Jaynes Wins AGC NM Best Buildings Award for City of Albuquerque’s Southwest Public Safety Center

The City of Albuquerque’s Southwest Public Safety Center – Fire Station 23 was recognized with a Best Buildings Award from the Associated General Contractors of New Mexico. The annual award honors projects that demonstrate exceptional construction excellence, innovation, and community impact across New Mexico.

Completed in late 2025, the Albuquerque public safety center represents a major investment by the City of Albuquerque to enhance emergency response and better serve one of the city’s fastest-growing regions.

A New Model for Public Safety

In addition to Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR), the ultra-modern campus also houses Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS).

Located in Southwest Albuquerque, the 21,000 square foot Southwest Public Safety Center brings together Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR), Albuquerque Police Department (APD), and Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) into one integrated facility. This co-located model enables more efficient emergency response by aligning fire, law enforcement, and behavioral health services under one roof.

Before Fire Station 23 was built, the surrounding community relied on response units from outside the area, leading to longer response times.

Today, the facility improves emergency coverage and coordination for more than 27,000 residents while supporting a more adaptive, community-focused approach to public safety.

Overcoming Construction Challenges on Albuquerque’s Southwest Mesa

Building a multi-agency public safety facility on the Southwest Mesa required navigating complex site and infrastructure challenges. The six-acre site along 98th Street presented variable soil conditions, nearby residential development constraints, and active traffic considerations.

Jaynes addressed these challenges through proactive planning and technical expertise. Geotechnical analysis informed soil stabilization and grading strategies, while disciplined scheduling minimized neighborhood disruption. The integration of three distinct public safety departments required highly coordinated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems tailored to each agency’s operational needs.

From specialized exhaust systems in apparatus bays to secure law enforcement areas and trauma-informed spaces for ACS, the project demanded precision across every discipline.

Advanced Technology in Public Safety Facility Construction

The 21,000 square foot facility incorporates specialized fire apparatus bays, secure law enforcement areas, and tailored ACS spaces, all within a compact footprint.

Jaynes leveraged advanced construction technology to improve efficiency and reduce risk throughout the project. Building Information Modeling (BIM) enabled detailed coordination of complex building systems, reducing field conflicts and cutting rework by up to 30 percent.

Additional innovations included GPS-guided grading, prefabrication strategies, and drone mapping to enhance site accuracy and accelerate timelines. Real-time dashboards and mobile QA/QC tools provided transparency and supported faster decision-making across the project team.

High-efficiency HVAC and exhaust systems were also incorporated to improve indoor air quality for first responders while reducing long-term energy consumption, delivering both performance and sustainability benefits.

CMAR Delivery Drives Project Success

The facility improves emergency coverage and coordination for more than 27,000 residents while supporting a more adaptive, community-focused approach to public safety.

The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method played a critical role in the success of the Albuquerque Fire Station 23 project. By engaging Jaynes early in the design phase, the team efficiently managed cost, constructability, and schedule from the outset.

Working in collaboration with Vigil & Associates Architectural Group, Jaynes led value engineering efforts to optimize materials and systems without compromising quality.

Early procurement strategies helped mitigate supply chain risks, while open-book estimating ensured transparency and budget control.

This collaborative CMAR approach minimized change orders, improved efficiency, and enabled the project to be delivered on time and within budget.

Community Impact of Fire Station 23

The project required integrating specialized apparatus bays, secure law‑enforcement spaces, ACS offices, and advanced communications, security, and building systems.

The Southwest Public Safety Center strengthens critical infrastructure in an underserved area of Albuquerque, significantly improving response times and public safety outcomes.

By integrating Albuquerque Community Safety, the facility also supports more appropriate responses to non-violent and behavioral health-related calls.

During construction, Jaynes prioritized local engagement by partnering with New Mexico subcontractors, supporting workforce development, and maintaining open communication with nearby residents.

Environmental measures, including dust control, stormwater management, and optimized delivery logistics, helped reduce the project’s overall impact.

The result is a public safety facility that reflects both technical excellence and a strong commitment to the community it serves.

As Jaynes marks its 80th anniversary, the Southwest Public Safety Center – Fire Station 23 exemplifies the kind of community‑building work we’ve pursued since our founding in 1946.

Safety Excellence in Construction

Safety remained a top priority throughout construction. With active site conditions, heavy equipment, and multi-trade coordination, Jaynes implemented rigorous safety protocols including daily hazard analyses, pre-task planning, and real-time reporting tools.

The project achieved zero lost-time incidents, reinforcing Jaynes’ safety culture and contributing to national safety recognition in 2025. This commitment ensured the project was delivered responsibly and without incident.

As winner of the Associated General Contractors of America Construction Safety Excellence Award (AGC CSEA) award, Jaynes continues to focus on safety as a core value.

Recognized by AGC New Mexico

The state‑of‑the‑art public safety facility reflects the leading edge of modern municipal emergency response design.

The AGC New Mexico Best Buildings Award honors projects that excel in construction quality, innovation, safety, and community contribution. The Southwest Public Safety Center – Fire Station 23 exemplifies each of these criteria, setting a new standard for public safety facility construction in New Mexico.

For Jaynes Corporation, the award reflects a continued commitment to building high-performance facilities that strengthen communities and support essential services across the region.

AGC New Mexico Best Buildings Awards Gala

Jaynes will accept the award at the 2026 AGC New Mexico Best Buildings Awards Gala on May 29th at Sandia Resort & Casino. The event celebrates excellence in commercial construction and supports the AGC Education Foundation, which funds workforce development initiatives across New Mexico.

Proceeds from the gala support programs at the University of New Mexico and ACE Leadership High School, helping develop the next generation of construction professionals.

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