ArchitectureWorks is proud to announce that two projects were recognized at the 2026 AIA Birmingham Design Awards. The William received a Merit Award, while High Dive HiFi Lounge earned a Distinction Award, honoring the firm’s continued commitment to thoughtful design, adaptive reuse, and creating meaningful places.
The William transforms a late-19th-century building in downtown Birmingham into a mixed-use development with a restaurant at street level and residential apartments above. Working within a structure marked by advanced deterioration, the design introduces a top-lit atrium that brings daylight deep into the building while preserving and celebrating historic elements, including restored cast iron façade details, painted ghost signage, and salvaged timber reused throughout the project.
The jury praised the project for its bold concept and thoughtful execution, noting its “big picture thinking, urban interface, and detail execution.”
High Dive HiFi Lounge reimagines a historic commercial building in Birmingham’s Lakeview district as an immersive listening lounge where advanced acoustic performance and hospitality are seamlessly integrated. Specialized acoustic systems are carefully concealed within warm, tactile architectural elements, creating a space engineered for exceptional sound while maintaining the comfort and character of a neighborhood gathering place.
The jury recognized the project’s successful integration of acoustic technology with architectural design, commending the team’s ability to transform an ordinary urban building into an exceptional listening environment.
