Kells + Craig Architects

Located in Albuquerque’s North Valley, the national and state historic registered house was originally constructed ca. 1880 as the home of Juan Cristobal Armijo, and subsequently renovated in the 1930s and 1950s as a grand country home in the Rio Grande Valley tradition. On the death of its last owner, Lucia Batten, it was donated to the Albuquerque Museum Foundation for use as their offices. Kells + Craig recently completed a renovation that maintains the adobe house’s historic character, while updating the building to serve the 21st century office and fundraising needs of the foundation. The renovation retained the existing floor plan, historic doors and windows, and interior features including all fireplaces and beamed ceilings. The deteriorating wood floors that dated from the 1930s were replaced with new hardwood floors set on concrete slabs. All new mechanical, electrical, computer cabling systems were installed beneath the new floors.