Williams Blackstock Architects recently joined Southern Research and community leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the new Southern Research Biotech Center — a 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art laboratory that anchors the organization’s long-term vision for innovation and discovery.
Southern Research partnered with Williams Blackstock Architects to create a comprehensive campus master plan aligning its physical growth with its strategic goals for the next 75 years. The centerpiece of that plan, this LEED-certified facility, doubles the organization’s laboratory space and enhances collaboration in life sciences, chemistry, and drug discovery. The building’s design emphasizes flexibility, daylighting, and transparency — creating a bright, interconnected environment that supports cutting-edge research and future expansion.
Complementing the new lab, Williams Blackstock also led the Station 41 renovation, transforming a former administrative building into a biotech incubator for early-stage startups. The adaptive reuse project offers shared lab spaces, open offices, and modern infrastructure designed to help emerging biotech companies grow.
Together, these projects strengthen Birmingham’s Innovation District and solidify Southern Research’s role as a leader in scientific advancement and economic development across the Southeast — setting the stage for the next generation of discovery.