Design Alabama: The Public Forum for Design in Alabama, Volume 13, Issue 1, 2003

              Spring/Summer 2003
Volume XIII, Issue I
$4,00
a ama
THE PUBLIC FORUM FOR DESIGN IN ALABAMA
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DesignAlabama Inc.
Board of Directors:
Cathryn Campbeif Gerachis, Chair
Goodwyn, Mifls and Cawood fnc,
Montgomery
Nancy Mims Hartsfield, Vice Chair
Auburn University, Professor Emeritus
Montgomery
Elizabeth Ann Brown, Secretary
Alabama HistOrical Commission
Montgomery
Charles Callans, Treasurer
Birmingham Realty
Birmingham
Arneife Adcock
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Prattville
Joseph R. Donofro
Donofro & Associates Amiitects Inc.
Dothan
Janet Driscoll
Driscoff Design
Montgomery
Micbelle Gilliam
City of Decatur Planning Department
Decatur
80 Grisham
Brookmant Realty
Birmingham
Debra Hood
Greenville
Tin Man Lau
Auburn University
Auburn
Robert Martin
Southern Progress Corp.
Birmingham
Kenneth M. Penuel
Southern Company Services Inc., Retired
Birmingham
Debbie Quinn
Fairhope City Council
Fairhope
Kay F. Roney
Wallace Gommuni/y Gollege
Dothan
Larry Watts
Birmingham Regional Planning Commission
Birmingham
Karen H. Seale, Executive Director
Philip A. Morris, Director Emeritus
Volume XIII, Issue I
Cover: Industrial parks benefit from designers'
creative input.
Letter.ftxml, the Director
"Produce great pumpkins, the pies will follow later. "
- Author unknown
In my search of quotations for the back cover of the
journal, I came across this clever little saying, and it struck
me as a perfect illustration for this issue's feature on the
impact that design makes in planningfor industrial
development. Then, as I read it again, I realized that it not
only sums up the topic of this one issue, but also the purpose
of the journal and, infact, the mission of Design Alabama at
large. By sowing seeds of public awareness for the design
arts, we are producingfruitful and informed thinking on
areas that directly affect both the economic well-being and
the quality of the life in our state. It is an effort that is
yielding some pretty terrific pies.
Such a fine crop takes many hands to produce, and the
board of directors and I would like to thank those who
support us as financial sponsors of our organization,
contributors to the publication and active participants in our
programming. Your dedication is the key to our current and
continued success.
As I write this letter, I am preparing to turn over the reins
to a new executive director and making final plans for my
family'S cross-country move. I take with me a greater
understanding of the difference that design makes for our
communities and the hope that the seeds I have sown in the
development of new programming for DesignAlabama will
bear great pumpkins.
With best regards,
Karen H. Seale
Editor: Karen Seale
Managing Editor: Tomie Dugas
Art Director: Nancy Hartsfield
Associate Art Director: Ross Heck
Assistant Art Directors: Kelly Bryant, Tomie Dugas, Dana Gay
Samantha Lawrie, Wei Wang
Contributing Writers: Jessica Armstrong, Elizabeth Via Brown,
Tomie Dugas, Philip MorriS, Karen Seale
This publication is made possible through funding by
the following contributors:
Alabama Architectural Foundation
Alabama Council AlA
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Graham Foundation
Nimrod Long & Associates
Sherlock, Smith & Adams
The Architects Group
The Home Depot
A special thanks to Philip Mo"is for his ongOing
assistance and advice with this publication.
Submission Information
DesignAlabama encourages submissions from
its readers. Articles about work from all design
disciplines are requested, as well as copy related to
historic preservation. Please submit copy along with
visuals (photos, slides, drawings, etc.) to
DesignAlabama Inc., P.O. Box 241263,
Montgomery, AL 36124.
Ilems for Project News and Details of
Interest should include a paragraph summary
detailing the nature of the p;oject, the design firm,
principals and associates involved and any other
details that may be of interest such as unusual or
special design features, completion date,
approximate cost, square footage, etc. Also inClude
the name, address and phone and fax number oi the
client and an individual whom we may contact for
further information. Direct inquiries to (334) 353-
5081 or mail to: designalabama@arts.stale.al.us.
Past journal issues are available for $6.00
including postage and handling. Contact
DesignAlabama at the above numbers for
availability information and to order.
© 2003 DesignAlabama Inc.
ISSN#1090·0918
This issue of DesignAlabama was designed and
produced on Macintosh Computers utilizing Quark.XPress
4.1. Proofs were printed on a HP 4000N and final output
on a Compugraphic 9400.
Revamping the old
to inspire the new.
p7
DesignAlabama is a publication of DesignAlabama Inc.
Reader comments and submission of articles and ideas for
future issues are encouraged.
Desi nAI abama
CONTENTS
Preserving the glimmer of
Alabama's neon heritage.
p.10
FEATURES
"DESIGNING FOR INDUSTRY"
RAISING THE BAR ON INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
-,,~~-- .. _._----
LAKESHORE CROSSINGS
JEFFMET
....•.......................
OPELIKA
GADSDEN
..................
1·20 CORRIDOR
ARTICLES
DESIGNING SPACES
DEPARTMENTS
ProjectANews
Work of statewide significance.
- .-.. ,,-------
Historical'i'Perspectives
A sign of the times,
Design_Makes A Difference
WorkPlay.
Designer@?Profile
Traffic engineer Darryl Skipper.
DesignAlabamatUpdate
Projects and progress.
-----._-------------.".-_._-- - -- --_. __ .------
Details+Of Interest
Noteworthy observations.
Injecting design into
industrial park development.
p13
13
14 ..���....•.......................
16 . ......•.•............. - •......
18
19
20
7
4
10
22
25
27
29
Merging art into the
city's day/nightlife.
p.22
ProjectANews
Project News
is a regular
feature of
OesignAlabama and
provides
an opportunity
to keep
up-to-date on
design projects
that have an impact on
our communities.
