Progress of New O’Keeffe Celebrated

New Mexico-based companies lead efforts of new campus which will feature an adobe structure.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum marked a major milestone in the construction of the New O’Keeffe, a reimagined campus in historic downtown Santa Fe scheduled to open in 2028. Following the completion of basement excavation in June 2025, construction advanced to the substructure phase, preceding the installation and assembly of the above-ground steel framework.

During the excavation phase, soil was removed from the construction site and will be combined with clay to create 40,000 adobe bricks, which will be added to the earthen architecture of the new building. Adobe bricks created and dried off-site will be transported to the New O’Keeffe and placed in exterior walls beginning May 18.

Avanyu General Contracting has been tapped to lead the adobe aspects of the project with its expertise in all aspects of historic adobe preservation. The woman- and Native American-owned business will work hand in hand with DNCA Architects, Bradbury Stamm Construction, and JenkinsGavin Land Use & Project Management, rounding out the construction team for the project with all New Mexico-based firms.

“This project has always been guided by a clear purpose and a profound pride of place. New Mexico had a transformative impact on Georgia O’Keeffe’s life and work, shaping her life and career in enduring ways. To build the New O’Keeffe in Santa Fe—using adobe crafted from the soil of Northern New Mexico—is a deeply meaningful tribute to an artist whose legacy is deeply intertwined with the landscape,” said Cody Hartley, Director of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

The New O’Keeffe will be a place where people from around the world and in the neighborhood gather to celebrate the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe. The new campus in downtown Santa Fe aims to achieve three powerful goals: a new and innovative museum worthy of the finest art, civic revitalization, and a deepened commitment to Northern New Mexico. The campus will include a 54,000-square-foot building and almost an acre of community green space located just steps from the historic Santa Fe Plaza. The New O’Keeffe is set to open in 2028. For more information on the project, visit okeeffemuseum.org/new-museum/