SOUTHWEST BASIN & RANGE BIOREGION 800.220.0919 www.biohabitats.com Physiographic Province Rio Grande Riﬅ Bioregion Southwest Basin & Range Watershed Middle Rio Grande A prominent and engaging wetland habitat feature and a water-wise approach are key features of a center serving visitors to the first urban wildlife refuge in the Southwest. I n 2014, a group of con- servation organizations, along with federal, state, and local partners, completed the acquisition of 570 acres of agricultural land along the Rio Grande and began transform- ing it into the Southwest’s first urban wildlife refuge. Located a few miles south of downtown Albuquerque, the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is re- storing riparian wetland habitat, ecological function, cultural connection, public accessibility, and environmental stewardship to a site located immediately adjacent to the nearby Isleta Pueblo community. The Refuge, which features spectacular vistas of the Sandia Mountains, Vulcan volcano tubes and the Rio Grande bosque, offers opportunities for residents of this densely urban region to encounter nature. Many of these opportunities, including a half-acre wetland habitat feature, will be housed in or accessed via a new, LEED-certified visitor center designed to welcome urban visitors and demonstrate sustainable design appropriate for an arid climate. The design-build team for the visitor center is led by the lo- cally-based, native-owned joint venture CF Padilla-Brycon, in collaboration with Formative Architecture and Weddell Gilmore. A key member of this team, Biohabitats will design the interpretive wetland and an onsite wastewater treatment system. The wetland will be located next to the visitor’s center and fed by rainwater and an onsite groundwater well. The bosque-inspired ecosystem will allow visitors to experience a southwestern riverine wetland up close, through windows, and from overlooks and paths. Designed to mimic a naturally- occurring Rio Grande bosque wetland, its variable water depths will support a variety of native plants that in turn provide habitat for local birds, amphibians, small mammals, insects, and aquatic fauna. The onsite wastewater treatment system will treat water from the Visitor Center and return it onsite to recharge groundwater. US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Albuquerque, New Mexico The project drastically reduces re- liance on municipal potable water by utilizing a mix of non-potable, rain, or onsite well water to meet the majority of water demands. The wetlands are designed to naturally absorb much of the rainwater from the building and pa- tios, with a makeup supply from a cistern and groundwater well. Non-potable recycled water from the regional wastewater recycling plant will be used to irrigate much of the landscape and flush building toilets. Harvested rainwater and onsite well water feeds edible and cultural gardens. Native and local residents will help build the Visitor Center and grounds, learning construc- tion and green jobs skills in the process. SERVICES Engage Plan Engineer & Design Build Evolve Regenerate Wetland terrace and interpretive wetland. Graphic: CF Padilla-Brycon JV, Formative Architecture, Weddle Gilmore, Black Rock Studio, Surroundings Studio Aerial view looking west to Rio Grande. Graphic: CF Padilla-Brycon JV, Formative Architecture, Weddle Gilmore, Black Rock Studio, Surroundings Studio

US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge … · 2020. 8. 28. · Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Albuquerque, New Mexico The project

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Page 1: US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge … · 2020. 8. 28. · Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Albuquerque, New Mexico The project

SOUTHWEST BASIN & RANGE BIOREGION

800.220.0919www.biohabitats.com

Physiographic ProvinceRio Grande Rift

BioregionSouthwest Basin & Range

WatershedMiddle Rio Grande

A prominent and engaging wetland habitat feature and a water-wise approach are key features of a center serving visitors to the first urban wildlife refuge in the Southwest.

In 2014, a group of con-servation organizations,

along with federal, state, and local partners, completed the acquisition of 570 acres of agricultural land along the Rio Grande and began transform-ing it into the Southwest’s first urban wildlife refuge. Located a few miles south of downtown Albuquerque, the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is re-storing riparian wetland habitat, ecological function, cultural connection, public accessibility, and environmental stewardship to a site located immediately

adjacent to the nearby Isleta Pueblo community.

The Refuge, which features spectacular vistas of the Sandia Mountains, Vulcan volcano tubes and the Rio Grande bosque, offers opportunities for residents of this densely urban region to encounter nature. Many of these opportuni-ties, including a half-acre wetland habitat feature, will be housed in or accessed via a new, LEED-certified visitor center designed to welcome urban visitors and demonstrate sustainable design appropriate for an arid climate.

The design-build team for the visitor center is led by the lo-cally-based, native-owned joint venture CF Padilla-Brycon, in collaboration with Formative Architecture and Weddell Gilmore. A key member of this team, Biohabitats will design the interpretive wetland and an onsite wastewater treat-ment system. The wetland will be located next to the visitor’s center and fed by rainwater and an onsite groundwater well. The bosque-inspired ecosystem will allow visitors to experience a southwestern riverine wetland up close, through windows, and from overlooks and paths. Designed to mimic a naturally-occurring Rio Grande bosque wetland, its variable water depths will support a variety of native plants that in turn provide habitat for local birds, amphibians, small mammals, insects, and aquatic fauna. The onsite wastewater treatment system will treat water from the Visitor Center and return it onsite to recharge groundwater.

US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterAlbuquerque, New Mexico

The project drastically reduces re-liance on municipal potable water by utilizing a mix of non-potable, rain, or onsite well water to meet the majority of water demands. The wetlands are designed to naturally absorb much of the rain-water from the building and pa-tios, with a makeup supply from a cistern and groundwater well. Non-potable recycled water from the regional wastewater recycling plant will be used to irrigate much of the landscape and flush build-ing toilets. Harvested rainwater and onsite well water feeds edible and cultural gardens.

Native and local residents will help build the Visitor Center and grounds, learning construc-tion and green jobs skills in the process.

SERVICES

EngagePlanEngineer & DesignBuildEvolveRegenerate

Wetland terrace and interpretive wetland. Graphic: CF Padilla-Brycon JV, Formative Architecture, Weddle Gilmore, Black Rock Studio, Surroundings Studio

Aerial view looking west to Rio Grande. Graphic: CF Padilla-Brycon JV, Formative Architecture, Weddle Gilmore, Black Rock Studio, Surroundings Studio