Learning by Design Magazine Award for Outstanding Project — University of Alabama Student Center at Presidential Village

WBA is honored to be acknowledged by Learning by Design Magazine for our work in the University of Alabama Student Center at Presidential Village.

“Designers were careful to blend the architectural style with the classic Alabama campus vernacular, using strong 2-story columns as a familiar welcome mat. Inside, the building’s transparency, finishes and furniture offer a clean, fresh, contemporary feel.”
— Learning by Design Magazine
 

University of Alabama Student Center at Presidential Village

  • Award of Excellence

On the north bluff of the University of Alabama campus, the new Student Center at Presidential Village rises over the Black Warrior River with grand columns befitting the classical style of the traditional campus core. Situated at the center of a residential village for thousands of students, this multi-purpose facility provides an engaging hub for student activity.

A classical exterior of striking brick and precast concrete wraps a modern interior volume of varied recreation spaces. The vast, transparent gymnasium, workout spaces, and grand patio share the dramatic view of the river activity beyond the tree-line, and provide inspiration in a setting that promotes wellness and a memorable, fit student experience.

The building also incorporates the rowing team’s training facilities, an administrative program, and a food service venue, all sitting atop a robust and well disguised, yet easily accessible, storm shelter for the protection of the entire village.

A central, skylight capped atrium, with a 40 foot tall climbing wall and freestanding tower, are connected along a grand organizing spine that provides transparency and a flood of natural light throughout the facility. From the two story entry hall to the huge covered patio, the interior palette of exposed concrete, glass, and steel define an engaging juxtaposition of sturdy monumental spaces with a sculptural core.  

2015 Birmingham IDIE Awards

WBA took home awards for both Shaeffer Eye Center and the Radella Residence at the biennial IDIE Awards at the newly renovated Florentine Building.

 

Shaeffer Eye Center

  • Retail Award

As a provider of advanced eye care in the State of Alabama, the new flagship Schaeffer Eye Center in Hoover tangibly translates the pillars of the Schaeffer Eye Center Experience – science, style and service – through its crisp, forward-thinking interior design. Originally the home of a furniture showroom, the new clinic was transformed through a complete gutting of the 10,000-square-foot first floor.

 

Radella Residence

  • Residential Award

 A tree-lined sandy pathway along Rose Walk leads to this beachside home in Seaside, Florida, a community renowned for its innovative and elegant approach to capturing the character of traditional beachside towns. This 1,962-square-foot house is situated between the pedestrian-only Rose Walk path and Robert’s Way. The importance of this pedestrian path on one side, along with the desire for vehicular access on the other side, drove the design to essentially have two fronts, with two entry porches and two front doors.

2015 Alabama AIA Awards

We were thrilled to receive a merit award for our work on Taylor + Maree Construction offices.

 

Taylor + Miree Construction

  • Merit Award

The design of Taylor + Miree Construction’s new office fits into the fabric of the small town community in a sensitive manner that highlights the skill and craftsmanship of the construction company. The project scope was to design a 5,385-square-foot building in a zero lot line within a “main street” setting to reinforce the scale and quality of the community and streetscape.

The exterior is designed with a finely articulated limestone and brick façade with a slate roof that respond to details found on neighboring buildings. Large picture windows reach out to the community to outwardly convey the culture of the company as well as to display their work and activity inside. The gabled structure at the front lobby and conference space creates a dramatic sense of arrival through the use of exposed steel trusses and wood decking.

The interior design is punctuated with recycled wood throughout to provide a warm interior space and promote the sustainable design approach. The central community work space opens on axis to an outdoor deck for dining and gathering. The grade drops from the front of the building, allowing a covered parking garage to be tucked up under the building and the entire footprint of the site to be fully utilized for office space above.

2014 American School & University Architectural Portfolio Outstanding Design Award

WBA was honored to be chosen for an outstanding design award from American School & University.

 

North Engineering Research Center — UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

  • Outstanding Design: Post-secondary

The North Engineering Research Center is the fourth and final piece of the University of Alabama Science and Engineering Complex providing approximately 207,000 net square feet of research and instructional laboratories, research support amenities, faculty offices, graduate student workstations, conference and meeting facilities, and collaboration spaces over three floors and a basement. The design was focused on accommodating facilities for the “clean” engineering disciplines, with over 51 separate research laboratories in support of the faculty working in five areas of ongoing materials research. The complex system of supportive mechanical systems had to be housed within the framework of a strict classical architectural context, presenting a unique marriage of timelessness and cutting edge research. A key goal of this project was to create flexible research environments, including labs and core lab areas, which can grow and change easily over time. Another key objective was to create a facility that will excite and attract both faculty and students to the University – and in particular to the Engineering disciplines. In addition to providing modern, state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities, the design strives to leverage technology and transparency to enable building occupants and visitors the opportunity to view, and gain a better understanding of the exciting research and instrumentation being utilized and developed in the building. Filled with natural light, the atrium connects the two story lobbies at the south entrance from the Commons and the entrance lobby from north campus, while also vertically connecting all three floors and the basement.  The lobby detailing is consistent with the exterior to unify the style of the complex.

2014 AIA Internship Advisory Committee Firm Award →

WBA is honored to be recognized by the AIA Internship Advisory Committee. 

