Projects

Project name 
Westland Development on the Atrisco Land Grant Site

Client 
SunCal Companies, California, USA

The Atrisco Land Grant site is a massive 55,000 acre site located on the outskirts of Albuquerque. It was a grant by the Spanish government to colonials in New Mexico dating back to the 17th Century and the site is now under immense pressure for development, as a combination of natural constraints and physical constraints such as Albuquerque’s sprawling extension have meant that the site is now one of the few places the city can expand into.

The client, who wishes to develop an eco-city of 300,000 people on the site, commissioned a team of consultants to develop a concept master plan and provide strategic infrastructure design and procurement advice. As part of the project team Happold Consulting was commissioned to develop a vision for the Westland project, establishing clear technical, operational and sustainability objectives.  Challenges observed in the project arose from the necessity to consider how the development could be designed to minimise demand for water, utilisation of demand reduction as well as harvesting, grey water and black water recycling technologies and distribution systems. 

Furthermore, concept design of energy, waste and transportation infrastructure was undertaken in an integrated manner such that the whole development could be constructed over 6 phases. 
 

Partners 
SWA Group
Terrapin Bright Green
Kovach Companies
Paul Cullen