Uberty Bell Garden Dedication (top) and Pettus Randal! Miniature Museum
TSUID Library (top) and Interior Rotunda
DesignAiabama 4
As the scope of The American Village
in Montevallo has evolved, its master
plan has been revised and expanded by
Blondheim & Mixon inc.
Architects of Eufaula. The education
center. dedicated in 1999, was
developed to teach and inspire students
in American history and civics. There students participate in
colonial American government and economics in
historically inspired buildings and rooms that evoke
important historical settings. Mike Hamrick, project
architect, designed the original master plan drafted in the
mid-'90s, the recent revision and all village buildings.
Added to the master plan are the President's House, cabinet
buildings, trade building, Uberty Beli Garden and Federal
Hall Annex. The President's House is patterned after George
Washington's home in Philadelphia - the first White
House, The Federal Hall Annex is inspired by the
Washington Magazine in D,C, and will house the legislative
chambers. The house and senate chambers are based on
those in the Jefferson Capitol in Richmond, Va., with the
Evan Terry Associates has designed a gymnasium for
Epic School, located in the historic Glen Iris neighborhood
in Birmingham on the outskirts of the UAB campus. The
6,500-square-foot, freestanding building architecturally
complements the existing school through use of similar
building materials including aluminum wall panels and
scored concrete block. The arched roof forms contrast with
the predominantly horizontal lines of the existing building.
Softly filtered light through translucent wall panels
illuminates the interior. Included in the building are the
gymnasium, entry foyer, restrooms, office space and
storage. Jeff Fowler, AlA, was project architect on the
facility which opened spring 2003.
rotunda a replica of the Federal edifice featuring 13 columns Epic School Gym
around a center point.
Among the most recently completed projects are the
Colonial Chapel, Pettus Randall Miniature Museum and
Uberty Bell Garden. The chapel, reminiscent of the Brewton
Parish Church, is owned and built by a separate entity,
symbolic of the importance of the separation of church and
state in America, The Pettus Randall Miniature Museum is
typical of colonial structures on the Eastern Seaboard and
houses American history exhibits in an East Room setting.
The Liberty Bell Garden was designed by Nimrod Long &
Associates in the form of the Union Jack flag. The
centerpiece is a replica of the Liberty Bell cast by Robert
Shure of Skylight Studios in Woburn, Mass., from a mold of
the original by Caproni Studios. Consultants on The
American Village project are Joel Eliason, landscape
architect with Nimrod Long & Associates of Birmingham,
and Rebecca Hatcher and Ruth Means, interior
designers with Hatcher Design of Birmingham.
A
Barganier Davis Sims Architects Associated of
Montgomery recently completed the new Library and
Technology Building on the Troy State University campus in
Dothan. The 54,OOO-square-foot, two-story brick multi­purpose
buiiding houses the university library, computer
labs, Sony Lecture Hall, a gallery for rotating art exhibits,
grand conference room and the president's suite. The
updated traditional exterior was influenced by the
historic Bibb Graves Hall (1929) located on the main
campus in Troy,
The building was sited with the two existing buildings to
form a "U" enclosing a cultural campus green. It was further
enhanced with the addition of a large central fountain
surrounded by a formal rose garden and connected to the
parking and existing buildings. Further design elements
include student pedestrian walkways and generous
landscaping, all of which are part of the overall master plan
for the campus. The building now serves as the showpiece
of the TSU/Dothan campus and cornerstone to its master­planned
design.
The University of South Alabama Library renovation and
addition by iAG/The Architects Group Inc. of Mobile
will provide an additional 53,000 square feet, expanding the
facility to 120,000 square feet. Under construction on the
north side of the library, the addition will complement the
existing architecture, while establishing a progressive
identity of its own. The design provides better access and a
clearly defined entry through the glass wall atrium
connecting the existing and new building. A dramatic and
distinctive glass fa~ade will provide open views to the
natural campus landscape from the inside, as well as a
theatre of academic activity from the street. The four-story
addition will include a high tech Center for Teaching and
Learning and a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose auditorium.
USA Library Renovation/Addition ....
Davis Architects of Birmingham recently completed a
master plan for SL Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in
Montevallo. The master plan for the church's 25-acre
campus includes a new 1 ,200-seat sanctuary, family life
center, gymnasium, schoo! and child development center.
The design of the project is contemporary and takes
advantage of the site's natural wooded setting in the design
of the main worship space, as well as other areas of the
complex, Phase one work is expected to be under
construction this fall and consists of a new interim worship
space seating 800 parishioners and an eight classroom
educational facility.
The national headquarters for the
Children's Advocacy Center is a
40,000-square-foot facility located in
Huntsville, just off the historic district
of Old Town along a busy
· thoroughfare. The concept was to
: provide small-scale buildings sensitive to the neighborhood
: with an interior courtyard accessed only through secure
, entry points in each building. JH Partners Architecture
: and Interiors of Huntsville created a campus of buildings
: with individual distinguishing characteristics for each
: department. The brick and manufactured stone structures
· feature different colors and columns representing an abstract
of the people who work there. Details reflect traditional Old
Town with brackets, divided light windows, sloping roofs
I and iron fencing.
: The Children's Building is designed to create a warm,
: residential feeling with beaded board wainscoting, drywall
ceilings, bulletin boards to display artwork, wood flooring
and painted ceramic tiles lining the halls created by children
: during the spring Panoply of Arts Festival. Tucked away
: nearby, a therapy garden invites children to sit and talk to
, their counselors without interruption. Landscape architect
was Reece, Hoopes & Fincher Inc. of Birmingham.
In the Team and the Administration interiors, similar images
; are carried throughout using different colors and scale. The
: only two-story structure, the Administration Building faces
· the interstate on the most visible part of the site, signaling
its importance as the first stop. The entrance features four
large blue columns depicting people. The lobby, a semi­circular
space, introduces the colors and features of the
: entire project. On the second level, a custom-designed iron
, handrail sports colortul glass insets of children. The last
building is a renovation of an old Armory/civic gymnasium.
The wood gym floor has been retained and the high barrel­vault
roof exposed with trusses. Used for national program
training, the building will house a mock courtroom,
auditorium and meeting spaces.
