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Gas stations were part of the automobile’s golden age and are one of America’s most ubiquitous commercial building types. Today, bygone stations are appreciated for their historic and architectural significance. So much so that these early 20th century gems are finding new uses like this former 1930s Gulf station in Birmingham’s historic Avondale district.

Completed the summer of 2019, the 400 41st Street Building is now a bustling, multi-tenant office and retail space. The Depression-era building underwent several renovations over the years and though much of its filling station character is gone, it retains original elements including masonry, exposed wood joists and decking that reveal its history, explains Kris Nikolich of Design Initiative who oversaw the adaptive reuse project.

Instead of attempting to restore the building to its original gas station look, the building was renovated to better fit its urban landscape. A 2,000-square-foot, glass enclosed addition fronts the original single-story building. This brings the building to the sidewalk and aligns it with the adjacent fire station.

The project is described as new work that is intentionally distinct to create a “balance composition that juxtaposes old versus new and solid versus transparent. The new form is simple and direct. The building systems are exposed to reflect to the raw character of this emerging neighborhood center.

Occupying the building are a variety of enterprises that appeal to the Avondale community, along with space for a nearby church. Arcadia Salon, Cookie Dough Magic, Sidekicks Sneaker Shop and 4th & Spring, a division of Redeemer Community Church.

Interestingly, this section of Avondale once had many gas stations, a disproportionate number of gas stations were once in this section of Avondale where the former Gulf station is located, notes Nikolich, though he’s not sure why.

Homewood-based Ignite Properties owns the 400 41st Street Building, which reflects the company’s vision of “thoughtful modern architecture that blends the artifacts of the past with clean lines of today.”

 

 

 

Image 1: The former 1930s Gulf gas station has been renovated several times over the years. Some original elements remain such as brick, exposed wood joists and decking.

Image 2: A 2,000-square-foot, glass enclosed addition fronts the original single-story building. This brings the building to the sidewalk to better fit its urban landscape and align it with the adjacent fire station.

Image 3: Several small businesses occupy the 400 41st Building, including a popular Cookie Dough Magic franchise.

Image 4: The transformed building brings together the old and new with a simple and direct approach. The building systems are exposed to reflect the raw character of this emerging neighborhood center.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of Graham Yelton

Old warehouses often get reused after defunct industries leave them sitting empty. Such transformations have happened for decades in downtown Birmingham. Among the latest is a former service garage warehouse redesigned for Cayenne Creative, a creative branding agency that outgrew its former location.

ArchitectureWorks created nodes of space tailored to each department to encourage collaboration where they intersect and interaction among co-workers in different departments. These nodes also allow the agency’s work to be seen by everyone through passive observation and active engagement.

Amphitheater bleachers that rise to mezzanine level provide an interesting alternative to conventional meeting space and offer a relaxed, open area.

“It also acts as a second space within the office for small huddles or even independent laptop work,” explains ArchitectureWorks Partner Bruce Lanier. “It also has been known to host a Superbowl viewing party or two. That’s the kind of versatility we were hoping Cayenne would find in their use of the space.”

A whiteboard clad “war room” links the ground floor bullpens and offices. The material palate and color schemes are neutral and high contrast. The warehouse’s imperfections and irregularities were incorporated into the design.

“It was originally an automotive garage, so it has all sorts of random, interesting elements,” notes Lanier.” An old metal clad sliding fire door was left in situ in the kitchen, and in the steel trusses there were some pulleys and hangers that had been welded onto them over the years that we decided to leave in place and paint out with the rest of the ceiling.”

Lanier also notes “some peculiar bits of masonry” where the walls had been cut and patched over time which contribute novel textures and patterns.

Converting warehouses is a trend that doesn’t appear to be waning. They’re hard to beat for appeal and functionality. “From a practical standpoint, they were usually well-built and designed with the openness that factory and warehouse work required, so adapting them to new purposes is often pretty easy,” Lanier says.

