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Quite literally, alleys have long taken a backseat to other parts of town. These often-underused narrow spaces between and behind buildings are now being “activated” for public use. Efforts are under way to transform Merchant Alley in downtown Athens into a vibrant and functional space.

The Merchant Alley Revitalization Project will improve an alleyway located in the heart of town and turn it into additional space for outdoor dining, music performances and a place for people to relax, socialize and enjoy the use of free Wi-Fi in the downtown, which is known as The Square.  The alley connects North Jefferson Street with public parking on Market and Madison streets.

Athens Main Street plans to create a series of murals that tell the story of Athens and expand its identity. A committee is in the early stages of creating a theme for the murals and getting input from the community.  Featuring the work of a state muralist, Alabama artists and local students is also being considered.

Hardscape walking surfaces will be replaced with a lively pedestrian corridor that connects the municipal parking lot to the center of downtown as a way to encourage people to interact and spend more time downtown. Landscaping and seating will also invite people to linger and enjoy this small public space.

The design phase and the construction phase are taking place concurrently and the project is expected to be completed by early summer 2021. The side of the building where murals will be displayed was power washed to determine if the surface is viable for painting or if panels should be used, says Tere Richardson, executive director of Athens Main Street.

Merchants Alley is owned by Derrick Young, owner of U.G. White Mercantile, which since 1917 has been an economic anchor in the downtown. Young is a longtime supporter of downtown revitalization and growth, and is working with a team on the project, which is made possible through public/private partnerships.

Two historic buildings make up either side of the alley, and Richardson says Young plans to lease the southside building to Athens Main Street for a nominal fee. U.G. White Mercantile occupies the building, along with an Italian restaurant. The northside building was built in 1920 and has been used for a variety of businesses over the years. Athens Main Street occupies part of the building.

Richardson describes downtown Athens as “the heart and soul of our city and county” and the improved Merchants Alley will undoubtedly be a popular new amenity. The Merchants Alley Revitalization Project is one of several projects in recent years aimed at enhancing the downtown.

“Our courthouse was recently renovated and we have undertaken a marvelous streetscape project that improved walkability, ADA compliance, calmed traffic and restored historic looking light posts,” Richardson explains. “We have also instituted outdoor dining all around the Square to encourage dining out safely during the Covid crisis.”

Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Athens Main Street

Downtown Birmingham has a large inventory of older industrial buildings, thanks in large part to benign neglect. Many of these early buildings today are providing an ideal source for mixed-used redevelopment.

“The reason there are a lot of old buildings is that Birmingham was ground zero for the civil rights movement and when it heated up people left the downtown,” explains Michael Gibson, co-founder and CEO of Creature, a Birmingham-based architecture and construction firm. “No one was interested in investing in the downtown, so many buildings were left intact.”

While older buildings in such cities as Atlanta fell victim to the wrecking ball during urban renewal, a lack of interest in downtown Birmingham actually saved the city’s early buildings. These buildings are now protected through Birmingham’s Design Review Ordinance, notes Gibson, who led the design and construction of an adaptive reuse project that turned a three-story 1927 Birmingham warehouse building into residential, office and retail space.

The Denham Building, named for the architects, Denham, Van Keuren & Dunham, is located in the booming Parkside District and walking distance to walking distance to Regions Field, Rotary Trail, Railroad Park, UAB and other popular destinations. The roughly 100,000-square-foot building consists of heavily ordered concrete structural bays and steel factory windows that are iconic reminders of the neighborhood’s industrial history.

Keeping these original characteristics intact throughout the design and construction process was essential. The near floor-to-ceiling casement windows remain, along with the 14-foot ceilings and concrete floors. The front-loading dock was converted into a patio. The original 4-foot-wide cooler doors found new use as the residents’ front entries.

The building consists of 59 residential units which are available in several floorplans. Apartments can be further customized with such additions as accent walls, finishes and installations.

