Nestled under the canopy of historic oak trees, the new Mountain Brook Municipal Complex is located at the heart of one of the City’s commercial villages and embraces its strong contextual response to the nearby residential-scaled structures of old-English Tudor style architecture. The new complex is deceptively simple in appearance as a couple of two-story buildings that blend seamlessly with existing mature oak trees and adjacent small-scale structures. Within this simplified appearance is a state-of-the-art facility that houses all City Hall functions, Fire Administration and Fire Station #1, Police Administration, jail and 911 Dispatch that remains in continuous operation. Belying the simplicity of the residentially-scaled exterior contextual response, and supporting the complex functions inside is an underground parking deck with sixty spaces connecting the two buildings and critically eases vehicular congestion to maintain the character, use and feel of this high pedestrian-use village setting. An existing street runs over the underground parking to continue the village street grid and provide necessary parking near the buildings. The two buildings are designed to set back from the streets so the existing oak trees would be maintained.  The complex is situated in the center of the Village so there is not a backside to the buildings for service access. As a result each side is designed to blend with its surroundings and provide each City Department with its own distinct front door with nearby on-street parking.  Deceptive in its simplicity, the Municipal Complex is a sensitive, contextually driven response in scale and architectural execution that elegantly dresses the complex functions inside.

Completion

2013

Size

45,500 SF

Services

Architecture
Interior Design
Planning

Awards

Merit Award
AIA, Alabama

Honor Award, Designing with Brick
AIA, Alabama