National Chifdren's Advocacy Center Interior
National Children's Advocacy Center
Garver Engineers recently
designed improvements for the
terminal front of the Huntsville
International Airport. The new front
was designed to blend with and
complernent the existing terrninal
and parking facility. The Huntsville firm's goal was to design
a facility that would meet security requirements, be
aesthetically pleasing, and provide a safe and functional
env'lronment for patrons of the airport.
The new terminal front includes short-terrn covered parking,
allowing visitors to park under a weather-protected canopy
to load and unload their vehicles and walk safely to the
terrninal. Loading and unloading of vehicles in this area is
limited to 10 rninutes, which is monitored by a new
automated systern. This system displays each vehicle's
remaining time on a large display above each parking stall.
Garver Engineers also designed speed humps to encourage
a lower speed through the area and colored concrete to
delineate crosswalks, thereby enhancing pedestrian safety.
This improvement to the Huntsville International Airport will
effectively control traffic and protect pedestrians while
maintaining a high level of airport security, without taking
away from the natural beauty of the surrounding area and
existing terminal. Construction is scheduled to be
completed by June 30, 2003.
Huntsville International Airport
Nimrod Long & Associates is
responsible for the landscape
design master plan of Auburn
University's Jule Collins Smith
Museurn of Fine Art. Overlooking a
3-acre lake, the facility commands
the most prominent location on the museum campus.
The entry drive affords a grand view of the building
while sweeping around the lake to the drop-off area.
Visitors are greeted at the museum building by a formal
garden, which faces an historic crop rotation field.
A reflecting pool links the vehicular drop-off to the
building entrance. Positioned at the end of the pool, a
sculpture by Jean Woodham reflects its elegant form
in the water. Flanking each side of the granite entry walk
is a dramatic series of outdoor garden rooms. Panels of
lawn surrounded by gravel walks and perennials lead to
"secret gardens" with quiet fountains and sitting areas
amid displays of ferns, hydrangeas, irises and other orna­rnentals.
Strategically placed sculptures beckon visitors to
enter distant gardens. In addition to the formal gardens, a
walking path circles the landscaped grounds and lake.
JCSM Entrance (top) and Garden ....
Sherlock, Smith & Adams is overseeing
construction in the renovation of historic downtown
Thornasville. Selected in 1997 to help create a "vision"
for renovating the downtown area, the Montgomery firrn,
working with city officials, developed a comprehensive
master plan for streetscape improvernents. SS&A was
responsible for construction documents that included:
renovation of historic elevated walks, new concrete
: walks with decorative paving, new landscaping, street
furnishings, decorative lighting and storm-water systern
upgrades. As a means of "killing two birds with one
stone," officials decided to upgrade the city's existing
utilities prior to, and in conjunction with, the
streetscape irnprovements.
Thomasvifle Urban Core Revitalization Plan
5 Volume XIII, No.1
Fourth-year students in an
Auburn University industrial
design class have redesigned the
Weeks Bay Interpretive Center in
Baldwin County. The project
• started spring 2002 wiih
proposals of five different style
approaches for redesigning the interior of the NOAH­aftiiiated
facility. After viewing the models and
drawings, officials armed with grant money asked if
the students could construct their proposals. In a
combination of bayou and contemporary styles, the
students under Professor Rich Britnell transformed
the walls using cypress and board and batten. Exhibit
cases were fabricated for habitat models, specimen
collections and a diorama. A welcome wail features
an environmental scene with taxidermy, a topo map
and artifacts. The intro wall conveys basic
information on NOAH and includes flat screen
computers. Students rewrote the display text and
communicated it visually through graphics on 2' x 4'
back-lit panels. With ihe redesign of the aquarium
room this summer, the projeci will be completed. The
year-long construction phase, which will cost
approximately $100,000 could have run between
$350,000 - $500,000 if constructed commercially.
Estuaries
Weeks Bay Exhibit Wall (lop) and Texl Panel
DesignA!abama 6
Students Assembling Display Case
The Project for Public Spaces
inc. has released its master plan for
revitalizing downtown Mobile. The 87-
page Public Space Action Plan for
Downtown defined the project's goals,
explained techniques for action and
laid out a plan for permanent changes to produce a positive
long-term effect on the growth and physical attraction of the
core area. The document presented by Fred Kent and
Kathy Madden, principals of the New York-based firm,
included suggestions for improving the key green spaces of
Bienville Square, Cathedral Square and Cooper Riverside
Park. Four gateways were identified and improvements to
major thoroughfares - Dauphin, Government and Water
streets - were addressed. To create pedestrian-friendly
streets, traffic calming techniques were introduced, as well
as recommendations for changing some one-way streets to
!!No-way. A publ ic market space was suggested for Conti
Street, and details such as plantings were presented. The
report can be viewed on Main Street Mobile's Web site at
www.mainstreetmobile.org.
In February 2003, Auburn citizens attended a forum led by
planner Darryl Meyer of KPS Group to identify and
discuss the best and worst aspects of their hometown. The
City of Auburn retained the Birmingham-based firm to
evaluate the city and develop a strategic development
concept. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage
more assets, reduce liabilities and keep the town's "sacred
cows." Taking a cue from the university's "campus as a
village" concept drafted in a report by the International
Design and Entertainment Associates (IDEA) in
2001, the Auburn Village Centers Strategic Development
Concept encourages development of compact centers that
focus and complement the surrounding neighborhoods.
Rather than continuing single-use retail sprawl along the
major corridors, Auburn will focus development on a
compact pattern of village and neighborhood centers
supported by adjacent residential neighborhoods. In turn,
these centers will be supported by gateway and commercial
centers, community commercial centers and existing
commercial corridors.
Rodney Davidson of Dogstar
Design in Birmingham created the
official logo for this year's
celebration of the Grammy Awards.
The whirlwind project - just two
weeks from start to completion -
resulted in a strong mark for the event, held February 23rd
in New York City.
