Sandia Base Elementary School – Albuquerque, NM

Project Details

Eide Industries provided the design-refinement, engineering, fabrication, and installation of a custom Tensile Facade System for the new Sandia Base Elementary School located on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project was completed for HB Construction as part of the redevelopment of the school, which replaced the original 1950 facility with a modern, two-story learning environment serving military families and the surrounding community. Inspired by Kirtland Air Force Base’s rich aviation heritage, Roma Architecture (formerly Jon Anderson Architecture) designed the school to connect students to the concept of flight by integrating soaring, angular elements throughout the school.

The new campus features a custom exterior tensile facade which measures approximately 60'-0" wide x 26'-6" high, with a 3'-8.25" projection, providing approximately 1,590 square feet of vertical coverage. Serge Ferrari Tenseo Frontside GFM-21 (formerly Verseidag PTFE Mesh GFM-21) fabric is tensioned with FACID 65 aluminum framing systems supported by white powder-coated steel frames. The facade system is designed to comply with the demanding environmental and structural design criteria of an active military base, including a 125-mph basic wind speed, Exposure Category C, and a 20-psf ground snow load.

Eide Industries successfully completed the fabrication and installation of this iconic facade that celebrates flight, innovation, and the future of learning.