Albuquerque

Bearing the hallmark of the city’s first modern, International Style skyscraper, the Simms Building was built in 1954 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Over the years, the building with the windowless brick walls on the east and west sides and glass curtain walls on the other two faces, has served Albuquerque’s commercial sector.

George R. R. Martin needs no further introduction. Since his bestseller novel, A Song of Ice and Fire, has seen the printer’s ink, he’s become one of the world’s most influential people. HBO recognized the success and turned it into the very popular dramatic series, Game of Thrones. The novel is yet to be finished, readers and movie fans are looking forward to the sixth and seventh books of the series.

Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership plans to break ground on a 68-unit affordable housing apartment development located at the gateway to Albuquerque’s Downtown in January 2013. The $13.6 million project, dubbed Plaza Ciudana, is the first phase of a master-planned community planned to include between 250 and 300 units of affordable and market-rate housing, according to the New Mexico Business Weekly.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has opened its first Las Cruces store. Located at 200 North Telshor Blvd., the 45,000-square-foot store is located in a remodeled former Sportsman’s Warehouse, reports the New Mexico Business Weekly. This is the second store under Dick’s name in New Mexico. The company’s first store in the state was launched on Albuquerque’s Westside last year.

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry recently unveiled a $20 million plan to redesign the exterior of the Albuquerque Convention Center. Twenty-one years have passed since the Convention Center, built in 1972, received a fresh look, according to Cvent Blog. he redesign will focus on the center’s west end and will turn it into a space that represents Albuquerque and New Mexico, much like the Albuquerque International Sunport, reported New Mexico Business Weekly.