The mark had to accommodate the main Grammy logo used
every year, as wei! as speak to all types of music. The
acoustic guitar was featured because of its roots in ancient
music and its place among the evolved modern
instruments. The illuminated skyline suggested the
anticipation and celebration surrounding the event. Art
director for the Grammys,
Rikki Poulos of Rikki
Poulos Design, who
liked the simpliCity of the
mark, noted, "Rodney
produces very clean,
enduring design. There is a
beautiful flow to his work.
His color palette is basic
and also very easy to work
into other applications"
Davidson has created marks for clients such as Coca-Cola,
Oracle, Royal Caribbean, Delta Airlines, Nissan, Williams­Sonoma,
Columbia University and Cigar Aficionado. ...
MindVolt of Athens designed a fund raising brochure and
postcards for the restoration of Delano Park in Decatur. The
design firm captured the grandeur and historical value of
the park in the pieces despite the limited budget of their
client, the Friends of Delano Park. Ink was restricted to !!No
colors black and Pantone 458 (a light mustard color with a
hint of green). The color palette gives the brochure not only
an historically prominent look, but also a contemporary feel
to match the clean lines of the design. For budget purposes,
MindVolt also handled the photography. Says principal
Sloane McWhorter, "Since the park is in need of
restoration, we chose to intimately photograph different
elements of the park, such as the trees and architectural
features. This way we could show the beauty of the park
without highlighting too many of its hardships. With all
of this in mind, we created a piece that will sell the
grandeur and importance of the park, what it was and
what it could be again." ...
Delano Park Brochure and Postcards
. • . NEW SPACES
THAT OFFER
• • •
by Karen H. Seale
Desiring a more open and team-oriented setting, a growing number
of design firms are stepping out of the traditionally structured office
and into some unlikely locations. Retired factory buildings and
warehouses, old storefronts and even postwar gas stations with their
large undefined areas, solid wood or cement flooring and regulated
window spacing are being revamped as exciting new spaces that
offer both practicality and inspiration to their occupants .
• One fine example of this is the recently completed office
of Williams-Blackstock Architects Inc. in Birmingham.
Located on the second floor of a warehouse that pre;iously
sheltered parts for the automotive industry, the contemporary,
functional space designed by the the firm maintains respect
for the integrity and history of the building itself. "While the
existing structure is not architecturally elaborate, the building
is a good example of warehouse development in this area
occurring in the 1920s," explains one of the firm's principals,
Joel Blackstock.
Prior to its conversion into offices/or Williams­Blackstock
Architects Inc., this building's interior
rriflects its past occupation as a warehouse for
the automotive industry.
Allhough architectural!y modest.
the bUilding is a good example
of 1920s warehouse structures .
BOTH PRACTICALITY
ANO INSPIRATION ...
The converted interior affords the designers all excitillg new workspace wbite still retaining
the spirit of the building's past through e.tposed brick walls and concrete cei1fllgjoists.
7 Volume XIII. No. I
This breathtaking view of Birmingbam's skyline, which Cim be seen from the informal meeting area,
is a constant SOurce of impiration for tbe designers.
A deceptively unassuming building from the street, the well­built
structure has many optimal design features that the firm
found attractive including load-bearing brick walls, board­formed
concrete floors and steel-cased windows. An added
plus is the building's location, which affords a panoramic view
of the downtown skyline and the historic railroad district.
Combining the firm's need for an efficient workspace with a
celebration of the building's past, the
design for the office interior leaves the
existing brick walls and concrete ceilings
exposed. The electrical and mechanical
systems have been relocated under a
raised floor. Not only does this eliminate
the clutter of ductwork and electrical
conduit in the ceiling, but it also allows
for flexibility in the placement of furni­ture,
as the electrical and telephone sys­tems
can be pulled to any desk or equip­ment
location in the office.
Keeping with this concept of flexibility
and to encourage interactivity among the
staff, the firm has chosen to furnish
its entire workspace v·lith movable furnishings. From drawing
tables to conference tables, every piece of furniture is on
wheels or casters. Custom-designed and fabricated steel
shelving units on casters provide storage and double as
tackboard space for drawings and sketches to promote input
and feedback. "The layout is organic and can be moved to
team workers together or shrink the space as needed," states
Blackstock. "Areas for teaming, group meeting and locations
for sharing knowledge and information support a work ethic
of collaboration and are integral to the education, innovation
and success of our company."
The open floor plan also incorporates informal areas like
the cafe-style break area for relaxation and less structured
\vork, as well as a more formal meeting and presentation
area directly off the lobby. Overall, it is a combination of areas
that Blackstock feels effectively channels the firm's resources
"\"ith the ability to interact, communicate and influence
virtually all aspects of our business by utilizing a workplace
that supports the individual, as well as the entire company."
An enclosed conference
room located directly
Reflecting the firm's desire for an open and flexible
workspace, all jilrniture is set on casteni or u'heels
for easy transport.
off the lobby (dlows
some prit'ac), for more
formal meetings and
client presentations.
"AREAS FOR TEAMING,
GROUP MEETING
AND LOCATIONS
FOR SHARING •
KNOWLEDGE AND
INFORMATION
SUPPORT A WORK ETHIC
OF COLLABORATION
AND ARE INTEGRAL
TO THE EDUCATION,
INNOVATION
AND SUCCESS
OF OUR COMPANY."
included in the general U'orkspace is this cafe break area that serves as both a spotfor informal u'Ork
and a place to ullwind.
DesignAlabama 8
•
•
Once a main street storejrolll,
the MindlJoit offices are noU'
aji{sion o!tbeyoungjirl11s
modemjlair with the buildillg:~
architectural pas!.
N0!1h of Birmingham in the small town of Athens, the graphic
designers at Mindvolt are enjoying a hip, new space where
even the identif)ing signs for the restrooms are a little
shocking. Designed by Lonnie VO\vels of Lawrence Lee VO\\'els
Architect of Birmingham, their space also reflects the firm's
desire for a modern, studio setting while engaging a connec­tion
with the building's past. Once a downtown storefront,
the two-story, brick building offers a rectangular, open floor
plan broken in half by a modern addition that incorporates
the restrooms and HVAC closet. "A visit to the client's previous
office revealed the firm to be a cutting-edge advertising
agency," states Vowels. "Given the type of client for \vhich I
was designing, I immediately knew that a standard acoustical
ceiling with plain sheetrock walls would not do. In analyzing
their work, I sa\v dynamic and electric graphics and color.
