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2023 Design Awards

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ArchitectureWorks continually endeavors to make a

ArchitectureWorks continually endeavors to make a positive difference through our work and commitment to safeguarding the legacies of significant historic sites. Two notable landmarks are Birmingham’s historic 16th Street Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church, both of which engaged ArchitectureWorks to help facilitate preserving these valuable properties in American history through multiple rounds of renovations made possible by national grants.

16th Street Baptist Church is the 2024 recipient of the Trustees’ Emeritus Award for Historic Site Stewardship bestowed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Constructed in 1911, the Church and adjacent Parsonage are situated in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District along 6th Avenue North and were designed by Wallace A. Rayfield, one of America’s first formally trained African American architects. Since 2004, ArchitectureWorks has been involved in major improvements including foundation stabilization, masonry preservation, stained glass reconstruction and protection to ensure the longevity of one of the United States’ most important Civil Rights landmarks. Also notable is its consideration for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside historic Bethel Baptist Church of Collegeville.

Bethel Baptist was declared a national Historic Landmark in 2005, and since 2018, ArchitectureWorks has worked in coordination with the National Park Service to help preserve and rehabilitate the Church and Parsonage located north of the Birmingham city center. This work is the first phase in preparation for an interpretive museum exhibit inside the church, built in 1926, and the restoration of the parsonage, built in 1957, as it was furnished during Reverend Shuttlesworth’s tenure and targeted bombings.
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@16thstreetbaptist @bethelcollegeville @nationalparkservice @aaacrhsc @savingplaces @natlmainstreet @lordaecksargent #birminghamcivilrights #16thstreetbaptistchurch #architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #building #construction #birmingham #bham #alabama #birminghamalabama #restoration #historic #historicrestoration

Thank you to AIA Birmingham for featuring AW Archi

Thank you to AIA Birmingham for featuring AW Architectural Associate Katie Wood!
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Meet Katie Wood, our Design Awards Committee Chair and dedicated member of AIA Birmingham!

Katie earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University in 2017 and fell in love with Birmingham during her time in Auburn’s Urban Studio program. She moved to Birmingham after graduation and joined ArchitectureWorks in 2022, where she has contributed to projects like UAB’s new Student Assembly Building and the UA Oliver Barnard Hall renovation. Katie is passionate about creating empathetic and inclusive design solutions that serve everyone equally.

Katie also plays an active role in supporting emerging professionals in architecture. She founded the AIA Alabama Mentorship Committee in 2020 and currently serves as its Director. Her leadership extends to being the AIA Birmingham Design Awards Chair, and she has also been involved with the AIA Alabama Emerging Professionals Committee. Katie’s hard work earned her the AIA Alabama Emerging Professional Award and the President’s Award in 2021.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys concerts, gardening, and spending time with her cat, Florence!
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@aiabirmingham @katiemosswood @au_urbanstudio @aiaalabama #architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #building #construction #birmingham #bham #alabama #interior #interiordesign #birminghamalabama #adaptivereuse #renovation #restoration #awards

Today The University of Alabama at Birmingham cele

Today The University of Alabama at Birmingham celebrated the new Student Assembly Building at the southern gateway of campus with a ribbon cutting and block party. The spaces within, with views of Vulcan and Red Mountain, will play a vital part in undergraduate campus life as students create diverse communities through Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Friendship.

ArchitectureWorks is proud to have played a role in the design and construction of the new facility which will provide a dedicated home for its Student Life organizations within the dense urban environment of Downtown Birmingham and the adjacent University medical district.

Photography: @carynorton
@uabstudents @exploreuab @shelby_gc @mbaengineersinc @bbgsengineeringconsultants @schoel1888 @mldbham
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#architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #building #construction #birmingham #bham #alabama #interior #interiordesign #birminghamalabama

Tuomey Hall frames Gorgas Library along with its s

Tuomey Hall frames Gorgas Library along with its sister building, Oliver-Barnard Hall, on the north end of the University of Alabama’s Quad in Tuscaloosa. This renovation and addition establish the new home for the Shelby Institute for Leadership and present displays from former Senator Richard Shelby’s archive, housed in a new Reading Room as well as a large seminar hall.

A new entry portico was constructed on the north elevation of this seminar hall, matching the architectural detailing and proportions established by the building’s original design. The flat ceiling in the seminar hall was replaced by heavy timber trusses and wood board ceilings, elevating the scale and grandeur of this space. Additionally, major upgrades were made to the building's systems to accommodate this new use, including a new machine room-less elevator. Careful coordination of these systems with the space layout was required to minimize the impact on an already compact footprint.

Photography: @carynorton
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#architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #building #construction #birmingham #bham #alabama #interior #interiordesign #birminghamalabama #renovation #restoration

Constructed in the 1890s, Oliver-Barnard Hall sits

Constructed in the 1890s, Oliver-Barnard Hall sits at the heart of the University of Alabama's Tuscaloosa campus, sharing the Quad with Gorgas Library and Denney Chimes. The building houses the Blount Scholars Program with offices, seminar rooms, and a large gathering space featuring an exposed wood structure and painted brick walls. This major renovation brings the building into the next century for the University and its scholars, including significant upgrades to mechanical systems, interior finishes, and lighting, along with the addition of a new hydraulic elevator. Creative solutions were employed to minimize the impact on usable square footage, preserving the building's historical integrity while integrating modern amenities. The renovation also included the addition of a new exterior raised courtyard adjacent to the interior gathering space, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor areas.

Photography: @carynorton
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#architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #building #construction #birmingham #bham #alabama #interior #interiordesign #birminghamalabama #renovation #restoration

We’d like to introduce our new additions to the

We’d like to introduce our new additions to the ArchitectureWorks team.

Danielle Castañeda received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mississippi State University in 2019 and has experience in commercial and high-end residential architecture.

Adrian Smith rejoins us after interning at ArchitectureWorks in 2023 and spending her thesis year in Japan. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University this spring.

Austin Joyner is pursuing degrees in Architecture and Hispanic Studies and will return to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the fall.

We’re excited to have these talented young designers become a part of AW. Welcome Danielle, Adrian, and Austin!

Photography: @carynorton
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#makebetter #architect #architecture #birmingham #alabama #birminghamal #bham

We had a blast reviewing entries for dreamARCHITEC

We had a blast reviewing entries for dreamARCHITECTURE, the @alabamacenterforarch’s annual art competition that encourages K-5 children to think about their built environment. This year’s prompt was to draw your dream park, and we were very inspired by the students’ artwork. We are looking forward to hosting the awards ceremony on May 9th!
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#architectureworks #makebetter #architecture #architect #design #art #birmingham #bham #alabama #birminghamalabama #awards

Congratulations to our newest licensed architect,

Congratulations to our newest licensed architect, Alex Hamady, who is a 2021 graduate of Auburn University's School of Architecture program.

Since joining the ArchitectureWorks team in 2022, Alex has excelled in the design phase with visualizations as they become more integral to our work. His ability to push boundaries and distill complex project requirements into high quality and enduring architecture is a tremendous asset to project teams and clients.

Working alongside and learning from other talented architects and designers on a wide variety of projects as a young architect has been his favorite part of joining our team here at AW.

Congratulations Alex!
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