Expressive new shade structures for Central New Mexico University to greater utilize their outdoor spaces while protecting students and faculty from the New Mexico heat.

A new tensile fabric canopies over an existing steel canopy structure as well as two new canopies over existing seating areas.

“EC” uses a diagrid and three-dimensional shell behavior to achieve long slender spans. “TM” features an elegant curving truss at the step to allow for a column-free meeting area below.

All connections are bolted, eliminating on-site welding, and are carefully detailed to complement the form of the exposed steel. The perforated metal decks are depressed to be coplanar with the steel frames.