It was decided that the space should reflect their work. In
other words, they should work within their work." Drawing
from this idea he developed an electrified theme for the
space that played off the firm's name,
These tongue-ill-cbeek bathroom signs are just one of the nWI~)' touches that reflect the energetic
j)ersona!i~J' of tbe Mindliolt offices.
Details like tbis arcing ceiling palle! lend
a sense of flow to the space and connect
the two hakes oftbe office.
•
Addressing the practicalities of the space, Vowels incorporated
dynamic angles and curves like the arcing ceiling connector
to "break the box" and connect the two halves of the office.
The haphazard ductwork in the ceiling has been disguised
with a series of angled acrylic panels that differ in texture and
opacity to reflect the high-powered nature of the advertising
business, Spotlights snake throughout, playing their curve off
the panels' hard edges. In contrast with these contemporary
materials and to honor the building's history, Vowels has
left many of the original brick and plastered walls exposed,
framing each like a piece of fine arhvork.
A stylized transmission tower, which incorporates used con­ductor
heads to complete the effect, serves as both a gateway
into the studio workspace and support for the desk In the
studio, fixed adjacent workstations create an environment that
is conducive to both independent and team-oriented work.
This open studio is balanced by more structured areas like
the conference room and reception area at the front and the
principals' offices at the back.
Reflecting the creative energy of Mindvolt's team members,
VO\vels has also added vibrant color throughout the space, as
well a" clever touches like the spark plug drawer pulls, both
new and used, which identify both current and dead projects
stowed within the drawers. A Mindvolt client who happens
to be a German stonema.'ion, provided the intricate fish-scale
pattern for the stone flooring in the reception and conference
rooms. Vowels explains, "This pattern alludes to the fact that
a hip, cutting-edge advertising firm is like a fish out of \vater
in downtown Athens, Ala," lIIII
Arcbiteci RONnie Vowels embodied the creati1.'€ energy of the MilldllOft
team in tbe electrifJ'illg colors and bold, contemporary lines of the
main studio u:orkspace.
ADDRESSING THE PRACTICALITIES OF THE SPACE, VOWELS INCORPORATED DYNAMIC ANGLES
AND CURVES LIKE THE ARCING CEILING CONNECTOR TO "BREAK THE BOX" AND CONNECT
THE TWO HALVES OF THE OFFICE.
9 Volume XIII, No. I
Historical~Perspectives
Preservi ng Ou r
Historic Neon Signs
DesignAlabama 10
"During the middle of the 20th century, neon signs turned North America's roadside into
a luminous wonderland. The most compelling signs were figural: imaginative, cartoon
drawings in light. These unforgettable depictions of exploding bowling pins, crashing
cars, baton-twirling majorettes and lassoing cowboys were fodder for legend and lore."
- Len Davidson, IlYintage Neon"
left MOON IVINX LODGE, ,\LBERTA cm
Once a common sight along Alabama's
highways, brightly lit signs Ilke tbis one
for the Moon W'lnx Lodge have become an
endangered species.
far left 16Tf1 STREETBAPTlST CHURCH, BIRMINGHAM
This sign for the 16th Street Baptist Church remains a
cherished beacon of hope for Binningham residents.
left and above, HUNTER FURNITURE, BIRMINGHAM
WHEATEN PRINTING, BIRMINGHAM
On main streets across the state. local businesses
frequently enlightened their customers with
signs like these.
Once recognized landmarks for weary travelers seeking a hot meal or a good
night's rest, many of Alabama's historic neon signs have been lost due to
neglect or willful destruction_ Others are still standing, but are in desperate
need of repair, Since their appearance on the 2002 Places in Peril list pub­lished
annually by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama
Preservation Alliance (APA) to highlight significant endangered historic
Sites, it is an issue that has unexpectedly become a hot topic "The state
boasts a few remaining historic neon signs, such as the Moon Winx Lodge
in Alberta City, but the lights have gone out for good on a startling number
of others all over the state," comments Chip Deshields, executive director
of the Alabama Preservation Alliance, "As the result of this listing, the APA
received overwhelming response from the public We love our history in
Alabama, and neon signs are part of that history_ A year after our listing, the
APA office continues to receive calls and e-mails from concerned citizens
who want to save historic neon signs in their community."
below, "ICDONALDS·, HUNTSVILLE
During the forties and fifties, neon was a popular form
of signage with national businesses from car dealerships to restaurants.
Today, signs like thiS one for McDonald's are a rare find.
left BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q, DECATUR
The dancing pig at Big Bob Gibson's is still an inviting sight
to hungry travelers.
First developed by French inventor Georges Claude in 1910, neon signs did
not become popular in the United States until the late 1920s, For the next
two decades, neon was considered the perfect medium to convey the
assertive vitality of the American consumer and was used widely from signs
for national chains like McDonaldss to advertising for the local hoteL By the
late 1950s, however, the brilliant status of the neon sign had drastically
diminished, Along with the development of new and sleeker lighting
techniques like fluorescent, the rising cost of production and a decline in
available craftsmen led to much of neon's decreased appeaL
Robb Pittman of Scott Services Co, calls it "a lost art," His is one of the few
companies left in Alabama with neon craftsmen, known as "benders"
because of the bending process for the glass, "Neon tubing is stil! made by
hand," he explains, "and restoration usually requires replacement of all of the
glass to ensure a consistency in color along with the electrical wiring to meet
11 Volume XIII, No. I
above: BEVERLY MOTEL, MOBILE
To accomodate the increase in tourism to the Gulf Coast beaches during the
1950$, roadside motels once dotted Alabama's landscape, many boasting
illuminated signs like this one for the Beverly.
new codes," Often sign owners will also find the replacement of rusted metal
and other pieces necessary as well, sometimes leading to daunting costs,
What is it then that has drawn such a strong response for their preservation?