The adaptive reuse project received Part 3 approval of state and federal historic tax credits which required careful consideration given to how the windows were cataloged to be repaired or replaced in keeping with the original aesthetic. Part 3 of the application is submitted after the project is complete and verifies that the work was completed as intended. National Park Service approval of the Part 3 certifies that the project meets the standards and is a “certified rehabilitation.”

Adaptive reuse projects present a space-planning challenge and the Denham Building was no exception. The 120-foot-wide building footprint was suitable for a warehouse, but not apartment layouts. The span was too wide for a double loaded corridor, but too narrow for a lightwell carved in the center. The solution was a row of small double height “pop-up” dwellings in the center of the building that open onto a new third-story space.

This lofted space gathers southern light and offers views toward Red Mountain, while maintaining a setback to preserve the original building profile. The ground floor was designed to maximize usable area for future retail, restaurant, and office use. A third level was added that features a glassed-in restaurant space with expansive downtown views. Amenities include on-site restaurants, a brewpub, rooftop dining, a media room, outdoor grilling areas, fitness center, a dog walk and off-street parking.

Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Chris Luker @lukerphtography on Instagram

Alabama is getting more colorful these days, thanks to efforts to create murals that enliven communities and contribute to their singular identity. The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) is on a mission to harness the ability of murals to attract more visitors to Alabama towns.

“Our goal is to have at least one mural in all 67 counties in the state,” says UACED’s Tourism & Community Development Director Candace Johnson-Beers. So far, UACED has received 664 mural submissions that are being vetted as part of the Alabama Mural Trail.

The murals will be curated using the Public Art Archive database to highlight local art, culture and visual storytelling throughout Alabama. Because new murals are being created every month, a digital presence is an effective way to convey the latest information.

“It is a work in progress, but theoretically people will look at the mural listings online on the Public Art Archive and travel to that mural, snap a photo in front of it with their phone and post to social media, Instagram most likely, using -#SweetHomeMurals to check off that county and “stamp” their passport,” Johnson-Beers explains.

“We will most likely have an image to go along with this that they can screen shot and save on their device and fill in each county as they travel to it with their photos, but this is just creative thinking at this point.  We are deep into vetting submissions for the Public Art Archive, making sure we have all the correct and needed information to direct people to the murals.”

A mural is an achievable type of public art that can involve the entire community. Murals are indeed popular. UACED would often learn about new murals being created throughout Alabama, as well as mural art walks and public art workshops. So, the idea to create a statewide mural trail was a natural next step to present a community in a new way.

UACED’s first step was to inventory and curate all of the existing murals in the state and gather information about the muralists who created them, who were then asked if they’d like to create more.  The final step will be to determine where the murals will be placed. Counties without murals will receive them first.

Enjoying works of art outdoors makes even more sense during these Covid-19 pandemic times. Murals as a form of placemaking can be “exhibited” on a variety of outdoor spaces – from water towers and fire hydrant to bridges, exposed piping and crosswalks. A safer way to connect with art than inside a museum and a way to express the distinctive personality of a town.

Creative placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces that capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration and potential. With the intention of creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being.

Murals also attract people to areas within a community that are off the beaten path. Using public art to add pride of place to a community increases foot traffic, economic impact and provides a level of safety in an otherwise forgotten area of a community.  For more information on the Alabama Mural Trail, visit: www.uaced.ua.edu/mural

• Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development.

Just a 20-minute drive north of Birmingham is an oasis far removed from the urban landscape. A place that’s home to some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the region. Here are seven protected plants and animals, along with three endangered species of fish, including one that lives nowhere else in the world.

The 466-acre Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson was established by Alabama’s Forever Wild Program and the Freshwater Land Trust and is co-managed by the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, which opened an educational center at the preserve in 2009. Offering educational programs that benefit students throughout the region.

