Adobe construction, as one of the world’s oldest forms of building, produces solid, long lasting structures. The great mass of adobe walls absorbs heat and releases it when the temperatures drop. Creating a low-energy passive solar home with this much mass available to store heat is a fairly straightforward process – even for the non-professional.

NNMC’s Adobe Construction Department takes you through the process of building an adobe home from foundation to roof. The program is unique – the nation’s only full-fledged certification program in building with adobe. It generally takes two semesters of classroom and field work to earn a Certificate in Adobe Construction. While focusing primarily on a hands-on, apprenticeship-type experience, the program includes sufficient theory and classroom instruction to ensure complete, critical coverage of all aspects of building adobe structures. Students receive hands-on adobe experience through:

• new construction work at adobe construction sites around Northern New Mexico
• renovating existing adobe homes
• working on individual projects in the department’s adobe laboratory

Adobe is a building material that anyone can learn to work with. Past students of the program include:

• owner/builders wishing to complete a good portion of the home construction process on their own
• architects and architecture students wishing to gain hands-on experience with a natrual building material and add a sustainable architecture focus to their portfolios
• renewable energy students and specialists wanting to learn more about the energy-saving potential of passive solar adobe design

In addition to the “live” classes offered in El Rito, New Mexico, we are now also offering adobe classes via the internet. This is a great way to get started with adobe construction regardless of your location.

For further information or questions about the program please contact Quentin Wilson at 1-575-581-4156 or qwilson@nnmc.edu