“As for aesthetics, they probably appeal to people for different reasons. For me, there is a ruggedness and naturalness of the craft and the materials used in the construction of some of Birmingham’s early warehouse and industrial buildings. And a human quality to the assembly of brick and wood and concrete that is compounded with age – holes and marks on the walls, bits of paint and plaster are vestiges of other people and other times. Re-purposing these buildings for modern users reminds us of that past and allows us to look forward. There is something hopeful in that.”

In 2019, the project received the AIA Alabama Excellence in Design Awards, Merit Award and the AIA Birmingham Design Awards, Merit Award.

 

 

Image 1: Amphitheater bleachers that rise to mezzanine level provide an interesting alternative to conventional meeting space and offer a relaxed, open area that can be used for a variety of functions. From client meetings to casual events.

Image 2: The material palette and color schemes are simple, neutral and in high contrast. Imperfections and irregularities were left intact and incorporated into the design to add interest and discovery.

Image 3: Nodes were tailored to each department to encourage collaboration where they intersect and also provide interaction among co-workers in different departments. Additionally, they allow everyone to see the agency’s creative work through passive observation and active engagement.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images courtesy of Art Meripol

 

Repurposing existing buildings is the ultimate in sustainable architecture and adaptive reuse projects abound in Alabama. Born out of this concept is flex space, a term used to describe light industrial warehouses that “flex” into larger or smaller air-conditioned spaces as needed.

A recent flex space design is Birmingham’s 2700 Building, an underutilized warehouse in the Lakeview District owned by Sloss Real Estate, a district that’s becoming increasingly mixed-use.

The tilt-up concrete building was punctured with new large glass panels and steel entry canopies to accommodate Dekalb Office Alabama, a furniture showroom, two additional office tenants, and the furniture warehouse. About half of the building is now office space and about half remains a warehouse, which the furniture company is using for their stock.

CCR Architecture & Interiors in Birmingham designed the 2700 Building. The steel and concrete structure was left exposed with lighting and ductwork highlighting its industrial character. Furnishings are open and flexible, taking advantage of the glazing and views. The mezzanine above the loading dock houses unfinished future tenant space with south facing windows opening to views of Pepper Place and Southside Birmingham. The result is sunlit, collaborative work areas for tenants.

“We removed the building’s concrete panels and replaced them with glass to create bright, open interiors that previously did not exist,” explains Tammy Cohen, president of CCR Architecture & Interiors. “With the tall ceiling heights and glass walls, the offices and showrooms became comfortable, light-filled spaces.”

The loading dock and the building floor plate were four feet above grade. This posed a challenge when creating accessible entrances for the office, Cohen notes.

“Our customer (Sloss Real Estate) wanted to maximize their building, helping it adapt to current market demands,” adds Brittiny Russell of Stewart Perry which provided construction services. “We transitioned a portion of warehouse, once home to a few dark offices and mill work space, into vibrant office spaces. This started with demoing the existing concrete tilt up panels and adding structural steel, allowing for additional openings and more light, a vital component to modern work space.”

New entrances and landscaping completed the project and enhanced the outdoor space.

Image 1- The tilt-up concrete building was punctured with new large glass panels and steel entry canopies to accommodate Dekalb Office Alabama, a furniture showroom, two additional office tenants, and a furniture warehouse.

Image 2 -Concrete panels were replaced with glass to create bright, open interiors. With the tall ceiling heights and glass walls, the offices and showrooms became comfortable, light-filled spaces.

Image 3- Birmingham’s 2700 Building transformed an underutilized warehouse in the Lakeview District owned by Sloss Real Estate. About half of the building is now office space and about half remains a warehouse.

Image 4- New entrances and landscaping completed the project and enhanced the outdoor space. The once primarily industrial Lakeview District tis becoming increasingly mixed-use area.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of CCR Architecture and Interiors

Selma is embarking on a plan to honor its past and embrace its future with the help of DesignPlace. This DesignAlabama program partners Alabama communities with a design team whose goal is to help the community enhance its assets.

The latest DesignPlace participant, Selma is a town that holds an important place in civil rights history and its central Alabama location makes it well positioned for growth. The DesignPlace team recently completed its report to revitalize downtown Selma based on community input.