“The firms have not only satisfied the requirements for recognition with the Intern Development Program Firm Award, but have demonstrated a deep commitment to the program by going above and beyond the baseline criteria and demonstrating innovation in their commitment to the Intern Development Program.”
— The American Institute of Architects

2014 Contract Magazine Award

WBA is honored to accept a honorable mention award from Contract Magazine for the recently completed Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veteran's Home.

“ By creating tightly knit miniature communities with hospitality inspired finishes and materials, designer Williams Blackrock Architects hopes to banish the anonymous and intuitional feel that some senior living facilities have, and to give residents an intimate, small-town residential experience.”
— Contract Magazine
 

Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veteran's Home

  • Honerable Mention — Long-term care/ Assisted Living Facilities

The Colonel Robert L. Howard Veterans Home is a $43 million, 254-bed long-term care assisted living facility for veterans that offers various levels of skilled nursing, including services for dementia and Alzheimer's patients. By creating tightly knit miniature communities with hospitality inspired finishes and materials, designer Williams Blackrock Architects hopes to banish the anonymous and intuitional feel that some senior living facilities have, and to give residents an intimate, small-town residential experience.

2014 AIA Accolade Award — Joel Blackstock

Joel Blackstock, AIA, NCARB

Joel Blackstock, AIA, NCARB

Joel recieved the "Accolade Award," the highest honor bestowed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Birmingham Chapter for outstanding achievement in support of the profession of architecture. The award recognizes that Birmingham's skyline and its surroundins have been forever changed by his positive legacy of work in the community. Joel is a founding partner of the firm which has grown to be one of the largest in Alabama.

“Joel Blackstock has earned a reputation for being a visionary for the City, a great listener to his clients’ needs, dreams and desires.”
— AIA Birmingham

2014 Birmingham AIA Awards

We had a remarkable night representing WBA at the 2014 Birmingham AIA Awards taking home a merit award for the UAB Comprehensive Care Center.

“The architect’s thoughtful concept, great use of daylight and clean aesthetic contributed to the successful design.”
— AIA Birmingham
 

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Merit Award

This dramatic transformation of the dated Comprehensive Cancer Center is a key step in translating medical research into clinically based programs aimed at improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In addition to providing updated facilities, a key goal of the renovation was to foster collaboration amongst the researchers. A five-story, sky-lit atrium serves as the new heart of the building with offices clustered around this central collaborative area. The typical maze of corridors and labs commonly found in older research buildings was converted into new research spaces organized around the dynamic atrium core. The renovation also redefined the identity of the building on campus with a new, two-story lobby and revitalized exterior presence serving as the grand entrance and providing connection to the adjacent medical center’s pedestrian concourse.

2014 AIA Alabama Awards

WBA took home several awards at the 2014 AIA Alabama awards in categories ranging from residential to institutional. 

 

Mountain Brook Municipal Complex

  • Institutional Merit Award
  • Honor Award for Designing with Brick

Nestled among existing oak trees, the new Mountain Brook Municipal Complex occupies the same site as the original Mountain Brook City Hall built in 1967. Designed as the new home for the community’s city council, mayor’s office, city manager and fire and police departments, the 53,000-square-foot complex provides much needed additional space and facility upgrades – including a 60-space, underground parking deck – while complementing the character and design elements, such as red brick with limestone trim and Tudor-style details, of the community village where is sits.

 

North Engineering Research Center

  • Top Block Award

Situated at the northwest corner of the Science and Engineering Complex at The University of Alabama, the $58 million North Engineering Research Center provides approximately 207,000-square-feet of research and instructional laboratories, research support amenities, faculty offices, graduate student workstations, conference/meeting facilities and collaboration spaces. With more than 51 separate research laboratories to support specialized research disciplines, this building also supports the campus with a centralized 7,800-square-foot Cleanroom facility which meets ISO 5, 6 and 7 Cleanliness Classifications. Overall, the building was designed to create flexible research environments that can grow and change over time – accommodating new research tools and equipment without additional investment or major disruptions of ongoing operations.

 

Redella Residence

  • Residential Merit Award

The Redella Residence is located on Robert’s Way in the new urbanism development of Seaside, Florida, a community renown for its innovative and elegant approach to capturing the character of traditional beachside towns. The site for the 2,000 square foot house backs up to Rose Walk, a tree-lined sand pathway that is a primary route for pedestrian traffic from the residential streets into downtown Seaside.  The importance of Rose Walk and the necessity to have a front door on the street side of Robert’s Way drove the design to essentially have two entry porches and two front doors, generating a symmetrical layout with a central corridor that connects both entries on the first floor. A three story spiral stair pierces through the rooftop connecting the two floors of living space with an expansive rooftop terrace and is a focal point to both the interior spaces and the Robert’s Way façade. 

 

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Institutional Honor Award

This dramatic transformation of the dated Comprehensive Cancer Center is a key step in translating medical research into clinically based programs aimed at improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In addition to providing updated facilities, a key goal of the renovation was to foster collaboration amongst the researchers. A five-story, sky-lit atrium serves as the new heart of the building with offices clustered around this central collaborative area. The typical maze of corridors and labs commonly found in older research buildings was converted into new research spaces organized around the dynamic atrium core. The renovation also redefined the identity of the building on campus with a new, two-story lobby and revitalized exterior presence serving as the grand entrance and providing connection to the adjacent medical center’s pedestrian concourse.