MASS Design Group renovates Ricardo Legorreta's Santa Fe campus into nonprofit arts district

MASS Design Group's Santa Fe office is leading a renovation of Ricardo Legorreta's former College of Santa Fe campus, transforming 50,000 square feet across four acres into a nonprofit arts and culture district. The project, developed with Midtown Arts and Design Alliance (MADA), will preserve Legorreta's signature red and pink hues while adding large windows to flood classrooms with natural light. Over three years, MASS conducted extensive community engagement with 3,000 Santa Fe residents, focusing on youth, low-income residents, and Spanish speakers. The revitalized campus will house at least 12 nonprofits including Little Globe, Vital Spaces, and Santa Fe Indigenous Center, plus four University of New Mexico divisions. Facilities will include a theater, library, workshops, studios, artist residences, community center, and outdoor screening area. Future phases will convert World War II-era barracks into maker spaces after asbestos remediation and add housing to the site. MASS principal Joseph Kunkel emphasized creating accessible arts spaces that honor Legorreta's use of color and light. The project aims to address Santa Fe's paradox as a major art market that feels inaccessible to local residents. Groundbreaking is scheduled for later this year with tenants expected in 2027.