The plan calls for a more walkable and bicycle-friendly downtown, a wayfinding system to boost tourism, adaptive-reuse of downtown buildings, redevelop the riverfront and historic neighborhoods while keeping their character intact, along with community branding and identity.

Citizen enthusiasm in high, yet a realistic approach to such a comprehensive plan is to start with “the low-hanging fruit,” notes Juanda Maxwell, chair of the Selma Redevelopment Authority. To complete high impact though relatively affordable projects early on. Those that are cost-effective, but will create positive momentum and lead to additional projects.

One such project is façade enhancement on Water Avenue and the first block of Broad Street. Maxwell says some funding is available to help property owners with the cost of façade improvement. Also identified as a project that can be done affordably early on is improving undermaintained small green spaces located downtown.

Another simple but high impact improvement is painting the side of a building near the foot of the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge that creates an unsightly “big blank wall,” Maxwell observes. She points out that this side of the building could be painted temporarily until a more lasting solution is found to make a more positive impression as residents and visitors travel over the bridge.

Maxwell is most excited about Selma’s new branding campaign. One that will showcase all that Selma has to offer – as a historically significant site for equality and democracy to becoming a highly livable community and center of technology in Alabama’s Blackbelt region.
“We’re so excited and the response from the community has been overwhelming,” says Maxwell. “We now have to sit down and prioritize the plan and hold additional meetings to start looking at what we can do and how we can do it.”

 

 

Image 1 and 2- DesignPlace Selma calls for a more walkable and bicycle-friendly downtown, a wayfinding system, adaptive-reuse of downtown buildings, redevelop the riverfront and historic neighborhoods, and community branding and identity. These images are the current and proposed changes to buildings on Broad Street.

Image 3 and 4- Citizen enthusiasm in high, yet a realistic approach to such a comprehensive plan is to start with the most affordable improvements and build from there. These images are additional current images and proposed changes to Broad Street.

Image 5- Selma is embarking on a plan to honor its past and embrace its future with the help of DesignAlabama’s DesignPlace. This proposed development is on Selma Avenue between Broad and Lauderdale.

Image 6- Selma holds an important place in civil rights history and its central Alabama location makes it well positioned for growth. The DesignPlace team recently completed its report to revitalize downtown Selma based on community input.

 

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of  Roman Gary, Jason Fondren and DesignAlabama, Inc.

Transitioning from high school to college can be daunting, so it’s important that incoming freshmen inhabit inviting dormitories. Connectedness is a key component in the design of University of Alabama’s new Tutwiler Residence Hall now under construction for first-year female students.

The 365,000-square-foot dorm is designed to maximize social interaction. A recent study in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice looked at the impact of residence hall design on student academic achievement. The study found that “socializing architecture” is associated with a higher first-semester grade point average.

Scheduled to open in spring 2022, the new facility was designed by Birmingham-based TURNERBATSON in partnership with Mackey Mitchell Architects in St. Louis.

“The team made a concerted effort to maximize the amount of social spaces throughout the residential floors,” explains TURNERBATSON Principal/Vice President Eric Berg. “Our goal was to promote more social interaction outside of the semi-private rooms. We capitalized on the views of the stadium on the northwest corner of the building by creating two-story clubhouses to be used as social spaces by the residents.

In addition to the clubhouses, there are social spaces at the connecting bridges and in the middle of each building. As a result, each resident is within a short distance of their room from reaching a social space.”

The new residence hall will incorporate precast stone, brick veneer, aluminum windows and a sloped, architectural shingled roof that harmonizes with the recently constructed sorority houses nearby.

The double and single-occupancy rooms each have a private bathroom. Amenities include a fitness center, craft room, two clubhouses per floor, storm shelter and laundry facilities.

These enclosed bridges interconnect the complex’s five-story buildings that fit the scale of the surrounding neighborhood. Designing the building with fewer floors also provides a more pleasant experience in the center exterior courtyard that promotes recreation and socializing. Studies were conducted to determine what would help create sunlit space. The team also balanced material/systems costs with long-term maintenance and durability costs. This was done to provide value for the university without compromising the design or quality of construction.

