Southern Research’s new incubator setup includes 11 offices and 12 wet labs, along with shared lab equipment and entrepreneurial services to support startup businesses engaged in treating and diagnosing diseases, which is projected to open in January.
The Inaugural Anthony Miekeco Penny Scholarship
We were proud to help present the Anthony Miekeco Penny Scholarship at this year's Alabama Center for Architecture Scholarship Awards Luncheon which will be accepted by Abby Rotich. We have had the privilege of working with Abby throughout this past year and are thrilled that such a talented and exceptional student has received this well-deserved award.
This was the inaugural scholarship awarded, established by Williams Blackstock Architects in Anthony's memory. Anthony was a young, talented African American architect, affectionately nicknamed "Penny." He grew up in Gulf Port, Mississippi and received his Architectural degree from Mississippi State University in 2015 whereupon he moved to Birmingham, Alabama and worked for Williams Blackstock Architects until August 2022.
His work included many notable design projects throughout Alabama. Penny embodied a creative spirit, zealously exploring creative design solutions for the betterment of humanity. His quiet and calm demeanor masked his drive and tenacity to raise the bar on any design task he undertook. His character was of the highest integrity and he exhibited compassion for those around him, especially the underserved, where it was his fierce desire to achieve equity and social justice.
Penny was thoughtful and reflective in every interaction and embodied a collaborative spirit. This scholarship is intended to help young, aspiring students achieve their dreams and goals of becoming an architect and making the world a better place through design.
Enterprise Veterans Home Close to Completion
The Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins Veteran’s Home in Enterprise, Alabama is making headlines this week. The facility sits on 108 acres and will be 182,000 square feet, housing 174 residents. Once in full operation, it will provide jobs for more than 200 people in the area.
Fun at Top Golf!
Our summer social was a hit - literally! We got to spend last Friday afternoon trying to out-swing each other at Top Golf. The stunning views, great food, and laughter-filled moments made it a day to remember. For a group that loves to work hard, it was a nice break to get to play for an afternoon too. A huge shoutout to our amazing team for making this company trip an absolute hole-in-one!
2023 Building Birmingham Award Winners
We’re proud to announce that two of our projects were selected as winners in the 2023 Building Birmingham Awards by the Birmingham Business Journal. These awards recognize the projects that are changing the face of the Magic City and were chosen based on their impact, their degree of difficulty and unique aspects, among many other factors.
Nextec
The long-vacant Nextec building in a neglected area downtown was originally constructed in 1927 date and served as the Edward’s Motor Company for many years. The 50,000-square-foot building has been restored to create flexible work offices and collaboration zones for early-stage companies and non-profit organizations.
Located a block from Innovation Depot, an incubator and accelerator for tech & bio-focused businesses, the design brings new vitality to this area of downtown with a carefully renovated historic facade, which utilized tax credits, and a new innovative interior design of office spaces for tech companies.
Hoffman Media
This creative interior design solution which completely renovated the interior of the building creates a new home reflecting the company's brand and mission. As a special-interest publisher involved with print, online and interactive media, this renovation represents their generational opportunity to relocate from the suburbs and create a new home in the heart of Birmingham’s thriving downtown environment.
The new headquarters for Hoffman Media on Second Avenue North, dubbed “The Hoffice on Second”, includes a wide-reaching variety of spaces such as video production studios, photography studios, test kitchen, and related office space. Features throughout this new space, such as the test kitchen area, provide ample space for their creative endeavors and uniquely represents their inspiring brand and mission to enrich daily lives.
2023 AIA Birmingham Awards
Last night we had a wonderful time at the AIA Birmingham Awards Ceremony! We are proud to announce that the design for The Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Pavilion has won an AIA Birmingham Honor Award. And our front lobby and table design has won a Merit Award in the Design Detail category. We're incredibly proud of our team and humbled by these accolades.
Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Pavilion
Honor Award
We are proud to announce that the design for The Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Pavilion has won an AIA Birmingham Honor Award. The pavilion serves as a welcome center for the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which are part of EJI’s work to advance truth and justice in America and to more honestly confront the legacy of slavery, lynching, and segregation.
The design featured light and transparency with a perforated steel screen façade serving as a dynamic, living sculpture connecting the park, porch, and lobby. As reflected light changed throughout the day and night, sunlight was filtered through the images and onto the visitors as they entered.