For some, perhaps, it is the artistry of the signs, but for most it seems to be
the treasured memories of the places they represent. "It brings back a lot
of childhood memories," one woman wrote ofthe Moon Winx Lodge in her
response to the Places in Peril listing, "I always loved to see that sign,"
To help promote awareness of the significance of historic neon signage in
our state, the Alabama Preservation Alliance is publishing a poster and set of
postcards designed by Brandon Boycher, an industrial design student at
Auburn University, For information on the availability of these items or more
information on the preservation of neon signage in our state, contact the
APA at 334-834-2727 or bye-mail atalpresal@bellsouth.net. ..
OesignAlabama 12
below: ROXY THEATRE, RUSSELLVILLE
Glowing movie theatre signs like this one for the RO:>"l' once
echoed the golden era of the big screen.
Additional resources for the history and preservation of neon signs include:
• "The Preservation oj Historic Signs" by MichaelJAuer
Available online at www2,cr.nps,gov/tps/briejs/briej25,htm
• "Vintage Neon" by Len Davidson
Available tbrough the American Sign Museum Web site at
www.signmuseum.org
• "Neon, Art + Science = Style" by Ayn Gainsjord
Available online at www,utexas,edu/courses/tankard/Gaisjord,storyhtml
• •
e
for
by Philip Morris
Judging from past practice and the looks of many older industrial sites across Alabama, it would be hard to make a case
that design - architecture, planning, landscape architecture, graphics - has had any part in the process, Not so today
A drive by the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant on 1-20/59 with its sweeping landscaped foreground and high­style
visitor center/museum in view makes the first "gateway" interchange at Tuscaloosa further west, by comparison,
look like a junkyard, The level of opportunity and competition is changing, and more and more cities and counties, often
their industrial authorities, are bringing designers into the creation of industrial parks, Developers, too, are raising the
bar on projects, Designing for industry has become, for many, part of an overall quality-of-life case made in attracting
jobs and investment This survey presents examples of design at work in industry,
It starts with Lakeshore Crossings, a new business park where the developers, seeking to bring a better product
to the market, put real emphasis on the park aspect and challenged architects to produce more appealing office/
warehouse structures at no greater cost
Next come two governments, Jefferson County and the City of Opelika, that have invested in major new
properties so they would have ready-made sites for a range of users, In both instances, their industrial development
authorities insisted on good planning, attractive landscaping and signage, They also wrote guidelines and established
covenants to assure that each site within the parks is developed to the same high standards,
'1 ' 11J '(! 'JIi"i j'l'!('
Another city, Gadsden, has just opened the first phase of a new business/industrial park next to its airport
designed to help reposition the city from its heavy-industry past to a more diverse, new economy, The city sees the
park as part of a larger economic development strategy that includes a revitalized downtown, new regional recreation
attractions on its waterfront and other civic investments,
Finally, we take a look at the major interstate highway corridor stud'ies prepared jointly by regional planning
agencies following the announcement of the Mercedes-Benz and Honda developments, A closer look at the 1-20
Birmingham-to-Anniston study reveals that planning already underway by the East Alabama staff greatly enhanced
the ability to respond to Honda's needs and cinch the location,
From tilt-wall building up to the scale of a region, designing for industry has come of age in Alabama,
Pbilij) Aforris has more than 30 yettrs e>.perience in magaZine work induding tenures as execuliw editor and edftor-at~large al Soutbem Lilling,
Coastal Living and Soulbern Accents. Although he retired in 2000, /wom:~ remains active as a freelance writer and re.ljJeded lecturer Oil design, as
well as a major contribulor to D@gnAiabama.
13 Volume XIII, No, I
DesignAlabama 14
An alfrac({w en!!}' On l.akeshore i'arku"«y announces tbe entry to Lakeshore Crossing)-.
Lakeshore
Crossings
It is only a short distance away, but the new Lakeshore Crossings office/industrial park is
miles ahead of the older Oxmoor Industrial Park in terms of a designed environment.
Both are located along the extension of Lakeshore Drive west from Homewood, the new parkway that
has opened up thousands of acres of close-in developable land very convenient to Birmingham area interstates
and local highways. The earlier industrial park evolved over many years and without much attention to the park
aspect - how it all would look. Although there are some attractive buildings, the general impression is ran­dom
and cluttered. Lakeshore Crossings was conceived to serve a similar market but with consistent quality in
the overall layout and individual site development.
"Most typical business park developments in this area are sold off in parcels with no restrictions,"
says Charles Simpson of Brookmont Realty, the Birmingham-based firm that also built the new Concord Center
office building downtown (DA, Fall 2002). "Brookmont will own and lease all of Lakeshore Crossings, and we
wanted to set a level of design and execution that would let us accommodate a range from Class A office to
warehousing. That translates into our leasing over the long term." Still, the rigors of the market are reflected in
the spec shell building costs running $30-$34 per square foot, including site work and contingencies.
To capitalize on the 76-acre property's direct access onto the new extension of Lakeshore (planned as
a true parkway with curb cuts strictly limited), Brookmont invested in an attractive entry design by landscape
architects Holcombe, Norton & Pritchett of Birmingham. Birmingham architectural firm Williams-Blackstock,
which has designed the first three buildings in Lakeshore Crossings, also has designed the graphics and worked
on the parkway frontage and site improvements with Landscape Services and Civil Associates, civil engineers.
For a bllilding designed
for Time Wamer Cahle.
Williams·Bfacksfock set a
dark grey glass and steel
enfrJ in conlrast 10 Ibe
palfemed till-lrall concrele
stnlclure behind.
TfJe eiemtiolls q(201 London Parkway sholt" strong horizontal ptltfernillg ill lrindOIl; frames ({nd darker brick against red. GrflSS)�� earll) berms and crisp grapbics kr ,Vi/Iiams-Blackstock sel a qlla!i(r tOJle along the inferior par/;:Il'a):
"You typically see blank walls, a 4-Ioot sidewalk and a 60-foot deep bay of parking running between build­ings
and the curb," says Joel Blackstock. "The edge of the road had been cleared of trees, so we encouraged them to
put in big, rolling earth berms to soften the appearance. The parking areas are broken up by landscaping so you don't
see endless paving." For the yet-developed portion of the site sign'ificant existing landscape will be saved for the
same effect.
