Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama praises The Hardwick as “A most excellent addition to our community landscape.”
Read moreHistoric Preservation and The Greyhound Building →
Exactly 60 years after their heroic stand in the Civil Rights movement, Freedom Riders walked into Birmingham's Greyhound building again. With the vision of Capstone Realty, Williams Blackstock Architects helped to restore the historic building and reimagine it into a modern office space. The past was preserved to make the way for a new future as the Greyhound plays a pivotal role in the history of Birmingham, Alabama and will play a role in the future development of the city.
Read moreEnterprise Veterans Home Gets New Name →
The Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs voted unanimously to name the facility as the “Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins State Veterans Home” in Enterprise, Alabama
Read moreTrinity UMC Gets Award-Winning Expansion →
Trinity UMC was recognized by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama’s Excellence in Construction Awards as the first-place winner for renovations.
Read moreWe're Feeling Luckie
We're feeling so "Luckie" to be the architect to help bring Luckie back downtown in a totally transformed open plan office. Their new home will be a live-work-play model in The Denham Building - a thriving creative scene in Birmingham’s Parkside!
Freedom Riders at The Greyhound Station
60 years ago, The Freedom Riders boarded a bus and arrived at the Birmingham Greyhound station. This weekend, we were honored to host Freedom Riders Catherine Burks-Brooks and Charles Person as they returned to the newly renovated Greyhound Station.
Construction of the original station began in 1949 in a “French Moderne” style with an Art Deco feel. After two years of renovations, the once-bustling Greyhound Bus Station, is ready for a new tenant. Undergoing thoughtful historic renovation, the building has kept it’s original terrazzo floors, Greyhound sign and charm.
The Freedom Riders arrived at this station during the fight for civil rights on May 15th 1961. They were welcomed back 60 years later with applause as heroes.
“This is history - The history of this place and the history of this building. The Freedom Riders - everyone in America told them not to do what they did… Civil Rights leaders told them not to come here. ‘You’re not going to make it out of Alabama. Don’t come here.’ Catherine Burks-Brooks and 10 others did not listen. They came to this very building 60 years ago. Walked through these doors and into history. Defiant and proud. Courageous and brave. And to think, as we stand here now in this beautiful, remodeled building, to think about how Mrs. Brooks must have felt 60 years ago coming into this building after having just had a confrontation with one of the meanest public safety commissioners in Alabama history and faced him down.”
“But I’ve learned that there are a lot of good people here in this city… And as long as there are good people, I’m encouraged that no matter what happened in the past that we can have a very bright future.”
The Architects and Designers for the historic renovation of The Greyhound Bus Depot located at 618 N. 18th Street in Birmingham, Alabama
New Office Space Coming Soon in Cahaba Heights
We're excited about the big things coming soon to Cahaba Heights. Parkside on Dolly Ridge - a 14,935-square-foot mixed-use project next to Cahaba Heights Elementary and the new Cahaba Heights Athletic Fields. Construction is planned to begin in July with a targeted opening date of May 2022 for Grandview Primary Care.
“We are in discussion with community-oriented prospects for a coffee shop/cafe, fitness concepts, spa and wellness on the lower level and professional office tenants for the remaining space on the upper level.”
Healthcare design of the future
The COVID-19 pandemic is shaping the world of healthcare design. If you’re curious to what doctor’s offices of the future might look like, read the latest updated in the Bham Now feature.
“When you walk in, there’s this nice feeling that represents the quality of the medical service that patients will receive, and at the same time relaxing the patient and giving them the confidence that they’re in a good place, and they will get top notch care.”
Plans for the Hardwick
We are excited to be working with Bayer Properties’ to bring new life to the old Hardwick Building on the Rotary Trail. Read the latest updated in the Bham Now feature.
“The Hardwick will be a really dynamic space, playing up the history of the building.”
3 beautiful venues where you can host the perfect gathering in the future →
“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.