New Mexico officials have officially broken ground on a $2.4 million restoration project to revive one of the state’s most symbolic legislative spaces — the historic “Red Room,” the former Senate chambers inside what is now the Bataan Memorial Building in Santa Fe.
Although the chamber is currently painted blue, its original red décor earned it the nickname “Red Room,” a moniker that has endured for over a century. The space first opened in 1900, serving as the Senate chamber during New Mexico’s territorial days and continuing in that role for 66 years, including after New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912. Lawmakers vacated the room in 1966 when the Legislature relocated to the modern Roundhouse Capitol.
Two years later, in 1968, the former Capitol was renamed the Bataan Memorial Building in tribute to 1,800 New Mexico National Guard soldiers who endured the Bataan Death March during World War II.
Now, nearly 125 years after its construction, the state is committed to bringing the chamber back to life — though what it will ultimately look like is still undecided.
“There’s still a lot of questions as to, was it built classical?” said Joe Vigil, spokesperson for the New Mexico General Services Department. “Did it change to semi-territorial, Territorial? There’s going to be a recommendation in the next couple weeks as to what period we can actually verify, to go back to, because we don’t want to guess on it.”
Vigil said multiple architectural versions of the room have existed over time, and state officials are working with architects, historians, and preservation experts to determine which era can be most accurately recreated. To aid the process, the Department of Cultural Affairs issued a public call in July asking residents to submit old photos of the chamber. During their research, the team located 1951 renovation blueprints, which could serve as a model.
Currently, the chamber is closed to the public and deemed “uninhabitable” due to falling ceiling tiles, structural issues, and degraded fixtures. Crews have already begun removing balcony risers, shutters, doors, tiles, and other elements in preparation for rehabilitation.
State officials announced in April that the Bataan Memorial Building had been added to the National Register of Historic Places, further cementing the importance of restoring its most iconic interior.
Project manager Marilyn Martinez said the restoration is about more than preserving architecture—it’s about honoring the building’s legacy.
“Ultimately, we want to make this renovation worthy of what this building stands for,” she said. “We want it to be part of the memorial that represents those service members.”
Once complete — projected for late next summer — the revived Red Room is expected to open once again for public tours, ceremonies, and educational programs, reconnecting modern New Mexicans with the territorial roots of their government.
Originally reported by Patrick Lohmann in Source NM.
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