When it came to building design, Williams-Blackstock called on the firm's experience some years ago in
doing a low-cost concrete tilt-wall project in Dallas for a Birmingham-based insurance company. They found that
using the materials (concrete and steel) honestly, but with some refinement, produced a surprisingly good result.
This technique shows clearly in the 40,000-square-foot Lakeshore Crossings building built for and leased by Time
Warner Cable. The concrete panel walls are sandblasted and given a subtle grid pattern, part frorn scoring and part
horizontal bands of brick painted grey. The architects asked Bill Harbert Construction, the lead contractor, how much
glass the budget would permit, and they concentrated it in an elegant glass and steel cube for the main entrance.
For the 201 London Parkway building Williams-Blackstock used a similar patterning but this time in a
brick-veneer, rnetai-frame structure with the banding in a darker red brick. An unusual black-painted metal cornice
repeats the banding, as well as the coloration of the tinted windows and frames below.
Currently under construction is a new building designed to flexibly accommodate office/industrial tenants.
Here there will be a higher clearance (21 feet under the ceiling joists) so the occupants have the option of putting a
mezzanine office in front with full-height warehouse space behind. Even at this level of budget, Williarns-Blackstock
enjoys the challenge. "It is fun to prove you can be just as creative with $30 per square foot as with $100," says
Blackstock. "This building will face south, so the sun will bring the pattern in the concrete alive." a
Offiel massing alld bold pafferns
incised ill!he tilf-IIP concrete
walls break IIp tbe mass of a lie//!
speculative office/warehouse
sfmc/llre a! Lakesbore Crossings.
15 Volume XIII, No. I
DesignAlabama 16
Jeff Met Olle of fico eNfra1l1::es illtojeffersolJ Metropolitall Park, or jeflJlet. in/be
wes/em part of the counly eslabfisbes the landscape cbaracter cal/timl!:l!
(/!ong the roads throughout.
When the Jefferson County Industrial Development Authority was established seven years ago, its first
project was to locate and develop a sizeable industrial park. And, the authority determined to make it
one of quality
For example, it was determined that no prefab metal buildings would be allowed. "We were going into an area with
estabiished neighborhoods, and we wanted to ensure that the park would be compatible," says Deborah McGill, executive
director of the authority. 'When we started talking about restrictions. some people from the developer and public sectors told
us that would keep a lot of companies from coming in. But we decided to go for the long term and set high standards."
So for Jefferson Metropolitan Park, or Jeff Met as it is commonly called, a master plan and a set of restrictive
covenants were developed and are used to guide both the overall development and individual projects within its bound­aries.
The 736-acre site is located in western Jefferson County a short distance south of an 1-20/59 interchange. The
ready access, gently rolling topography (former farmland) and a Norfolk-Southern Railroad line bordering the property on
the south made it ideal for the purpose.
To creale a framework for the master plan, Sain Associates, a Birmingham-based civil engineering firm, orga­nized
a nvo-day design charrette (brainstorming session) at a nearby golf course clubhouse. In attendance were several
county commissioners, authority board members and staff, utility company representatives, county transportation, envi­ronmental
and planning staffers and others.
The HI~'t neu' OJfia6fax distribution eellfer I~' screeJled JIVJI! tbe adjoining high/f(lY by {I bUffer ofkllld tllId existing trees.
"The key components of the master plan involved phasing acreage and lots for developers, internal circulation,
identification and protection of wetlands and overall aesthetic issues," says Joe Meade, project head for Sain Associates,
Along with the restrictions on individual buildings, the main moves to make Jeff Met more attractive are:
, A 70-foot setback from the parkway threading through the property
, No visible overhead utilities (they are placed out of view along the rear property lines),
" Retaining existing land forms and tree cover along Old TuscaloOsa Highway bordering the site to the north
"Use ofplahh;¥iiho darth der'!nstd"credte k,,~Bveiall!and!;ct{pe character (designed by Goodwin, Mills &
Cawood of Montgomery),
" ,
C,)' Ll i j _',h~'-""
.. -AA;, -"',,,
Jeff Met's development pace has been good, even in a slow economic period, with 34 percent of the sites sold
and a 10-year expected build-out During 2003 there will be four projects under construction, including a large manufac­turing
facility for Oxford Automotive, a supplier of components for the Mercedes-Benz plant now being doubled in size
several miles to the west Architects for Oxford, Designform Inc. of Birmingham, have used window placement, patterning
and subtle coloration on the tilt-up concrete walls, as weli as ancillary structures, to give a more pleasing scale and visual
interest to the massive structure,
The critical decision to prohibit metal buildings was one the Jefferson County Industrial Development Authority
took after looking at other industrial parks, "We visited one in Louisville, Ky" that had only tilt-up concrete, and it made a
big difference," says McGill, "The concrete is a more durable material, and it can be manipulated with pattern, though we
don't allow color stripes, We have a size advantage here, All of our projects so far are 250,000 square feet or larger, and
when you get above 75,000 square feet the cost of using concrete is about the same."
When McGill, in an earlier position, was involved in a new industrial park for Prattville, they looked at prohibiting
metal buildings, but it was decided that since nearby cities ailowed them, they might lose projects to the competition. "It
would be good if ,~Iabama communities could all be in the same boat on this and demand a higher quality of development
It makes sense as an investment and also on quality-ai-life issues," Not incidentally, the handsome promotional materials
for Jeff Met put as much emphasis on the livability of the area as on the park itseif. 1m
-
For Mercedes supplier Oxford
Au{omo/iw, arcbitectural jirm
Designform ofBinniligham
employs subtle 1m/! jmt/ems.
windou:s. all arcade ((lid arched
paI:iHans 10 tame !be mass of/be
structure. No metal bui/dings are
allowed injejjMef.
-~." Fur . .IFF:
r'{CRT-f
El\ ITs.l,I'~f:;:
17 Volume XI!!, No. j
Dis/ant (/nd closer IJieln' show one of Jbe two entrances to the Opelika jXlrk. Ali buildings within the park require approred landscaping.