Educational opportunities are about to expand will the opening of a new pavilion designed by Birmingham-based ArchitectureWorks. A little over 3,000 square feet under roof, the pavilion is a heavy timber structure with pressure-treated columns and beams, exposed trusses and wood decking, and an exterior skin of stained cypress.

“The building is tall with a nice volume, so it doesn’t feel compressed,” explains ArchitectureWorks partner Bruce Lanier. The multipurpose pavilion contains bathrooms, a kitchenette and a dressing room to use for weddings and other events. The pavilion can seat about 100 people and will be available for rent to help offset the preserve’s operating costs.

Despite the simplicity of the pavilion structure, notes Lanier, its location along a protected waterway required the coordination of a complex set of stakeholders. These include Jefferson County Environmental Services, the city of Pinson, the Freshwater Land Trust, along with corporate supporters including Dunn Construction, who contributed gravel, air conditioning courtesy of Alabama Power and plumbing services by Latta Plumbing. The pavilion is expected to be completed by early 2021, he says.

The pavilion sits on a two-acre site that is part of nine acres that were cleared of invasive, non-native trees and shrubs. This allows the pavilion to provide a panoramic view with its long site line. Lanier says the pavilion design borrows from some of the area’s agricultural structures, but in a more refined language.

The new pavilion is just part of a larger project that began several years ago and included streambank stabilization and forest clearing. A bioswale was created about five years ago and another is planned to produce a natural filtration system and slow down the villosity of water.

A permeable parking area has been built that allows precipitation to naturally drain through to the subsurface. In addition, a 1,400-gallon cistern will be installed to collect runoff from the roof. Collected rain water will be used to irrigate the preserve’s ecosystem.

The fact that Turkey Creek Preserve even exists today is miraculous. This rare environment managed to avoid the impact of development and its crystal-clear, spring-fed waters provide an ideal habitat for protected and endangered species.

“This is a hot spot for habitat and the purpose was not just to build a structure [the new pavilion], but to improve the land around it and provide more educational opportunities for children in the state,” says Turkey Creek Preserve Manager Charles Yeager. “It’s one of the last refuges for protecting these creatures.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of ArchitectureWorks

Converting an older building into a restaurant can make dining out more memorable. According to Food Fanatics magazine, “Nothing makes a first impression like an historic building.”

A great example is Helen Restaurant, housed in what was originally the Meelheim Building constructed in 1920 at 2013 Second Avenue N. in downtown Birmingham. Hendon + Huckestein Architects and HatcherSchuster Interiors, both in Birmingham, found the right balance between a modern and a vintage aesthetic.

Transforming the two-story, shotgun-style space, says Project Architect Erik Hendon, required a “complete interior gut renovation with all new utilities and an exterior façade upgrade. And “there were code-related issues with a two-story restaurant combining kitchen functionality with public access and use.”

Materials include wood, historic metal framed glass walls, as well as the 1920s exposed historic brick and plaster. The front façade was a 1970s-era design that had deteriorated and had to be upgraded. It now offers a distinctive look with signage and light fixtures that suggest the building’s original 1920s style.

Owned by Chef Rob McDaniel and his wife Emily McDaniel, the restaurant is described as “a refreshed take on classic dining that pays homage to Rob’s memories cooking over the hardwood coals and smoke of his grandmother’s indoor grill.” Rob was executive chef at SpringHouse on Lake Martin and is a five-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef.

The interior reflects the couple’s love of the outdoors and their Alabama roots, as well as the history of downtown Birmingham. To further bring the 7,000-squre-foot space to life, they partnered with friends and local artisans, including iron workers, wood workers and other artists to create an inviting atmosphere while honoring the art and design of the South.

“The building created a beautiful industrial backdrop to layer in both new and old with fine antiques, locally curated art and a warm finish palette,” says interior designer Ivy Schuster. “The setting makes you feel right at home and embraces you from the moment you walk in.”

