APS NUSENDA STADIUM

The APS Nusenda Community Stadium marked the first new stadium for Albuquerque Public Schools in more than 30 years, addressing the district’s rapidly growing athletic programs. With high school enrollment doubling since the 1960s, the facility relieves the overburden on Milne and Wilson Stadiums and provides a modern, centralized venue on Albuquerque’s west side.

The LEED-Silver certified complex features a 7,000-seat football stadium, a 2,600-seat track and field facility, parking for 1,450 vehicles, and a full suite of shared amenities. Spectator comforts include four concession buildings, an enclosed press box with film deck, and a field house with team rooms, conference areas, and officials’ facilities. Bowl-shaped and sunken into the mesa, the stadium shields fans from west winds, minimizes neighborhood noise and light impacts, and frames stunning views of the Sandia Mountains.

Sustainability is integral to the design. A photovoltaic shade canopy offsets roughly 20% of the facility’s energy load, while a ground-source heat pump system provides efficient heating and cooling. Native landscaping and synthetic turf reduce water demand, and more than 90% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

Beyond athletics, the stadium serves as a community asset. Improved access roads ease congestion for events, while tall lighted pylons create a celebratory arrival sequence and clear wayfinding. Adjacent to a planned city park, the stadium anchors a larger recreational hub that will benefit Albuquerque residents for decades to come.

Photography credit: mattophoto architectural photography