Santa Fe, NM
2005, 2020

AIA New Mexico Chapter
2007 Honor Award
AIA Santa Fe Chapter
2006 Citation Award

History

Built in 1878, the Lamy building was originally part of the St. Michael’s College. The lower two floors, which remain today were constructed of adobe. The third floor, with its mansard roof and domed cupola, was framed in wood, probably to reduce the weight load. Local citizens contributed lumber, as well as 735 sheep, 2 goats, 2 oxen, and 1 cow to the building fund. The original stucco was a cementitious scored application suggesting stone masonry. The current paint colors are based on the building’s original Victorian Era paint color palette.

2005 Improvements

In 2005, Spears Horn Architects completed a “facelift” project for the Lamy building and surrounding porches, courts, and yards. Calling upon the firm’s expertise in the area of historic preservation, Spears Horn Architects performed extensive research into the evolution of the structure, including the building’s materials and colors, and coordinated the rehabilitation of the widespread deteriorating wood members. Spears Horn Architects also prepared construction documents to direct the entire re-stuccoing, re-painting, re-habilitation of deterioriated wood for the Lamy building, all grounds around the building were renovated to include new plantings, benches, walkways, and drip-irrigation, and the building’s bell tower was restored.