Upgraded HVAC Brings Year-Round Comfort to Taos County Community Center

Taos County residents in the San Cristobal Valley have long relied on their historic 1932 community center as a central gathering space, but the building’s aging infrastructure made it difficult to use year-round. Outdated propane heaters were noisy, inefficient, and expensive to operate, while summer heat made the commercial kitchen uncomfortable, limiting events and meetings to only a few pleasant months each year.

Recognizing the need to preserve this vital gathering place, two local residents proposed installing a modern, energy-efficient HVAC system to make the space comfortable and accessible throughout the year.

LOR’s funding helped the San Cristobal Mutual Domestic Water Association purchase and install heating and cooling units in the main gathering room, commercial kitchen, and postal processing area. The new system replaced outdated propane heaters with sustainable climate control, creating a comfortable workspace for postal employees and a welcoming environment for acequia meetings, educational workshops, weddings, funerals, and community celebrations. With this upgrade, the center can support expanded programming and partnerships while preserving the valley’s only public gathering space for future generations.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Downtown Taos.