Steel and glass work were created by local Madwind Studios that specializes in furniture and installations. A brass art rail creates a gallery of interesting objects and art with an open kitchen that allows diners to “see all the action.” The restrooms provide an element of surprise with different wallcoverings and a nod to the vintage nature of the building.

Each floor expresses its own characteristic vibe, yet at the same time there’s cohesion between the two. The upstairs, where the bar is located, has a more playful and eclectic feel. On display is artwork by local musician and artist Browan Lollar, whose work is displayed alongside a deer mount from Rob’s personal collection.

In contrast, the first floor has a lighter palette and a more refined interior. Overall, says Schuster, the interiors – both upstairs and down – speak to Rob’s love for cooking, community and family.

• Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Cary Norton

Trails have long been part of America’s landscape and no longer limited to forests, mountains and prairies. Montgomery joins the many municipalities discovering the benefits of having trails close to home.

A new project under way in the Capital City is River Region Trails – a network of recreational trails winding throughout Montgomery that provide safe and enjoyable opportunities to walk, jog and bike.

River Region Trails, Inc. is developing a network of pedestrian greenways, parks and other outdoor resources in the River Region. Phase 1 involves planning a 30-mile connected loop to link downtown to east Montgomery, including the neighborhoods in between.

This beginning planning stage is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. A construction date depends on such factors as funding. The new trail system will also tie into existing trails.

Trails follow existing and abandoned rail lines, creek beds, streets and sidewalks and are designed with the needs of the neighborhoods in mind. The project also includes a new trail system, nature center and boardwalk through the 260-acre Cypress Nature Preserve located near downtown Montgomery.

The Montgomery-based comprehensive branding and marketing firm, Copperwing has developed a brand identity for the new trail system. The brand was first introduced through the River Region Trails, Inc. website, which was developed by Copperwing.

Copperwing created a striking and distinctive primary mark for River Region Trails. The design consists of a bold footprint in varying shades of green that evokes trail paths and a representation of leaves.

“The client River Region Trails, Inc suggested foot prints as an icon so we bounced off that idea,” explains Copperwing Partner and Creative Director Angela Stiff. “We felt it was important to incorporate the diverse terrain of the trails that included both natural landscapes and city settings. So, we incorporated an overview of the layout of a city and added leaves to represent green spaces.”

The mark gives audiences an initial understanding that this organization represents city planning and development, nature and human movement. The distinctive mark also draws like-minded people to the project. As Stiff points out, as with any identity, it should invite and encourage people to want to know more.

“We used the new mark, in part, as a graphic asset in the site design,” she adds. “The pattern makes for very eye-catching imagery, especially when paired with photography. We produced a short-motion graphic that was used on social media that also helped to promote the site and our client’s mission to extend pedestrian greenways.”

River Region Trails is part of Envision 2040, the city of Montgomery’s comprehensive plan, its first long-range strategic plan in more than 50 years.

River Region Trails is currently fundraising for their Vision Plan, the first step in a larger overall master plan for Cypress Nature Park and the Greenways network.

The master plan is a 14 to 18-month process that will help fully digest previous planning efforts, such as the Envision 2040 Plan. It will also help to evaluate the current needs of citizens and stakeholders, and the environmental and physical constraints that will guide the design of the park and trails. The master plan will serve as the guide book to begin development and construction of these projects.

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of Copperwing Design

An interior space can be dramatic with bold lines and oversized graphics, or tranquil and soothing with a neutral color scheme, open space and natural light. And sometimes it’s both, as with the new Heart Center lobby for Cardiology Associates, a tenant of Springhill Medical Center in Mobile.

“The goal of this renovation was to create an exciting, updated entry space with strong visual appeal to represent the innovative, quality, and detail-oriented care that the Heart Center and its tenants provide,” says Principal Architect and Interior Designer Abby Davis of Walcott Adams Verneuille Architecture | Interiors in Fairhope.

“We amplified the volume of the double-height space to visually connect patients to the second floor.  We achieved this with the design of several large-scale graphics that draw the eye upward.  The graphics are all visually similar and somewhat abstract.”

