Project Planning
- Preconstruction budget and schedule review
- Permitting, inspections and owner reviews tracked to closeout
- Specialty trade partners scheduled, coordinated and supervised by our superintendent
- Closeout records, warranties and as-built drawings delivered with the building
Defense work comes with schedules set by someone else, and a contractor in Alamogordo has to respect that. Holloman Air Force Base is about six miles southwest of the city on US Highway 70, and the community profile calls it the largest employer in the area, with around 11,000 people in its daytime population. It cites an economic impact of $411,743,040 through payroll, job creation and contract spending. We build the commercial and support buildings that grow around a base: offices, training space, retail, housing-related services and storage.
Holloman hosts F-16 aircrew training under the 54th Fighter Group, reactivated in March 2014, and trains MQ-9 Reaper pilots. A training mission brings steady rotation of students, instructors and visitors, and with them a demand for hotels, restaurants, clinics and rental properties. Our job is to deliver those buildings on time and to the quality an institutional tenant expects.
The ground here has a character of its own. Alamogordo sits at an elevation of 4,330 feet on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains and the eastern edge of the Tularosa Basin, which is endorheic, meaning water does not drain to the sea. For a builder that means we plan stormwater very carefully, because runoff has nowhere to go but into the basin floor and alluvial fans.
Drainage, alluvial ground and the Tularosa Basin
Sites at the foot of mountains receive runoff in sudden, strong pulses during monsoon season. We study the watershed above a parcel, size channels and detention to match, and elevate buildings above expected flow paths. Our stormwater and drainage design is part of the first conversation, not an afterthought.
Soils on alluvial fans can be loose, cemented or variable, and we rely on the geotechnical report to select footings and subgrade treatment. A short investigation before design is far cheaper than a repair after cracks appear.
Roads, rail and air
US 54, US 70 and US 82 are the main intercity routes through Alamogordo and are all four-lane. The Charles T. Lee Memorial Relief Route (US 54/70), a western bypass built in 2001, eases traffic on White Sands Boulevard. Alamogordo sits at the intersection of the four-lane US 70 and US 54, which connect to I-10 and I-25. For a contractor, good highways mean reliable concrete and steel deliveries.
Union Pacific provides freight service to Alamogordo and there is no intercity passenger train service. Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport is mainly used for general aviation, and scheduled commercial service has ended. Many visitors and specialty trades arrive by road from Las Cruces.
What we build near the base
We build offices, small industrial buildings, medical clinics, extended-stay lodging and retail in the community around the base. Many owners are local investors who want a durable building with low maintenance, and we recommend masonry and stucco envelopes, efficient mechanical systems and parking designed for daily traffic.
For defense contractors and suppliers, we build secure office areas, equipment rooms and storage. Our commercial construction service can also handle tenant improvements to convert an existing building to a secure workspace.
Defense, public and local owners
Public owners such as schools, the city and the county make up a large part of the local market. Our government and public sector team reads solicitations carefully, prepares complete proposals and keeps the paperwork current from award to closeout.
Local retailers and hospitality owners benefit from a contractor who understands the base calendar. Training cycles, deployment returns and graduation weeks all affect occupancy, and we schedule hotel and restaurant openings accordingly.
Where the money goes in a basin-edge site
Sitework is the least visible and often the largest surprise: grading, retaining walls, detention basins, utility extensions and fill. We price it early with a civil engineer, and we show owners how much of the budget is behind the building rather than inside it.
The building itself should be sized to the tenant. A defense-related office, a clinic and a hotel have different mechanical, electrical and fire protection needs, so we price systems by use. For the buyer, the clearest comparison is a line-by-line estimate that shows each system.
Planning around the base and the weather
Alamogordo's calendar is shaped by the base rotation, the school year and the monsoon season. We aim to finish site and foundation work before the storms arrive, then focus on dry-in and interiors during the wetter months. Hospitality owners want to open before peak travel periods, and we work backward from that date.
We also coordinate delivery of long-lead items such as doors, rooftop units and electrical gear. In a smaller city, a late shipment may mean a delay of weeks, so we order early and track every item.
Other markets and services we connect
Owners who also need work in southern New Mexico may be interested in our pages on Roswell and Carlsbad, which describe how we approach those communities. Public owners can also learn about our municipal and government construction services.
If your project is a hotel or lodging building, our page for the hospitality hotel building type explains how we handle guest rooms, back-of-house areas and life safety.
Heat, wind and base access
Summer heat and high winds define the working conditions. We start early, provide shade and water, and schedule lifts for calm hours. Work on or near the base may require background checks, vehicle inspections and escorted entry, and we plan lead times for those steps.
We hold weekly safety meetings, keep daily logs and share written plans with owners. On public projects we follow additional documentation rules.
Discuss your Alamogordo project
Tell us about the site, the use and the people who will use the building. We will look at the drainage, the approvals and the schedule, then give you a plain estimate.
Questions Owners Ask
How do you handle runoff from the mountains?
We study the contributing drainage area, size channels, culverts and detention basins, and set finished floor elevations above predicted flow paths. A drainage report is usually part of the permit package, and we prepare it with a civil engineer.
Can you build on a site with alluvial soils?
Yes, with the right foundation. A geotechnical investigation tells us bearing capacity, collapse potential and the best approach, which may include over-excavation, engineered fill or deeper footings. We price those options clearly.
Does base-related work require special clearances?
Work on the installation can require background checks and vehicle access procedures. Work off the base typically does not, though tenants may impose their own security rules. We confirm requirements before bidding.
What building materials work well in this climate?
Masonry, stucco, insulated metal panels and tilt-wall all perform well in the dry climate when detailed correctly. We pay attention to expansion joints, roof drainage and sun exposure.
How far in advance should I plan a hotel or restaurant?
Hospitality projects benefit from early preconstruction, since design, permitting and fixtures can take many months. We recommend starting at least a year before your target opening.