On Friday May 5th, 2017, FBT attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jicarilla-Apache Community Center in Dulce, NM with Progressive Construction Management and Flintco. The Community Center, a planned 100,000 sf replacement facility for the Jicarilla Apache Nation, focuses on creating healthy spaces – inside and out. Centrally located in the heart of Dulce, the replacement facility will serve as a physical and cultural center point for the Jicarilla Apache community. The center’s communal focus includes gathering spaces, a gym, and a natatorium; the communal design also extends to the exterior site, which incorporates a communal plaza and park for outdoor gatherings and cultural festivities. In addition, a jogging/walking trail around the campus will promote health and fitness. The Jicarilla-Apache Community Center is scheduled to be completed Fall 2018.

Members of the Jicarilla Apache nation wanted a sustainable, durable, and engaging complex for gathering that also promoted the tribe’s physical and mental well-being. According to Councilman Leon K. Reval, the new community center serves as a focal point for community gatherings and wellness, as well as “a place to enjoy a nice cup of coffee.” Councilman Reval views the new community center as a both “a springboard and a teaching tool.” The center is an “economic driver for the nation” because its “centralized location in town, numerous amenities, and surrounding grounds” will allow the Jicarilla Apache “to cater to large groups for weddings, concerts and special events within the facility and on the grounds.” The community center also allows the Jicarilla Apache to share their culture and to engage the Dulce community through a number of new community organizations.

For a replacement building, the Jicarilla-Apache tribe wanted a large building that provided space for a variety of communal activities and could also withstand the harsh Dulce winters. Councilman Reval emphasized that the design team listened to tribe members and then helped realize the tribe’s vision of a sustainable, inclusive new building. According to the Councilman, the entire process was “so gratifying…to come together and see that everybody shares that same passion we have for our project. It was really a team effort to provide the best outcome for the community and the decision-makers.”

Project features include:

• Fully-equipped aquatic facility
• Indoor athletic and recreation center with basketball and volleyball courts
• Raised running/walking track
• Eight lane competition bowling alley
• Youth Center
• Multipurpose Event Center for community events and performances