The striking graphics can be interpreted as tree branches, waterways, or roadways, says Davis but the viewer could also see arteries and veins – specifically heart arteries, which are the main focus of the Heart Center.

“We kept the materials and color palette neutral and timeless to allow the graphics to stand out and to represent long lasting quality. The palette is a mix of cool and warm greys, so we chose to warm up the space by incorporating wood panels that worked with the new stain on the grand stair.  These wood elements ground the space while letting the graphics soar.  The use of metal trim details gives the finished look a contemporary feel along with frameless glass entry doors, glass railings, and sleek glass signage.”

Both Cardiology Associates and Springhill Medical Center wanted the Heart Center’s front door, lobby and common spaces to look welcoming, polished and distinctive, so WAV updated the building’s aesthetic and redesigned public space which hadn’t been updated in 20 years.

Walcott Adams Verneuille (WAV) renovated the first and second floors of the Heart Center to increase its footprint from 21,000 to 35,000 square feet. Because the hospital and Cardiology Associates remained fully operating, the project was completed in eight separate phases. WAV provided the architectural design and all interior design, including the selection of furniture, artwork signage and graphics.

Visitors are greeted with large-scale murals that bring the view upward to capture the details of the two-story lobby. Tile, glass railings and wood paneling accented with graphic signage and wayfinding create a modern hospital and corporate lobby aesthetic.

Cardiology Associates wanted a warm, inviting and corporate presence for their patients, clients and staff. Patients enter through frameless glass doors and are greeted at the reception area framed with rich wood paneling and elegant, tone-on-tone wall covering.

The reception area is anchored by a strong tile accent wall behind the quartz desk. Signage enhances this focal point along with contemporary brass lighting and circular architectural trim detail on the ceiling. WAV notes that the “serene, updated space is meant to instill confidence in patients and also hint at the innovation and exciting work that is taking place beyond the lobby.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of Walcott Adams Verneuille Architecture | Interiors

“The vast majority of outdoor urban space is dedicated to the private vehicle, while only a fraction of that land is allocated to open space for people.”

Among the most innovative ways to turn hardscape into green space originated in 2005 at Rebar, a San Francisco design studio that addressed San Francisco’s lack of public green space by turning a single metered parking space into a temporary public park downtown.

Feeding the meter for the two-hour slot, Rebar installed a patch of grass, a park bench, a tree and signs directing people to come sit and relax. Rebar created a manual on how to create pocket parks out of existing urban-use space. The concept became Park(ing) Day, an annual worldwide event that inspires municipalities to participate.

In Birmingham, Park(ing) Day is held on the third Friday in September. This year marked a permanent installation on a quarter-block of 20th Street North. The installation includes reclaimed pedestrian space, multi-modal street design, flexible use seating and new landscaping.

The installation serves as a test site for what can be done along the rest of 20th Street North to help the street function as an asset to local businesses, as well as people who work, live and dine downtown, explains landscape architect Paige Ishmael of Dix.Hite + Partners.

Temporary paint was used to create a bike lane and a flex loading zone in the streetscape.  Former parking spaces were brought up to grade to create an expanded patio space complete with new planters and furnishings.

Plant beds and planters have been updated with native, low-maintenance species consistent with plant types at other downtown public spaces. New bistro chairs and tables increase seating and provide more comfort and flexibility than concrete benches.

The sidewalk’s former loading zone now offers additional public space for people to move about. The space has been filled with crushed limestone to increase sidewalk width and allow for drainage.

The right lane of 20th Street has been temporarily designated as a flex loading zone, allowing it to be adapted to different uses such as a loading zone, valet parking or food truck parking. Between the flex loading lane and the car travel lane, a new bike/scooter lane provides additional ways to enjoy the newly designed 20th Street. The flex loading zone and multimodal lane separate pedestrians further from traffic.

