University of New Mexico to mark new Humanities & Social Sciences building with blessing ceremony

The University of New Mexico will hold a ceremonial blessing to mark the next phase of its new Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) building on Tuesday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at the HSS building site. The event is open to the public.

The ceremony will begin with a traditional blessing song by Diné singer Warlance Chee, followed by remarks from UNM President Garnett S. Stokes, Provost Barbara Rodriguez, College of Arts & Sciences Dean Jennifer Malat, and principal architect Billie Tsien. The program is designed to move from cultural grounding to institutional leadership and, ultimately, to the architectural vision shaping the space.

The new HSS Building will be located at the center of UNM's main campus, near Smith Plaza and across from Zimmerman Library. The project reflects a deliberate effort to align academic priorities with a design that is rooted in place and responsive to the communities it serves.

"The blessing ceremony for the new Humanities & Social Sciences Building will honor the spiritual significance of this place," said Malat. "The design team spent time throughout the region, including at Chaco Canyon, Acoma Pueblo, and Bandelier National Monument, as well as on UNM's campus, to create a structure that reflects the state's heritage and connects our students to who they are and who they want to become. This building will open campus to the community and give first-year students access to spaces designed for connection and learning."

Designed by New Mexico-based SMPC Architects in collaboration with Studio Tsien in New York, the building is intended to function as a central academic and community hub. Tsien, a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, has described her work as creating "containers for community," an approach reflected in the design.

The facility will house eight academic departments, four interdisciplinary institutes, and the Language Learning Center. First-floor classrooms will include dedicated spaces for American Sign Language and Navajo language instruction. The building will also feature a community kitchen, an event space with views of the Sandia Mountains, a first floor living room for gathering, and a humanities research center. Nearly every UNM undergraduate is expected to pass through the building during their academic career.

Subterranean work will begin this summer, with vertical construction starting in August. The project is scheduled for completion in 2029.

** UNM is advancing a $10 million philanthropic effort to support the project and expand its impact. Community members interested in contributing can learn more here. Additional information are available at the official project page and through the College of Arts & Sciences website.