The perforated stainless steel front screen honored seven key civil rights figures, helping visitors understand the unique role Montgomery played in fueling a civil rights movement that continues to reverberate around the world.
Williams Blackstock Architects Front Lobby and Table
Merit Award - Design Detail
The reception lobby features a sleek and minimalistic table, with a skillful interplay of charcoal soapstone and a single piece of folded blackened steel. The cantilevered effect of the heavy material is intentionally created to provoke a sense of wonder and challenge the limits of what is possible. Dynamic veining in the natural stone creates a beautiful accent to the wood and steel backdrop.
The sleek high-tech design of the reception area creates a strong juxtaposition to the rustic brick, exposed board-formed concrete structure, and polished concrete floors. The design concept creates an impactful welcome area that respects and celebrates the historic warehouse, juxtaposed with modern innovation, technology, and design.
Source: https://www.wba-architects.com/
Auburn Alumni Spotlight: Brittany Foley
Brittany Foley was recently featured in The College of Architecture Design and Construction newsletter for all of her accomplishments. Brittany graduated from Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) with a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Interior Architecture in 2009. She is now a partner at Williams Blackstock and was recently named to Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list.
“Here in Alabama, we’ve had wonderful and meaningful projects that we’ve been able to work on and it’s been really amazing to see the adaptive reuse and historic preservation sector of our practice grow.”
Play Ball!
We had an absolute blast representing our firm at the recent kickball tournament for a great cause! The event brought together teams from various companies across Birmingham, all rallying behind a shared goal of supporting a worthy charity, Christopher Kids. With laughter, friendly competition, and a whole lot of team spirit, the "WBA Ballbarians" gave it our all on the field. Not only did we have a fun time, but we felt better knowing our support contributed to making a positive impact in our community.
Community Food Bank Volunteer Day
At Williams Blackstock Architects, one of our core values and fou on the power of giving back to the community. We understand that our success goes beyond our professional achievements; it extends to making a positive impact on the lives of those around us. That's why we recently organized a group volunteering activity at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger and providing support to those in need.
It was a day filled with unity, compassion, and making a positive impact in our community. We rolled up our sleeves, worked together as a team, and supported the amazing efforts of the Community Food Bank in fighting hunger and helping those in need.
We sorted and packaged over 500 boxes for distribution to seniors for the month. Seeing firsthand how our collective efforts can make a tangible difference was a humbling experience and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute and leave a lasting impact.
We firmly believe in the power of collaboration and the strength of our community. Together, we can create positive change and support those facing food insecurity. Thank you to the Community Food Bank for the incredible work you do. We are honored to be a small part of it. Let's keep spreading love, compassion, and support to create a brighter future for all.
2023 IIDE Awards
We are thrilled to announce that our firm has been recognized with not one, but TWO prestigious interior design awards from IIDA Alabama! The first award recognizes Growth Capital Properties with the Best of Corporate - Small Award that showcases a combination of dark and light materials with simple modern forms to create a dramatic work environment. The second award honors Bailey-Harris Construction with the Best of Design Detail Award. Our innovative design of a custom communicating stair constructed from a steel stringer, wood treads, and a cable rail system, contrasts with a concrete wall to create a stunning feature in the lobby. We are incredibly proud of our team for their hard work and dedication to excellence, and we are grateful to our clients for entrusting us with their designs. We look forward to continuing to create exceptional spaces that inspire and delight.
Growth Capital Properties
Best of Corporate - Small
Growth Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm, relocated its headquarters to the 15th floor of a 1962 International Style Birmingham high rise. The design of the 11,000 square foot office space combines solid with clear elements and dark with light materials to outline full height exterior windows. The build out incorporates a mixture of new with existing construction. Critical to the success of having unobstructed views to the exterior was understanding and applying current building codes which allowed for the removal of rated stair vestibules. The design combines dark and light materials with simple modern forms to create a dramatic work environment that begins in the elevator lobby and continues throughout the space.
Bailey-Harris Construction
Best of Design Detail
The design team’s approach was inspired by the building specialties of Bailey Harris Construction and the vision was to showcase the materiality of each service. The interior details subtly reveal the unique textures and elements of each trade. Celebrating the construction process a large steel stair, concrete walls, stone reception area, and warm wood textures create a synergy between design, construction and brand.
Source: https://www.wba-architects.com/