Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico's most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. In order to best serve these community members, the county approved the development and design of a 13-acre site south of the City of Albuquerque to house a 41,000-SF training academy, shared by Fire and Sheriff Department staff. With a philosophy of "train better together" the departments will share resources to get the very best training and value from the new facility. 

The facility design includes general and program-specific classroom space, a dedicated fitness center, and the relocation of an existing drill tower. Integrated technology including a MILO simulation room offers nearly unlimited training scenarios for first responders. Outdoor facilities include a 3.5-acre skills pad and practical applications bay. The academy is pursuing environmental standards, seeking two Green Globes for sustainable practices. This certification demonstrates the support of user health, a reduced impact on the environment, and increased building systems efficiency.