any architects in nm? (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: crime, houses, public schools)

[jhd8]

hey
i am considering starting my life in new mexico. I am wondering if there is any business for an architect there. i think that since it is a poorer area architecture would be viewed as more of a commodity than it is here in new jersey. However i am sick of the greed here and i would like to go somewhere where money is less of a focus in life.
So my questions are:
1. Are there any areas with a market for an architect ( or possibility in the near future)
2. Any areas with good public schools
3. I have read all the hate and fear of crime in the area but does it compare to living in downtown newark nj?
Coming from me, born and raised up here, I am honestly more concerned about encountering drunk poeple with guns in NM than getting into a mess with gangsters here. In newark if you dont cause trouble you are not likeley to get any. But here the school and hospitals are top notch, a great place to raise a kid but $$$.

[BrianH]

Lots of room for architectures. Call the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, they will have a list of exhisting architecture.

[ontheroad]

You may find crime but not the likes of Newark. It is usually DV or DUI, not many guns pointed at folks--but lots of guns!

And architecture and architects probably do better than most; and alternative building is big in Northern NM.

[jhd8]

Thanks guys for the quick reply. Ill look into Albuquerque and Santa Fe and the surrounding areas. I would ideally like a nice plot of land on which to eventually build my own place. Since from what ive read Santa Fe is $$$ and alb is really bad, are there any other areas id be likeley to find work?
Thanks

[BrianH]

Not sure, might be an idea to contact the state ? I say this because they give alot of help to communities via Mainstreet and other programs, they may be able to point you in a direction I cant think of.

[jhd8]

when i passed through the south i saw mostly old houses or newer prefab stuff like trailers.. didnt see anything that looked like it was built by an architect. to be fair though, i took the scenic route and loved it. It is nice to see all the green building going on in northern new mexico, ill be sure to look furthur into it. Thank you

[finmqa1]

There are some really great architects here in NM. Antoine Predock is know all around the world for his incredible designs (http://www.predock.com/) (broken link). In fact the new architecture school being built at UNM is one of his designs and it will be named after him as one the most successful alums from UNM. Some other firms around here who seem to be big, are Dekker Perich Sabatini (http://www.dpsabq.com/) (broken link). Design Collaborative SW is fairly big regional player as well (who I think changed their name recently). Anyhow, hope this helps.

[orwoody]

Architecture in NM is much like it is elsewhere, I suppose. If one is a better businessman and salesperson than the rest of the pack, he can do well as an architect in NM. That should be your first question that you ask yourself. If you are as much salesman as architect, then you'll do well.

Now, for my opinion so take it for what it's worth. If you're wanting a semi-rural setting, the Albuquerque & Santa Fe area is fine. Don't waste time worrying about crime unless you're planning on playing on the fringes, such as stuffing stuff up your nose or living the life of a stoner on m.j. If that's the case, then you'll find all of the problems here that you find back there. I don't have any reason to think that's the case, I'm just saying it up front.
Otherwise, crime in New Mexico is virtually of no consequence.

Back to the important stuff... The general population of NM is not particularly affluent so the need for high end residential architecture plays a less important role here than it does in more urban areas. The regulations do require that plans for projects of a certain size or valuation, be stamped by a registered architect. That means that lots of educational, commercial, multifamily housing, etc. fall into the category of potential projects for you.

What does happen in NM is that since there are really only three population centers in the state, the biggest concentration of architects gravitates toward those three areas. I'd guess that an easy ninty percent of all of the registered architects in NM are located in Albuquerque, Santa Fe or Las Cruces. Part of the reason is financial, but another is that they would rather starve than wake up in Carlsbad, Hobbs, Lovington, Roswell, Clovis, Las Vegas or Farmington. Although Farmington has grown some in the past few years.

Right now after having worked for over twenty years in Houston, I am living in Roswell and working for a building contractor. What I have noticed is that there are only three architectural listings in the yellow pages. Two out of the three are at least seventy years of age and may be solidly so. That means that they should be retiring soon if they aren't already retired for all practical purposes. The remaining office is really just a satellite from one in Albuquerque. I suspect that there is way more business here than is currently being mined by local architects. Which means that it goes to out-of-town firms.

I'm not trying to get you to move to Roswell if you prefer to be a small fish in a big pond (which is what kind of person that I am), but rather to let you know that there is certainly some potential for the right person here. If you are a decent salesperson, have a way to support yourself while you build up your business and are willing to live in .... let's just agree that it is not one of the nation's major cultural centers, then this place really has a lot of potential right now.

Feel free to contact me directly if you want to and I'll attempt to give any additional information that you might want.

Woody

[devoe]

I don't agree with Abq being bad. In what way ? I have lived in NJ,worked in NYC-lived in LA-spent 10 years in Taos and I find Abq to be unpretentious and a great place to live avd start a business . It is starting to come into its own and we still have a few years to get there , but this little city has a lot going for it . Art ,Music and now a new Pottery Barn .LOL .Serious , come check out what is happening - its like being someplace where time forgot and it just remembered .

[jhd8]

finmga1. Thanks for the links and info
devoe- ill be there soon- my plan is to find a summer internship there and spend a few months to test the water
orwoody- thanks for the great post, i will be contacting you directly:P
brianh and ontheroad- good point, i didnt think of it that way