Welcome to the New Mexico Chapter for IBPSA-USA. We host monthly meetings on a variety of topics, building tours, and events. To receive updates for upcoming meetings and events, please sign up on for our mailing list:
New Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America and considered one of the
Mountain States. New Mexico is the fifth-most extensive and the sixth-least densely populated of the 50 United States. The wide open landscape paired with sun shine 310 days of the year, allow for abundant and unique solar renewable energy opportunities.
Inhabited by indigenous peoples for many centuries before European exploration, New Mexico was subsequently part of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain. Later, it was part of Mexico before becoming a U.S. territory and eventually a U.S. state in 1912. As a result, the diverse demography and rich culture of the state are unique with a majority Hispanic and Native American population and a history of more than 400 years old.
Albuquerque is the most populous city in New Mexico at an elevation of 5,352ft above sea level. Our high-altitude city serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County, and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The Albuquerque metropolitan statical area (or MSA) includes the city of Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Placitas, Corrales, Los Lunas, Belen, Bosque Farms and has a population of 907,301 according to the US Census Bureau's 2015 estimate.
Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico (UNM), Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), Presbyterian Health Services, and Petroglyph National Monument. The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque, and the Rio Grande flows through the city, north to south. Albuquerque is also the home of the International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest such gathering of balloons from around the world.