2014 AIA Accolade Award — Joel Blackstock

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.

2013 AIA birmingham Awards →

WBA was honored to take home a merit award for our work on Shades Valley YMCA and an honor award for Redella Residence.

Shades Valley YMCA

• Merit Award

This YMCA project actually began four years before construction broke ground with a community fundraising campaign to help garner support for the renovation of the 50-year-old building. The YMCA wanted to create a more user-friendly and family-friendly space while continuing its service to the community during construction – never closing its doors during the nine-month process. The revitalized facility now features a welcoming entrance, inviting Members into the space which was completely reorganized to maximize existing square feet and optimize circulation. An additional 4,000-square-feet was added to make room for new exercise studios, free-weight areas, a technology center and a new pool complete with water slides and a splash park. YMCA Members now enjoy a vibrant, energetic environment awash with abundant natural light.

Redella Residence

• Honor Award

This private residence located in the renowned community of Seaside, Florida perfectly captures the essence of a traditional beach town. Generous living spaces are kept light and airy with the use of natural light, a neutral color palette and an open-concept floor plan. Site limitations created the need for two main entries to the 2,000-square-foot home so a symmetrical layout with a central corridor connects both entries and is punctuated with a dramatic, three-story spiral staircase. The staircase sits at the heart of the home and vertically connects both interior floors to the expansive third-story, rooftop terrace which beckons you with its comfortable seating areas and panoramic ocean views.

Steven Smith Recieves IDIE's Lifetime Achievemant Award

Steve was recognized by the Alabama Chapter of the International Interior Design Association with its "Lifetime Achievement Award" for providing distinguished design and advancement in the interior design profession. As the firm's director of Interior Design, he has played an integral role influencing the design professionon Auburn's Interior Design Advisory Board, as President-elect and VP of Advocacy on the Board of IIDA Alabama, and as Chairman of the Alabama State Board of Registration for Interior Design.

Top 40 Under 40: Stephen Allen

Stephen Allen

Congratulation Stephen for achieving Birmingham Business Journal's top 40 under 40 award.

Stephen joined Williams Blackstock Architects in 2004 after practicing architecture in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi for more than eight years – he was named Principal in the firm in 2010. His contributions to a multitude of complex projects over the last 17 years have transformed communities and college campuses throughout the Southeast. Stephen excels at approaching each project from the client’s point of view and focuses on clearly and comprehensively understanding their expectations so that his design solutions can exceed them.

“As principal of Williams Blackstock Architects, Stephen Allen has designed projects that have changed the community and campuses in the Southeast.”

— Birmingham Business Journal

2011 AIA Alabama Awards

ALAGASCO CENTER FOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

• Honerable Mention

Contemporary finishes and systems were incorporated into the interior design of the Alagasco Demonstration Center for Energy Technology to reflect the high-tech, innovative nature of the activities contained within. Storage modules for tables and chairs located below glass panels create a spatial separation between the central lobby and the large and small meeting rooms on each side, while large glass doors into the meeting spaces and continuous glass panels above provide views of the heavy timber trusses spanning from space to space, respecting the historical aspects of the original structure.

2011 IIDIE's Awards

AUBURN UNIVERSITY VILLAGE DINING FACILITY

• Best Institutuinal

The Village Student Dining facility strikes a perfect balance between timeless design and trend-setting style through the use of color, form and rhythm to attract and suit its intended “hip”, 21st-century” clientele. The facility features a curved circulation spine as a key design element, inspiring curved elements throughout the space in the form of curved walls, circular floor patterns, round and arched ceiling planes and banquette seating. An iconic glass tower and clerestory windows provide a focal point and allow natural light to permeate the space while a warm palette of materials creates visual variety and a comfortable atmosphere. At full capacity, the Village Dining can comfortable accommodate 650 student diners in a variety of dining environments.

ALAGASCO CENTER FOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

• Best Renovation/Honor Award

Contemporary finishes and systems were incorporated into the interior design of the Alagasco Demonstration Center for Energy Technology to reflect the high-tech, innovative nature of the activities contained within. Storage modules for tables and chairs located below glass panels create a spatial separation between the central lobby and the large and small meeting rooms on each side, while large glass doors into the meeting spaces and continuous glass panels above provide views of the heavy timber trusses spanning from space to space, respecting the historical aspects of the original structure.

2011 AIA Gulf States Awards

ALAGASCO CENTER FOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

• Best of Assembly

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Contemporary finishes and systems were incorporated into the interior design of the Alagasco Demonstration Center for Energy Technology to reflect the high-tech, innovative nature of the activities contained within. Storage modules for tables and chairs located below glass panels create a spatial separation between the central lobby and the large and small meeting rooms on each side, while large glass doors into the meeting spaces and continuous glass panels above provide views of the heavy timber trusses spanning from space to space, respecting the historical aspects of the original structure.