Master Plan Study: Waterworks Building, Silver City, New Mexico

School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico

This report was funded in part by a 2006 Preserve America grant (grant number 35-06-PA-2060) to the Town of Silver City, New Mexico for the project Silver City Waterworks Historic Architecture and Heritage Tourism Project. From the introduction: "In partnership with the Town of Silver City, the University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning, and the Resource Center for Raza Planning developed a visioning study for adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the town’s Waterworks building. The proposed master plan ties together both the existing historic structure and the metal shed building by designing an educational landscape that teaches about sustainability, local ecosystems and water conservation. Preserving the Waterworks building as a relic allows residents and visitors to better understand the past function of the space. The landscape brings the flow of water back into the site as a teaching tool and a means of generating dialogue about both individual and community response to global climate change. Adaptive reuse of the metal shed building creates a shared environment for educational programming and office space. The redesign of the metal building embodies conservation values, providing a new comfortable work and educational space that uses the natural environment and sustainable design to lighten the impact on the environment. Taken together, the renewed activity on the site will help establish community linkages between the elementary school and the native garden across the ditch."

Master Plan Study: Waterworks Building, Silver City, New Mexico

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