Image 1- Scheduled to open in spring 2022, the new facility was designed by Birmingham-based TURNERBATSON in partnership with Mackey Mitchell Architects in St. Louis.

Image 2- Enclosed bridges interconnect the complex’s five-story buildings that fit the scale of the surrounding neighborhood.

Image 3- The new residence hall will incorporate precast stone, brick veneer, aluminum windows and a sloped, architectural shingled roof that harmonizes with the recently constructed sorority houses nearby.

Image 4-This aerial photo of University of Alabama’s new Tutwiler Residence Hall now under construction shows the interconnectedness of the 365,000-square-foot dorm that is designed for social interaction.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Turner Batson Architects

North College Street Historic District in downtown Auburn is a trove of architecturally and historically significant buildings that date from 1848 to 1937. Of note is a Dutch Colonial Revival-style house designed in 1927 by Frederick Child Biggin, the first dean of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA). In Biggin’s day, the SAPLA was the School of Architecture and Applied Arts and Auburn University was Alabama Polytechnic Institute.

The house was purchased by AU engineering alumnus Walt Woltosz ’69 and his wife Ginger, who planned to use it as a gameday house. Once they learned that the architect and original owner was Biggin, they decided to donate the house to the APLA. Now called the Biggin-Woltosz House, it was dedicated as an SAPLA facility in September 2019.

“We had been given access to the house in April of 2019. Since April, the house has been used for faculty meetings, seminars and small events with faculty, students, alumni and industry partners,” says Christian Dagg, head of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.

Biggin designed himself a quintessential Dutch Colonial Revival home, a subtype of the Colonial Revival style popular during the first half of the 20th century.

The two and three-quarter story house features two roof pitches, a gambrel roof, dormers, a wood clapboard exterior, gable-end chimneys and a symmetrical façade. When the SAPLA acquired the house, it had already undergone significant alterations that included a 900-square-foot addition to the rear of the house, a new kitchen and remodeled bathrooms. In addition, roughly 500-square-feet of concrete parking space that surrounded the house was removed.

When it was gifted to the school there was not a lot of work that needed to be done,” Dagg points out. “Signage has been added to both the interior and exterior, the internet connectivity back to campus was improved and surplus furniture from campus was moved over to the house. We didn’t have to do much of anything. Our colleagues in facilities have been a huge help in the transition from a residence to a university building.”

One other building on campus is named for Biggin. Originally home to the College of Architecture Design and Construction, Biggin Hall now houses the Department of Arts and Art History. Biggin (1869-1943) is buried in Auburn’s historic Pine Hill Cemetery.

Image 1- Work began in 1999 by the city of Auburn to create the North College Street Historic District. Several years ago, the district erected a marker that provides key information about the district’s architectural and historical significance.

Image 2- As Auburn University and the city of Auburn grew, early leaders and professors built their homes in what is now the North College Historic District. A variety of architectural styles are represented, from early Greek Revival to Dutch Colonial Revival favored by Frederick Child Biggin.

Image 3- Located in the North College Street Historic District in downtown Auburn, this Dutch Colonial Revival-style house was designed in 1927 by Frederick Child Biggin, the first dean of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA).

Image 4- The Biggin-Woltosz House is now part of the Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA). The house was donated by AU engineering alumnus Walt Woltosz ’69 and his wife Ginger and is used for a variety of school functions.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, City of Auburn and Cynthia Williford, City of Auburn’s Public Affairs Office

Birmingham planners and developers have long understood that parks improve the quality of inner-city life. As a result, the city has transformed swaths of derelict and underused land into vibrant urban parks and among the latest is the Parkside district.

A primary objective for this new public space is interconnectedness, reflected in Parkside’s master plan created by Tom Leader, principal of Berkeley, Calif.-based TLS Landscape Architecture who also created the master plan for nearby Railroad Park. Birmingham’s Orchestra Partners commissioned Leader to design a master plan that enhances walkability and connects Parkside to surrounding neighborhoods.

