Explora, CNM Break Ground on Brillante Early Learning Center
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, City CAO Samantha Sengel, CNM President Tracy Hartzler, and Explora Co-Executive Directors Joe Hastings and Kristin Leigh broke ground on November 19 on the Brillante Early Learning Center. The center will provide a museum-based, STEAM Education center for 100 infants, toddlers, young children, and their families. Brillante Early Learning Center will have a full-time preschool along with community learning and resources. Brillante will serve as a lab school for CNM students and will be a mentorship site for future early childhood educators.
Brillante Early Learning Center is a trailblazing model of early childhood education. The center is 14,000 square feet and is being constructed as Phase Two of Explora’s Cradle through Career STEAM Learning Campus. Brillante will deliver high-quality early childhood education and care for children (infant to five) that will be rooted in STEAM and play-based learning, while also serving as a learning lab for CNM students pursuing certificates and degrees in CNMs Early Childhood Multicultural Education program.
"Investing in early childhood education at places like Brillante Early Learning Center is one of the most effective ways to break generational cycles of poverty, enhance educational opportunities, and create a brighter future for our children and communities. In New Mexico, we are lucky to have institutions like Explora where diverse communities learn and grow,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
"The City supports Explora's efforts in providing quality childcare and education, while empowering young families," said City of Albuquerque CAO, Dr. Samantha Sengel. "This expanded facility’s capacity to serve over 100 children and their caregivers, helps us build a brighter future for Albuquerque.”
"We are thrilled to be breaking ground on Brillante Early Learning Center, which has been a decade in the making. Brillante will advance Explora's cradle-through-career STEAM learning strategic plan by providing rich learning experiences for our little ones; enabling parents to finish their degrees and get back to work, knowing their kids are safe at play; and developing the state's future early childhood workforce. This is the start of amazing things to come," said Explora Co-CEOs Kristin Leigh and Joe Hasting.
“On behalf of CNM, we’re excited that this groundbreaking will mark another momentous step forward in this extraordinary partnership with Explora, which is going to create so many positive ripple effects for our community, our students, and our state,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. “We all know the critical importance of providing high-quality education and care during the formative years for children up to age 5. To provide that high-quality early education to all New Mexico families, we need a larger and well-trained early education teacher workforce. Separately, one in six CNM students report being parents – and they need more options for quality childcare. Too often, childcare challenges cause them to give up on an education that would provide them a better life. We’re confident that this partnership and model are going to deliver impressive, inspiring outcomes and solutions on a number of fronts.”
Brillante will have 10 classrooms for the children, adult classrooms for CNM students, a welcome plaza with Explora hands-on STEAM exhibits, space for school-wide meetings, an art studio, outdoor learning spaces and a full kitchen. The total construction cost is $14 million, with funding from the State of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Explora, CNM, private corporations, foundations, and individuals. The anticipated opening is fall 2026. The architect is RMKM and the contractor is Weil Construction.