New Mexico

Law Passed: 1932 • Joined NCARB: 1934 • Region 6—Western (1966)

The Components of Licensure

Education

1990: Professional degree in architecture from a NAAB-accredited program or equivalent.

Experience

1932: Board requires four years of experience, with each year of approved college training equivalent to one year of experience.

1939: At least eight years of training is required.

Late-1980s: Accepts the IDP as an equivalent to the board’s experience requirement.

Examination

1939: New Mexico requires a written or oral exam.

1990s-present: In addition to completing the ARE, applicants must also pass an open-book jurisprudence exam.

Noteworthy

In 1931, the governor signed an architectural act establishing the New Mexico Board. That year, the board licensed 29 architects, including C.R. Carr, who became one of the jurisdiction’s first Member Board Members.

The late-1980s brought a lot of changes to architects in New Mexico. In 1986, the board reported several troubling cases of firms purchasing the stamps of young architects. Updates to the state’s architectural act in 1988 led to two major changes: the definition of architects was updated to reflect overlaps with engineering, and an educator member was added to the board’s composition—a position that remains today. Additionally, state law was rewritten to specify that all building plans involving public safety or health must be prepared by an architect, except in the case of single-family dwellings and multiple dwellings of four units or less.

Noteable People

NCARB Presidents

2003: C. Robert Campbell, FAIA (Albuquerque)

Additional Members of the NCARB Board of Directors

2014-present: Robert M. Calvani, FAIA (Albuquerque)
2016-2018: Jim Oschwald (Albuquerque)

First Chairman/President

W. Miles Brittelle

First Board Members

C.R. Carr
John Gaw Meem
H.W. Boehning
W.L. McAstee

First License Issued

March 18, 1931: C.R. Carr

First Woman Licensed

1950: Mary Lou Grace

First Hispanic Licensed

1954: Lawrence A. Garcia

NCARB President Medalists

1999: Donald P. Schlegel, FAIA (Albuquerque)
2002: David J. Knauer (Albuquerque)

New Mexico History

President C. William Bevins (right) installs C. Robert Campbell as president at the 2002 Annual Business Meeting in Boston.
New Mexico delegates talk to NCARB President Bill Bevins at the 2002 NCARB Annual Meeting.
Robert M. Calvani, of New Mexico, at the 2013 Annual Business Meeting.
Members of the New Mexico Board at the 2017 Annual Business Meeting.
New Mexico delegates vote on resolutions at the 2006 Annual Business Meeting.
President C. William Bevins (right) installs C. Robert Campbell as president at the 2002 Annual Business Meeting in Boston.
New Mexico delegates talk to NCARB President Bill Bevins at the 2002 NCARB Annual Meeting.
Robert M. Calvani, of New Mexico, at the 2013 Annual Business Meeting.
Members of the New Mexico Board at the 2017 Annual Business Meeting.
New Mexico delegates vote on resolutions at the 2006 Annual Business Meeting.