Our team had a site visit today to see the construction progress at The Waites.
An Architects Sketchbook — Jonathan Meadows
WBA's very own Jonathan Meadows presented his latest installation at the Alabama Center for Architecture. The installation is a representation of an architects sketchbook brought to life. It creates an immersive experience to the viewer with the architects design process happening all around them.
“A site-specific installation created for the Alabama Center for Architecture, “A Walk Through an Architect’s Sketchbook” is a display of the Architect’s thought process through sketching. As a designer, I sketch not to create artwork, but rather as an extension of trying to see and understand the environment around me. By making marks on paper, I inscribe the moment in my mind, for future recall and reflection.
The installation is a digital recreation of my own illustrations, sketched out in massive scale on translucent sheets suspended within the space. Beginning with construction lines the drawing is gradually built, illustrating the focus first on overall proportion and composition, then on detail, and finally color and shadow as watercolors are applied. The installation creates a layered space through zones of transparency and opacity, and the central occupiable space is immersive, with activity occurring all around the viewer.”
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Expansion Nearing Completion
Business Alabama has a great article on the "overhelming" challenges that were overcome in the construction of the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum expansion.
“A temporary wall more than 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide separated the existing museum from the new addition. The wall is fully waterproofed and engineered to hold wind loads.”
WBA Making A Splash in Pell City
The recently completed splash pad in Pell City is officially open for business. Located at Lakeside Park, this state of the art, splash water park is based on the design theme of a fish camp. It has an overall pad area of approximately 3,000 square feet and includes 24 water features, including the large central monsoon water slide, which is the focal point and the main attraction.
Urban Cookhouse restaurant expanding to Tuscaloosa with help from WBA
AL.com's article on the expansion of Homewood based restaurant, Urban Cookhouse. WBA is excited to be a part of their growing business.
“Urban Cookhouse, a fast-casual restaurant concept that began in Homewood in 2010, will open its first Tuscaloosa location later this year in the Village at Northbank development off Rice Mine Road.
Urban Cookhouse will be the only restaurant tenant in the new development, which was designed by Ellis Architects and is managed by College Station Properties, according to a media release. Urban Cookhouse was represented by Walter Kelley of Arc Realty, and Williams-Blackstock Architects will be designing the restaurant space.”
WBA Ranks First in Birmingham's Top Architecture Firms
The Birmingham Business Journal has ranked Williams Blackstock Architects number one in their list of architecture firms in Birmingham.
“The top players on the List retained their spot since last year. Williams-Blackstock Architects PC tops the ranking with 21 architects in Birmingham offices…”
Pell City Library is officially open for business!
The Pell City Library has officially opened its doors to the community. WBA is honored to complete this project for the citizens of Pell City.
“We’re real pleased with this building, we think it’s going to be a tremendous asset to the community.”
WBA Recieves 2016 PSMJ Resources, Inc. Circle of Excellence Award
WBA is happy to announce receiving the Circle of Excellence award from PSMJ Resources, Inc. This is the sixth year that we have received the award.
“PSMJ’s exclusive Circle of Excellence highlights firms that demonstrate outstanding business achievement in the architecture and engineering industry.”
2016 AIA Birmingham Design Awards
We had a great evening representing the firm at the 2016 AIA Birmingham Design Awards, taking home awards for Alagasco Metro and Cahaba Brewing projects.
Cahaba Brewing Company
- Merit Award
A controlled material palette and priority on craft was leveraged in the creation of a memorable atmosphere unique among Alabama’s breweries. Custom tables and chairs made from reclaimed wood provide customers with various seating options and breaks up the expansive space. The overhead doors are often opened in the evenings allowing patrons to overflow onto the patio. Use of natural light from the monitor windows gives the reclaimed pine walls a radiance in the afternoons, highlights the existing steel structure all while providing the brewers and customers with adequate light.
Alagasco Metro Operations Center
- Merit Award
Located in the urban center of Birmingham, this facility serves as Alagasco’s primary service center. The three main buildings, two office buildings and a garage totaling +/-37,000 SF, as well as the outbuildings, including a truck wash, fuel island, and several sheds, were constructed using pre-engineered metal building structures. The main building construction include concrete slabs on grade, architectural metal panels, brick veneer, standing seam metal roofs, and storefront. A fence is provided around the entire campus for security, which includes a combination of masonry fencing, prefinished aluminum fencing, and vinyl coated chain link fencing.
Mountain Brook Municipal Complex
Design Alabama has a wonderful article on the recently completed Mountain Brook Municipal Complex. Enjoy!
“A municipal building is often a monolithic structure that stands out instead of harmonizing with its surroundings. But that’s not the case with the two-story Mountain Brook Municipal Complex located in leafy Crestline Village.”
Mountain Brook Municipal Complex
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.