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SANTA FE -- Three architectural/engineering teams were named today as finalists and moved to the second phase of the international competition to design the 100,000 square-foot main terminal and hangar facility at Spaceport America.

The facility will serve as the primary operating base for Virgin Galactic, and also as the headquarters for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.

The finalists are:

1. HKS (Dallas, TX), teamed with Antoine Predock of Albuquerque, NM

2. URS (San Francisco, CA), teamed with Foster + Partners of London, UK

3. Gensler (San Francisco, CA), teamed with Rohde May Keller McNamara Architecture of Albuquerque, NM

“Each of these teams will bring its own ideas, vision and energy as they compete to design the facility that will symbolize Spaceport America,” said Rick Homans, Executive Director of the NM Spaceport Authority. “The finalists are all committed to designing a building that sets a new environmental standard, fits with the beautiful valley where the spaceport is located, and that is the functional centerpiece of the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport.”

Eleven firms responded to the RFP that was issued April 26. The NMSA Architect Selection Committee met May 29 to review the submissions and informed the firms on Monday, June 4 of the committee’s decision.

According to the rules of the competition, the NM Spaceport Authority will sign a $40,000 contract with each firm to provide concept drawings and detailed cost information that will be presented to the Selection Committee on July 24 and 25, 2007. The winner of the competition will be announced July 26, 2007.

Roger Schluntz, Dean of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, serves as Professional Advisor for the competition.