National Grant Supports Solar-Powered Future for Albuquerque Museum Education Center

Albuquerque Museum has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative toward the purchase of solar panels for its new Education Center. Established in 2021, the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative is a national program of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation that supports visual arts institutions pursuing projects that address climate change through mitigation, adaptation, and education. 

“We keep Albuquerque moving forward when we take meaningful climate action,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This grant helps us invest in a more sustainable future for the Albuquerque Museum right now.” 

In 2023, the City of Albuquerque selected Devendra Narayan Contractor Architects (DNCA) to design a freestanding education facility as phase 3 of the Albuquerque Museum’s master plan.

DNCA has designed two phases of construction for an 18,000+ square foot building. With plans to break ground on phase 1 this year, the Albuquerque Museum intends to expand programs, partnerships, and collaborations.

The funding will go toward 650 square feet of photovoltaic (PV) panels over the second-floor terrace of phase 1. The solar array is expected to offset more than 730,000 pounds of CO₂ over 25 years, demonstrating environmental commitment at the heart of the museum’s expanding campus. Another 980 square feet of panels is planned for phase 2 of construction.

“The Albuquerque Museum Education Center’s PV panels are a vital component of the new facility’s sustainable design,” said Albuquerque Museum Director Andrew Connors. “Support from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative means the new system will not only generate clean energy but will also be measurable and reportable within the City’s broader energy performance framework.”