Albuquerque High School, being the oldest high school in the city and located in the heart of the city, serves not only Albuquerque Public Schools but the city at large.  The main component of the renovations was to create a new school commons for the campus within a severely restricted footprint. Originally, an exterior courtyard and a skylight provided some daylight to the existing student commons, but the space was dismal and shut off from the campus.  The daylighting was insufficient and masonry walls and multiple levels distanced the existing commons from being an integrated space for the school.  The exterior courtyard, while providing a much needed secure outdoor space, physically is an obstacle for the circulation of the school.  The renovation for the commons was seen as an extraction of space within the restricted footprint.  Although the courtyard as annexed to become interior space, the space became a two story volume. The main roof of the new commons is a butterfly roof that brings in light from the east, west and north.  Heat gain is mitigated with translucent wall panels, with small integrated clear glazing modules to give glimpses of sky and break the monotony of the translucent panels.  A mezzanine was created to increase the area, while also connecting to the second level additions to the music department adjacent to the commons.  The existing commons becomes the dining area, while the kitchen is reoriented and expanded.