This week we celebrated the grand opening of Jacksonville State University’s new state-of-the-art Dining Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday afternoon. The new dining hall replaces the 62-year-old Jack Hopper Dining Hall, and features expanded seating, a variety of food stations, and a welcoming environment for the entire campus community.
The Blair Building wins a Merit Award at The AIA Birmingham Design Awards
We are thrilled to announce that The Blair Building won a Merit Award at the AIA Birmingham Design Awards last night.
The historic Blair Building’s artful renovation juxtaposed the exposed historic brick and timber structure with contemporary clean lines to create a unique architectural statement. The two separate buildings, originally built in 1917 and 1920, have been blended into one through the addition of large wall openings at each floor. This allowed for maximizing private office and workstation space, while maintaining an open atmosphere. Working to meet the client’s need for more space, a rooftop addition was designed to complement the existing buildings while also providing a new roof terrace that capitalizes on panoramic views of downtown.
The jury said that this kind of humble yet powerful project that makes something greater than the sum of its parts should be celebrated, and they noted the careful treatment of new versus old and the deft navigation of extremely narrow buildings.
Frederico Cavazos served on the jury and noted, “A project that makes something greater than the sum of its parts - this is the kind of humble but powerful project we should be celebrating as a profession. The Blair Building adaptively and creatively transforms two existing load-bearing masonry buildings on a shoestring budget and under the watchful eye of historic preservationists. The jurors noted the careful treatment of new vs old, the deft navigation of extremely narrow buildings, and the restrained material palette, which cleverly deploys simple glazing and skylights to pull light deep into the buildings. The careful treatment of the exterior façade, fire stairs and all, allows this project to add to these buildings’ ongoing story, in lieu of replacing them.”
UAB Biomedical Research and Psychology Building
On June 28, 2024, UAB broke ground on their UAB Biomedical Research and Psychology Building. This new facility adds to the University’s annual research and have the opportunity to save more lives.
The eight-story, 300 thousand-square-foot facility will include wet and dry research laboratories and support spaces, which will provide the necessary access for investigators from various disciplines to utilize the space. Students, faculty and staff will soon be able to fully captivate the utilization of space, enhance collaboration, and share equipment and resources. Offices and administrative support spaces will also be included.
Above is a rendering of the building, showcasing the eight-story research facility. It includes different types of researching laboratories and offices. It is a critical step in the UAB research legacy.
Celebrating Three Decades of Design: Williams Blackstock Architects Marks Milestone Anniversary
Williams Blackstock Architects, an award-winning architecture firm, is proud to announce its 30th anniversary. Three decades of innovative design, unwavering commitment to quality, client relationships, and transformative projects have solidified Williams Blackstock Architects as a trailblazer in the industry. Building on the richness of past endeavors and a long-running journey of growth, they have expanded to a 55-person staff of talented architects and interior designers and are excited about a bright future. Their philosophy is to develop creative design solutions that provide value to clients and that inspire people and improve communities.
Since its inception in 1994, Williams Blackstock Architects has consistently provided creative design solutions that provide significant value to clients. The firm has built a legacy of creating iconic structures that seamlessly blend creative, functional, sustainable designs to be cost effective and inspiring. The company has been busy for the last thirty years building a reputation for providing visionary design, teamwork, and collaboration, which has led to great relationships and reshaped the skyline of Birmingham and made a meaningful impact in communities and campuses across the region with designs that stand the test of time.
"We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone in our journey," said Joel Blackstock, Founding Principal, and CEO. "The last thirty years have been a testament to our passion for delivering inspirational architecture and interior design with a commitment to excellence. We owe our success to our talented team, visionary clients, and the communities that have allowed us to serve them."
President Stephen Allen said, “With a legacy of superior client service and continued growth, we remain poised to continue our transformative design work in the years to come. The firm looks forward to continued growth and delivering high quality design solutions that serve our clients, enrich people’s lives, and positively shape our communities.”
To commemorate this momentous anniversary, Williams Blackstock Architects has planned a series of events and celebrations with it’s members, clients, and colleagues, throughout the year.
Clean Up Day to Benefit The Fresh Water Land Trust
This week we sought to make a positive impact in our community to celebrate Earth Day. Our team rolled up their sleeves picking up trash together to benefit the The Fresh Water Land Trust, lending a hand to help our local environment. One of our core values is to make the world and our communities a better place and our commitment extends beyond crafting beautiful spaces—it's about actively caring for our environment and surroundings. Together, let's continue to make a positive impact, one step at a time!
Media Buzz About Bird-friendly Windows
In the construction of the new UAB Altec Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building in Birmingham, our team at Williams Blackstock Architects has integrated a unique design feature to address bird safety, responding to a growing concern in urban design. At the request of the UAB, known for its commitment to sustainability, we have incorporated etched glass with a bird protection frit into the building's 6-story curtainwall, which spans nearly 50,000 square feet.
This initiative aligns with UAB's goal to achieve LEED Silver certification for the project and reflects a broader vision for a sustainable campus. Learn more about this innovative initiative design featured in BhamNow.
Great-Birmingham Bake Off: Giving Back
The 2024 Bake-Off was held on Saturday, April 6th at Cahaba Brewing. We were so proud to be a sponsor of such a fun event that supports a great cause: Workshops Empowerment! The team from WBA got together and picked out recipe to compete in the event using one of their WE Made Southern Staples baking mixes. We, maybe, sample a few ourselves over cold beverages and had a blast.
WE Inc. provides employment opportunities to people with disabilities and so much more. Through training and workforce development, they’re helping individuals be their best selves and we are proud to support them.
Meet 4 Female Leaders among the team at Williams Blackstock Architects
Meet 4 of the incredible female leaders among the amazing team of women who work here at Williams Blackstock Architects in this latest article on Bham Now. We're incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptionally skilled and vibrant team, including an outstanding group of women who constitute over half of our firm and play vital roles across all aspects of our work.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a remarkably talented—and fun!—team of professionals who are actively contributing to our community.
Among them is a fantastic group of women who make up 50% of our firm and play a pivotal role in every aspect of our practice, from design and project management to marketing and strategy.
Their presence enriches our identity and culture, serving as a daily source of inspiration for all of us.”
2024 NextGen Awards: Celia Gannaway
Congratulations to our own Celia Gannaway who was named as a recipient for the Birmingham Business Journal 2024 NextGen: Real Estate & Construction Awards! This special issue will feature up-and-coming professionals in the real estate and construction fields who are emerging leaders in Birmingham.
ULI Alabama Project Tour: The Hardwick
Last week we had the privilege of leading a project tour of The Hardwick with ULI Alabama! Together, we explored the transformation of this 110-year-old steel processing plant into a vibrant hub for restaurants, retail, and commercial offices along Birmingham's Rotary Trail. A special thank you to all who joined us for the insightful journey!