This year’s installation was made possible by the Alabama Chapter of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), partnering with REV Birmingham and the city of Birmingham.  Vulcan Materials and Hunter Trees donated supplies and plant material, and Shelby Construction donated time and labor.

ASLA spearheads Park(ing) Day nationwide through its local state chapters.  Alabama’s installations are usually in Auburn, Birmingham and Huntsville.  Though anyone is welcome to participate in the event, landscape architects have the skillset to help cities reimagine streetscapes through design.

“The essence of Park(ing) Day is to reimagine streetscapes which prioritize vehicles, and reclaim them as a park or public space,” Ishmael says. “Almost every city in America, including Birmingham, could benefit from more bike lanes, better pedestrian connectivity, and more public outdoor spaces for the health of its citizens and businesses. The recent pandemic has really shown us the importance of outdoor space on so many different levels.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong & Images courtesy of Dix.Hite + Partners

Camp Winnataska – a nonprofit, faith-based summer camp east of Birmingham in St. Clair County – has been providing boys and girls with memorable experiences since 1918. Today’s campers and future generations are sure to enjoy the new cabins designed by Birmingham-based Blackmon Rogers Architects.

Four new cabins and a bath house are replacing older ones.  The new cabins are for the youngest campers during the summer camp season. The cabins are also available for use by other groups during the off-season and are scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

Macknally Land Design led the master planning effort for the camp’s Chico Hill area. Blackmon Rogers Architects worked with Macknally Land Design to create the composition of two cabin buildings that share a bath house, which are arranged along the hillside to define a common green.

“Our design goal was to create a fun and exciting mini-campus for the younger kids and their leaders,” David Blackmon explains. “The buildings have to be durable and low maintenance. They are heavily used throughout the summer with new groups rotating weekly, but during the remaining eight to nine months they see little use.”

Cabins are arranged in pairs with a shared, central bath house. These clusters of three buildings are sited along the hillside to define a central green space where children can hang out and play, Blackmon continues.

Design inspiration came from the original Chico cabins and traditional southern vernacular buildings like Waverley Mansion in West Point, Mississippi that features an oversized octagonal- shaped cupola. Blackmon points out that the cabins are designed to utilize natural convection to cool the occupants.

“While the large roof provides shade, its steep slope and pyramidal form encourage warm air to rise and exit through the cupola,” he explains. “This draws cooler air in through the screened windows creating a cooling breeze. We added a large powered fan in the cupola to enhance this affect and provide additional control.”

Designing for a client like Camp Winnataska presents specific considerations. Blackmon Rogers Architects has designed several buildings for the camp during the past several years, and this enduring relationship has provided a good understanding of what is valued by the board, the staff and the campers, says Blackmon.

Birmingham Boy Scout Commissioner Elwyn Ballard and his wife Florence discovered the site in 1914 and were captivated by the waterfalls and Kelly Creek that are central to the camp today. Winnataska means “Land of the Laughing Water” in native Creek.

“Like all of our clients, the board has to be good stewards of their resources,” Blackmon notes. “We’ve worked hard to listen to the client’s needs and desires and design buildings that offer real value in the quality of the design, initial cost and long-term maintenance cost. We hope these new cabins are loved by the campers and staff for the next 100 years.”

Image 1- The cabins utilize natural convection to cool the occupants. The roof provides shade, and its steep slope and pyramidal form encourages the warm air to exit through the cupola. A large fan in the cupola enhances this affect.

Image 2- The original cabins on the property provided design inspiration, along with traditional southern vernacular buildings such as the circa 1838 Waverley mansion in West Point, Mississippi.

Image 3- The cabins are arranged in pairs with a shared, central bath house. The cabins are designed to be durable and low maintenance for use year-round.

Image 4- Macknally Land Design led the master planning effort for Camp Winnataska’s Chico Hill area. The plan includes an amphitheater, play areas, a rope course and other amenities.

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of Blackmon Rogers Architects