Frank Bridgers

Frank Bridgers (1922 – spring 2005, age 83) was a mechanical engineer who founded the first independent mechanical consulting engineering firm in New Mexico in May 1951, initially operating from a garage behind his residence. Donald Paxton joined in September 1951, forming Bridgers & Paxton Consulting Engineers.

The Solar Building (1956)

Bridgers and Paxton conceived the idea for a solar-heated office building when they founded the firm. Working with architects Stanley & Wright (Francis Edgar Stanley — grand-nephew of steam-automobile pioneer Freelan Oscar Stanley — and George Wright), they designed and built the world’s first commercial building heated primarily by solar energy at 213 Truman St NE, Albuquerque. Total cost: $58,500 ($15,000 for the solar system). The building featured 56 custom-fabricated aluminum collector panels (800 sq ft), a 6,000-gallon insulated underground thermal storage tank, and a heat pump backup.

Featured in Life magazine (December 17, 1956), Popular Mechanics (November 1957), and Popular Science. Added to the NM State Register of Cultural Properties (1985) and National Register of Historic Places (1989, #89001589) — considered “exceptionally significant” at only 33 years old. The solar system was abandoned in 1962 due to cheap fuel prices, then restored in 1974 by Penn State researcher Stanley Gilman under an NSF grant.

Later career

Bridgers retired from active practice on January 1, 1991. The firm grew to 130+ employees with offices in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, and Phoenix. Longtime clients include Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories (70+ years).

Janet Bridgers (family relation) is an environmental activist, co-founder of Earth Alert (501(c)(3)), and NMSEA board member since 2007.

See also

• Bridgers and Paxton
• Donald Paxton
• NMSEA