Truman Middle School

Albuquerque, NM, United States

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Other Projects by Edward Fitzgerald / Architects

Truman Middle School

Albuquerque, NM, United States

Firm

Edward Fitzgerald / Architects

Type

Educational › Elementary School

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

The concept for the Truman Middle School was to create a central courtyard around which the entire school campus is organized. This Project is the first phase of the existing school replacement and will serve as a new entrance for the entire school. To accomplish this, the design re-configured the vehicular circulation on campus so that the student drop-off, bus drop off and parking lot, manage traffic in a safe and organized manner.

Access to the Courtyard are from the main administration entrance and student drop-off. These secured access points pass under bridges that connect the separate buildings. The linear Administration Building along the north side of the school creates a strong “street facade” and aligns itself with Benavides Road. It is clad with a metal panel that resembles a protective shell that serves as an intermediary between the surrounding neighborhood and school. The main administration entrance passes under a bridge that connects the new building to an existing school classroom building on the second floor. The Courtyard is defined by the Administration Building on its north side and the Cafeteria / Performing Arts Building on its south side. The Administration Building is connected to the Cafeteria, Performing Arts Building by an upper level “Art Bridge” on the east end of the Courtyard. The Courtyard slopes from the main entrance to the east, where it passes under the bridge to access the student drop-off and symbolically connects to the Rio Grande Valley beyond.

Materials for this Project include metal siding, cast-in-place architectural concrete, steel, glass and stucco. The materials were chosen for their strength, durability and compatibility with each other.