UNM-Taos has begun construction on Cielo Centro, a new facility on the Klauer Campus that aims to become a central location for education, culture, and community activities in Northern New Mexico. The project includes an amphitheater, observatory, classrooms, and outdoor learning spaces designed to connect students and the wider community with both local heritage and scientific exploration.
“This project is about cultivating wonder and ensuring that young people in Northern New Mexico can see themselves not just looking at the stars, but working among them,” said UNM-Taos Chancellor Mary Gutierrez during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Several partners contributed to the development of Cielo Centro. The King and Ogglesbee family donated a Dobsonian telescope that will be featured in the observatory. Pland Collaborative, led by Sam Sterling and Samantha Swavely, created designs intended to reflect Taos’s relationship with its landscape and sky. Colin Nicholls provided leadership for the initiative. Local officials Senator Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales and Representative Kristina Ortez supported the project at the state level by advocating for education and rural innovation. El Valle Astronomers worked alongside dark sky advocates to help protect Taos’s night skies.
The event also highlighted Jacob Torres, a native of Northern New Mexico who participated in NASA’s “Chiles in Space” project. His experience was presented as an example of how local students can pursue careers in science and technology.
“As we turn the soil today, we also turn our gaze upward—to what’s possible when a community believes in its future,” Gutierrez said. “Cielo Centro will open doors for students and generations to come.”