Parkside becomes accessible to the city by linking green spaces and neighborhoods from east to west and north to south. The project includes historic preservation and mixed-use redevelopment plans for Powell Avenue Steam Plant and several historic warehouse buildings west of Railroad Park surrounding Good People Brewing. Parkside and Railroad Park create a major urban trail head for the Jones Valley Trail Corridor.

“The mission is to capture the essence of Birmingham by creating a district which stitches back connections from east to west and north to south,” Leader explains. “Crafting a place that brings people together in an environment that pays tribute to the region’s rich industrial past, yet is also fresh, vibrant and new.”

“The plan calls for development in both the east and west sides of Parkside that will create one place for all Birmingham to come together. We do this by creating two new unique, yet complementary destinations within the district.”

At the west end of Parkside are single-story nondescript warehouses. The master plan transforms a two-block area – from 12th Street South to 14th Street South between 1st and 2nd Avenues South – into an urban-commons. Lively street life is created with such features as pedestrian-friendly streets and alley ways, public plazas, rooftop gardens and other amenities.

Buildings will be revitalized into retail, restaurant and mixed-use spaces. Fitness centers, healthy restaurant concepts and trendy fashion retailers will mix with open areas, study spots and dynamic architecture designed to encourage social interaction. The plan also includes the use of weathered steel, corrugated galvanized steel, reclaimed timber and other materials that honor Birmingham’s industrial heritage.

To the east where Parkside engages with 20th Street South is the Steam Plant site and adjacent parking lot. Once renovated, Steam Plant will be used as an entertainment venue for movies, music, retail, restaurants and other functions set in an historic yet modern building. A communal center on the adjacent lot will be used for hospitality events and the arts. In addition, the vacated Powell Avenue will provide a place for food trucks, impromptu performances, art shows and other public gatherings.

Image 1- The new master plan for Birmingham’s Parkside district is designed with interconnectivity in mind. This was achieved by creating a district that “stitches back connections from east to west and north to south,” observes Tom Leader, principal of Berkeley, Calif.-based TLS Landscape Architecture who designed the Parkside master plan and also the master plan for nearby Railroad Park.

Image 2-  Creating a place that brings people together in an environment that pays tribute to the region’s rich industrial past, yet is also fresh, vibrant and new is a key component of the Parkside master plan.

Image 3 – The plan calls for development in both the east and west sides of Parkside that will create one place for all Birmingham to come together. This was accomplished by creating two new distinct yet complementary destinations within the district.

Image 4: Buildings will be revitalized into retail, restaurant and mixed-use spaces. Fitness centers, restaurants and retailers will mix with open areas, study spots and dynamic architecture designed to encourage social interaction.

*Article By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of  TLS Landscape Architecture

 

Quality design affects quality of health, particularly for patients battling cancer. Architect Doug McCurry of TRO Jung|Brannen in Birmingham considered the role a building plays in the health of its inhabitants when he designed the new 60,000-square-foot Spencer Cancer Center at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika that opened June 2019.

The freestanding two-story cancer center is adjacent to the main hospital campus. Built on a moderately sloping wooded site, the upper level provides eye-level views from the medical treatment area to the existing tree canopy and allows patient to enter on both levels.
This allows ease of access to radiation and medical oncology treatments. The entire center is designed with convenience and stress reduction in mind. Each area flows into the next to make the cancer-treatment process easier.

“The design is contemporary in nature,” explains McCurry, who grew up in Opelika. It features a stone base, and aluminum and glass on the top story. Clerestory, the high section of wall with windows above eye level, provides abundant natural light.

During his many years practicing architecture, McCurry has seen significant changes in healthcare design that’s moved away from sterile settings. He designed the center to suggest an art museum more than a healthcare facility.

“I like to use the term of healing art,” McCurry continues. “Research shows that healthcare environments that display art can actually help reduce pain and shorten hospital stays. Patients respond especially well to nature themes.”

McCurry also oversaw the interior design and selected the finishes. He chose a neutral palette that provides an ideal backdrop for colorful artwork and furnishings.

