Hibben Center for Archaeological Research - updated 3-2-2005

Phase II - Starting Spring 2004

The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with UNM, is planning to move the Chaco Archive from the 2nd floor, Historic West Wing, of Zimmerman Library to the top floor (3rd) of the Hibben Center. The top floor is currently a vacant shell space, and the NPS grant will make build out possible. Planning is now underway for this phase of the project. Construction could begin in spring (Feb.) 2004.

"The Chaco Archives collection consists of approximately 800 manuscripts, 35,000 black and white photographs, 30,000 negatives, 6,200 slide, 3,000 maps, and approximately 150 linear feet of associated project documentation, notes, archives and site files."

"The manuscripts represent a collection of published and unpublished papers, reports, research documents, and publications on the archaeology and anthropology of the prehistoric and historic Southwest collected primarily by the Chaco Center for research during the Chaco Project (1969-1981)." (From Chaco Archive webpage)

Phase One:

Project Update -A ribbon cutting celebration for phase I was held on October 8, 2002.

Photos of the new Hibben Center

The main entrance to the Hibben Center is on the north side of the facility. It faces the main entrance of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.

An underground tunnel runs under the patio, connecting the storage basements of the two facilities.

The fence was removed on 7-8-02. The walkway between the two facilities has now been reopened to foot traffic. Grass and trees have beeen added.

This is the new skylight at the top of the central atrium inside the building. Some of the rooms inside the building have windows facing the outside, while other rooms receive the muted light of the atrium.

Update - Dr. Frank C. Hibben died on June 11, 2002. He was 91. He came to UNM in the early 1930's for his B.S. He left to get his Ph.D at Harvard. He returned to UNM in the late 1930's and joined the Faculty. He help found the Antropology Department at UNM. He helped create the Maxwell Muesum of Antropology. His adventures over the years took him all around the world, to many exotic locales. Over his long career, he brought back many incredible acheological finds to UNM.

To continue his life long research efforts, he helped plan, fund and design the new Hibben Center for Archaeological Research in the 1990's and broke ground for it in 2001. (Always a great patron of UNM, he donated $ 4 Million to entirely pay for the construction of the Hibben Center. It is the largest gift of construction money UNM has ever recieved). He also willed UNM millions more to create 18 graduate fellowships in Antropology to staff the facility, so that future generations could continue his research and build upon it.

He was a dedicated scholar. Dr. Hibben loved to teach and only stopped teaching in 2001. Please click here to learn more

The Center has been built just south of the Maxwell Museum / Anthropology Building in the west precinct of Main Campus. (Near MLK and University Blvd.) The location allows interaction with the Maxwell Museum and teaching / research in the Department of Anthropology in which Dr. Hibben is Professor Emeritus.

This is a view of the main entrance of the center (north side of center) which is just steps from Maxwell Museum main entrance (south side of Museum). The Hibben Center basement is linked via tunnel to the Maxwell Museum basement to allow the free movement of artifacts in a secure, climate controled setting.

Project Description:

The facility will be approximately 35,000 square feet on three levels containing archaeological / archival storage, dry laboratories, classrooms, a lecture hall, offices and support space. The new archival area will directly connect to the collections of the Maxwell Museum. The project is funded by a gift from Dr. Frank C. Hibben.

Facility Planning Representative
Robert Meyer, 277-2236

Phase I - Project Architect
Patrick McClernon Architects

Project Cost
$4,000,000

Planning and Design Completion
August 2000

Construction Completion for Phase I late June 2002

Gross Square Footage
35,000

Please scroll down for more images.

Images courtesy of Brian Panasiti.

View from SE. The Center will have 3 levels above ground and one level below gound.

Eariler stages of the Hibben Center project - phase I

An earlier version (artist's concept)

Its a bird.. Its plane .. Its a Construction Crane!

The Hibben Center Construction Crane is now on site - as the building crew prepares to start installing the steel frame of the new building. 11-20-01

Scenes from the site preperation phase during summer 2001

The parking lot where the Hibben Center will stand has now been removed.

A few trees were lost as well, however more will be planted as part of the project.

The Hibben Center will be linked via tunnel to the Maxwell Museum to allow the free movement of artifacts in a secure, climate controled setting.

Access to the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is still possible from doors on the north and east side of the complex. The east door is off of the Totem Pole Courtyard, near the Alumni Chapel. The visitor parking area is west of the Muesum on Redondo Drive. Please follow the signs to find the new entrances.

The B Zone Parking Area lost 63 parking spaces when the construction site fence was erected for the Hibben Center for Archaeological Research.

If you have any questions on the project, please call us at the number below. Thanks.

Sabra Jane Basler
Transportation Information/Project Facilitator Department

Steven Machado
Web Facilitator
and
Allie Thompson
Public Relations Specilist

MSC04 2545

2401 Redondo, Third Level
Cornell Parking Structure
1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001