in the Southwest, aimed to preserve and restore 570 acres of riparian habitat located on a former dairy farm along the Rio Grande River. With goals of conserving green space within the greater Albuquerque area and working to reconnect a community to the natural world, our team envisioned a new visitor center housing interpretive exhibits, educational classrooms, outdoor amphitheater, and offices for community partners involved in conservation efforts.
The new facility allows the public direct access to a vast network of nature trails, in addition to flexible interior and exterior space able to accommodate a variety of public and private events.