On the upper level is the main entrance that contains the two-story lobby and reception area. An outpatient pharmacy, medical boutique and staff offices are located off the main lobby. Registration, patient and family waiting areas are separated from the main lobby to provide privacy, comfort and access to the gardens.

Medical oncology is also on the second level with 38 infusion bays, four private oncologist offices, each with three exams rooms and nursing support, infusion pharmacy, and a laboratory.

Radiation oncology is on the lower level. Additional areas provide space for staff and radiation oncologist offices, exams and treatment rooms, and a private radiation patient entrance and waiting area. Additional amenities include conference rooms, gift shop, chapel and a café with access to the garden.

McCurry was also involved with the landscaping and worked with the EAMC landscapers. The site itself was used to shape much of the building design and the parking lot. “We moved very little dirt,” he notes, “and we didn’t take out any major old-growth trees.”

Image 1: The freestanding two-story cancer center is adjacent to the main hospital campus. Built on a gently sloping wooded site, the upper level provides eye-level views from the medical treatment area to the existing tree canopy and allows patient to enter at both levels.

Image 2: Architect Doug McCurry of TRO Jung|Brannen in Birmingham took into account the role a building plays in the health of its inhabitants when he designed the new 60,000-square-foot Spencer Cancer Center at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika.

Image 3: The design of the new cancer center focuses on convenience and stress reduction. Each area flows into the next to make the cancer-treatment process easier for both patients and their families. Comfortable seating and a neutral palette are primary interior design features.

Image 4: McCurry oversaw the interior design and selected the finishes. He designed the center with the “healing arts” in mind, and his goal was to evoke an art museum more than a healthcare facility.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of  Tim Hursley

“Decent housing is not just a wish, it is a human right,” says former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who believes we’re “morally obligated” to help people obtain a proper place to live. The longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer would be proud of the Auburn University students providing affordable housing to families in need.

In 2018 and 2019, students designed and constructed two Auburn-Opelika Habitat for Humanity homes in Opelika that are not only affordable, but energy-efficient and severe weather resistant. Over 75 students were involved, along with local Habitat volunteers and the recipients of the homes.

The project is a partnership among Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (led by Professor David Hinson), the McWhorter School of Building Science (led by Professor Mike Hosey) and AU’s Rural Studio program (led by Assistant Research Professor Mackenzie Stagg).

Hinson’s collaboration with Habitat for Humanity goes back to 2001 when DesignAlabama asked him to get involved. “I owe the legacy of my partnership with Habitat to DesignAlabama.”

Known as the Habitat/20K Performance Homes, the houses are based on one built in 2017 that is part of the Rural Studio’s 20K Initiative, which was created to design homes for west Alabama that cost no more than $20,000. Students took this basic design and improved energy performance and achieved FORTIFIED Home™, an insurance industry standard to help strengthen homes against severe weather.

The actual energy cost to operate the Habitat/20K homes will be monitored. The two homes were built to slightly different standards to allow for balance when comparing how much money was put into each house and how much saved over a one-year period and the life of the house. Computer-generated models predict an annual savings of 60 to 75 percent in energy costs compared to a home built to current code requirements.

Katherine Ferguson, a 2019 Auburn graduate, was part of the team that built the 2018 Habitat house. She is now working on her master’s through AU’s architecture school at Rural Studio studying public interest design. “One of the most impactful processes of this design build project was working with an actual client,” says Ferguson. “Most undergraduate students don’t interact with a client during their time in school, so being able to learn how the client-architect relationship works was vital to our growth as architecture students… Because we had a personal relationship with the client, we worked to design the most cost-effective home to hopefully benefit her long term.”

Emma Porter, a fourth year Architecture & Interior Architecture student at AU, was part of the team that produced the 2019 house. The project gave her real life construction experience and a better understanding of building systems and details. “We were all coming from different backgrounds of knowledge on construction, but all eager to learn and produce a high quality and well thought out design. I love how our exterior skin and porch design came out; the studio put a lot of thought and effort in trying out different ideas and collaborating until we decided on the final design.”

