“Even though a lot of holiday gatherings won’t be happening this year, who’s dreaming about events in a post-COVID world? Whether it’s an office party, a family get-together or a wedding for a distant future you’re planning, we’ve got three venues designed by Williams Blackstock Architects that you need to check out today.”
Cahaba Brewing Co.
In the spirit of revitalization that is moving through Birmingham, Alabama, the four partners of Cahaba Brewing Company took their love of craft beer, motivated by its growing popularity in the region, as an opportunity to expand their brewery and taproom.
The minimal budget was not a hindrance but the foundation for tactful design decisions. A controlled material palette and priority on craft was leveraged in the creation of a memorable atmosphere unique among Alabama’s breweries. The reintroduction of light through existing monitor windows gives the reclaimed pine walls a radiance in the afternoons while providing sufficient illumination in the production area.
Located on 5th Avenue South in the Historic 1925 Continental Gin Building complex, Cahaba’s Brewery sits at the crossroads of Birmingham’s industrial past and its renaissance as a hub of artfully crafted and inspiring community spaces. The taproom provides a much needed agent of change in the Avondale and Crestwood neighborhoods.
Dread River Distilling Co.
The design concept for Dread River Distilling Company reflects the company’s brand, which references an ancient tale of an underground mystic river, flowing beneath the streets of Birmingham, large enough for steam vessels to traverse, and from which Dread River sources its main ingredient, water.
The manufacturing space design heavily engages the company branding while providing an efficient production layout and embracing natural light and ventilation. The tasting room design reflects the depth and darkness of this mystic river. The individuality of each lounge room reflects the unforeseen nature of a journey down this mystic river, so as guests move throughout the bar, the experience is ever-changing, similar to one’s journey down “Dread River”.
The Florentine
The interiors of the first floor has been renovated multiple times and no longer maintains the historic character of the building except for the extensive arched and bay windows. The first floor is being renovated to accommodate a full-service catering kitchen that will provide food service to the second floor ballroom and venues off site. A restaurant with its separate full-service kitchen is developed on the remaining first floor area. The restaurant will take advantage of the first floor high ceilings with their associated arched and bay windows. A previous original mezzanine will be restored and open to the restaurant as additional seating/meeting space.
The second floor ballroom is accessed by a well maintained marble historic lobby that will be cleaned and restored. The second floor original ballroom has had multiple renovations that painted or covered up the original design, but the historic character has been retained. The ballroom will be used as a rental venue in conjunction with the catering kitchen and restaurant on the first floor. The ballroom is being restored to its original design with its extensive plasterwork, arched windows and false-mirrored windows restored. The original ballroom skylight over coffered ceiling panels will also be restored and brought back to its original intent to light the ballroom space.