Photo Credit: Jay Blackwood courtesy of Ten 3 Restaurant

Located at the top of Sandia Mountains, and accessed via the popular Sandia Peak Tram, the new Ten 3 Restaurant, a destination mountain top restaurant, replaces a tired and small facility unable to service the needs and desires of visitors to this remarkable setting.

Aptly named, Ten 3 offers breath-taking views at 10,300 feet above sea level.

The new facility will accommodate a greater number of visitors and give them an opportunity to take in the views while enjoying handcrafted drinks and enjoy one of a kind dining in the restaurant. Floor to ceiling windows will offer guests an elevated viewing experience of Sandia mountain and the valley below.

The building was designed to sit close to the edge of the cliff as possible, making it look as if it was erupting from the cliffside. The building itself was designed to maximize views and minimize glare while its materials and colors are inspired by the rugged, rocky site and Sandia’s white limestone colored outcroppings. Bull Stockwell Allen also designed the interiors, which feature bar, fine dining restaurant, casual dining, and take-out areas.

The construction itself was an immense undertaking: there are 6-8 climate zones between the Albuquerque floor and the top of the mountain: construction crews, material, and equipment were brought to the site via national forest service road or via tram, making basic site access difficult and time-consuming. The NAIOP recognized Ten 3’s construction for their Best of New Mexico: Hospitality/Entertainment/Office category in 2019. The owner, Sandia Properties, worked with General Contractor Bradbury Stamm Construction LLC, Architect Bull Stockwell Allen, and Walla Engineering. Make sure to check out this video of its evolution and construction here.

Photo Credit: Jay Blackwood courtesy of Ten 3 Restaurant

Photo Credit: Jay Blackwood courtesy of Ten 3 Restaurant

Photo Credit: Jay Blackwood courtesy of Ten 3 Restaurant

Photo Credit: Jay Blackwood courtesy of Ten 3 Restaurant