Image 1 -The actual energy cost to operate the Habitat/20K homes (the 2019 home seen here) will be monitored. Computer-generated models predict an annual savings of 60 to 75 percent in energy costs compared to a home built to current code requirements.

Image 2- Students peek out of the spaces of the 2019 house during its framing stage. The project is a partnership among Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, the McWhorter School of Building Science and AU’s Rural Studio program.

Image 3- Known as the Habitat/20K Performance Homes, the Opelika houses are based on one built in 2017 that is part of the Rural Studio’s 20K Initiative, which was created to design homes that cost no more than $20,000. Students completed this house in 2018.

Image 4- In 2018 and 2019, students designed and constructed two Auburn-Opelika Habitat for Humanity homes in Opelika that are not only affordable, but energy-efficient and severe weather resistant. Students gather in front of the 2018 house.

Image 5- More than 75 students were involved in the two Habitat houses in Opelika. Local Habitat volunteers and the recipients of the homes also pitched in to help, including the family that now lives in this home built in 2019.

*Article By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of David Hinson, Mackenzie Stagg and Matt Hall

According to the National Education Association, collaborative learning not only helps students develop higher-level thinking skills, but bolsters their confidence and self-esteem. Collaboration was a key factor in the design of the new building for UAB’s Collat School of Business.

Both the Collat School of Business and Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship are housed in the new multipurpose learning space, which forms a dramatic gateway at the western edge of UAB’s campus and anchors the corner of Birmingham’s University Boulevard and 13th Street South.

Birmingham-based Williams Blackstock Architects and the New York City firm of groundbreaking architect Robert A.M. Stern served as the architects of record on the $37.5 million project, which was planned with input from students and community business leaders.

The 108,000-square-foot building is designed around a central-commons “living room” that promotes student and faculty interaction, and fronts the primary boulevard through campus with glass and an exterior patio. Educational spaces and classrooms surround the “living room” so students and faculty can see and be seen, thereby increasing collaboration through visibility and transparency, explains Williams Blackstock Principal Matt Foley.

The Commons provides the nucleus of the building’s parti – the organizing thought or decision behind the design – and creates a hub for faculty and student activity. The three-story space fronts University Boulevard providing daylight and views to and from campus as well as the adjoining interior classroom spaces.

Breakout rooms, an innovation lab and classrooms designed for team-based learning are housed in the new building. Along with a high-tech finance lab, sales role-playing rooms, a three-story atrium, auditorium, career center and quiet study spaces.

A café and outdoor dining terrace at ground level provide an ideal spot to relax between classes. Classroom entrances and key meeting spaces open onto and overlook the living room.

The innovation lab, finance lab and dean’s board room are spaces within the building critical to the mission of the Collat School of Business. An expansive storefront and curtainwall put these spaces on display inside and outside the building.

Classrooms, meeting spaces and offices offer views of the campus and skyline, which reinforces the design concept that encourages collaborative engagement between business education and the greater business community.

A sculptural grand stair serves as a connective tissue between all floor levels by providing vertical walkability and an elegant central landmark. The stair is meant to overshadow the elevator to encourage navigating the building on foot. This creates a distinct and identifiable experience specific to this new building.

The exterior features a combination of traditional building materials and contemporary building elements. A spacious landscaped courtyard on the building’s east side leads students to the main entrance of the Collat School of Business, while the main entrance to the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is on the northern side of the building.

Image 1- The exterior features both traditional and contemporary building elements. The four-story multipurpose learning space includes classrooms designed for team-based learning, lecture halls, faculty and student breakout rooms and other amenities. It also houses the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Image 2- Birmingham-based Williams Blackstock Architects and the New York City firm of groundbreaking architect Robert A.M. Stern served as the architects of record on the $37.5 million project, which was planned with input from students and community business leaders.

Image 3- The 108,000-square-foot building is designed around a central-commons “living room” that promotes student and faculty interaction and fronts the primary boulevard through campus with glass and an exterior patio.

*Article By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Williams Blackstock Architects