De jor Opelika
"Instead of the zoo of open ditches and overhead wires that many towns
in the past built for an industrial park, the Opelika Industrial Development
Authority wanted to think of this as a business park that could accommo­date
a range of uses including industry," says Cathy Campbell Gerachis,
landscape architect for Montgomery-based Goodwin, Mills & Cawood.
" So the utilities are out of sight, the main parkway is lined with trees,
the entrances are attractively marked, and there are guidelines for what
is built."
Encompassing 1,900 acres along 1-85, the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park
has attracted an 800,000-square-foot Wal-Mart distribution center and Benteler
Automotive, a supplier to the state's thriving new industry. As with the Jeff Met park in
Jefferson County, this park is marketed both for its convenience (1 hour and 15 minutes
from the Atlanta airport) and for the educational/lifestyle appeal of the greater Auburn­Opelika
area.
Goodwin, Mills & Cawood has done the engineering and landscape design for
the Opelika project, the largest of several being developed by the authority, and is also
refining the guidelines. All sites will require landscaping with industrial ones not excluded.
Their design builds on the original master plan prepared by KPS Group's planning and
landscape division in Birmingham.
One of the key considerations in the master plan was to make sure that the
park presented a good front door aiong 1-85. "That's why we routed the main parkway
parallel and close to the interstate, not through the middle of the property, so there
DesignAlabama 18
The master plan for Nortbeast
Opelika Industrial Park illus­trates
presen'ed wetlands alld
buffers and lbe main internal parku'ay
tbat parallels 1-85.
would be no backsides of structures
visible," says KPS Group landscape
architect Amy Smith. "We also have pre­served
wetlands between the parkway and the
highway, so the park makes a good impression"
The fact that the land slopes down toward 1-85 greatly
enhances its visibility.
Other aspects of the master plan:
• Individual sites were laid out with flexibility in mind so that 10-, 20- or 40-
acre sites could be subdivided if desired. For example, a cul-de-sac access
could allow a 10-acre site to be divided into four parcels.
• Railroad spurs can be extended into the properr; from an existing line at the
back side of the park without interfering with the road system
• Wetlands and buffer lanes to set the park off from adjacent neighborhoods
provide open space relief
In the current environment, competition between towns, cities and counties
that might once have driven industrial park development to the lowest level is doing
the reverse - upping expectations and standards. _
De for
The master plan for Gadsden Airport Industrial
Park lI:as prepared by Saill Associates, a Binnlngham
cMf ellgineen'lIgjirm, ill conjullctioll will; landscape
arcl;ftecl Dreu' Wbarlon ofI1IlIIt,wt1le.
For Gadsden, its just-opened Gadsden Airport Industrial Park
community-wide effort to reposition itself in a new economy, moving
away from the dominance of heavy industry. Also a part of that push is a
successful downtown revitalization project and new open space attrac­tions
along its Coosa River waterfront.
"When this project got going in late 1996. Gadsden had seen the loss of
heavy industry jobs," says Toby Bennington. at the time director of planning for the city.
" Everyone could see that the economy had to change to a more diverse one, and we
needed an industrial park that was similar to a research and development park. one that
could attract clean industry and other uses.' The city's existing general aviation airport.
with good exposure from I-59 and its spur leading into town, oHered a chance to build
on an existing investment.
The initial thought was to eliminate one of the two runways and combine that
land with adjacent property the city owned or planned to buy for the park. but the aviation
community and the FAA argued against it. Instead. the new industrial park uses some of
the airport land but keeps both runways open.
To assure the park would address both the functional and aesthetic aspects. a
planning team was put together that included Sain Associates, Birmingham-based civil
engineers, and landscape architecVplanner Drew Wharton from Huntsville. Of the 1,700
acres, the first phase just opened embraces approximately 200 acres plus about the same
acreage in preserved wetlands, accessed via a new mile-long parkway oH Airport Road.
When planning began, the consultants investigated whether the airport itself
could be a major reason for businesses to locate there. The study showed it would be an
attraction, but not a dominant one. The strategy developed since has been to simultaneously
create a top rank industrial park and increase the use of the airport for general aviation
serving Gadsden, Etowah County and surrounding areas. Both would serve the larger initiative
to strengthen and diversify the local economy.
As for the park itself, nature became part of the plan. "We made a conscious
decision to work with the wetlands on the site," says Charles Bali, who succeeded Bennington
as city planning director "We felt this would make the setting more attractive. as well as
cut down on permitting time. Eventually we'll use the wetlands to develop a recreational
trail system for the park."
lJ)caled mijacclIIIO Gadsdens general a/lialiOIl airport and with blgh Ilisibililyfrom /·59 and its spur. tbe nell-' park creates
a gatewayfor (be ci(J',
Eng'lneer Lawren Pratt. who is overseeing the Gadsden project for Sain
Associates, points out that extension of the parkway to the south in the future will open
up more land for development. "This is a well-located park being developed with land­scaping,
restrictive covenants and other amenities, like the airport. Access is good for
Birmingham, Chattanooga and Atlanta. as well as to the Honda plant at Lincoln."
To make the most of the new business/industrial park and Gadsden's other
civic investments. Mayor Steve Means recently announced a new 3 percent city rental
and lease tax which will be set aside in an economic development trust fund to be
used exclusively for economic development efforts. _
Tbis aerial t'iew shows {be lieu:
parkway wftb the airport be)'ond.
Areas of woods and wellands are
protected as par! oftbe plan,
19 Volume XIII, No. I
De for
DesignA!abama 20
The scope oflbecorridor sludyfor 1-20from Birmingham toAllllistoJl is
apparent ill this map.
1-20 Corridor
Successful recruitment of the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant to a location on 1-20/59 between Birmingham
and Tuscaloosa led to a planning study of the corridor never before attempted. Though the focus was on
potential industrial development spin-ofts, the analysis took into account a wide range of factors: trans­portation
infrastructure, existing land use, environmental features, jurisdictional/cultural features, water
and sewer infrastructure and soils. This was a first, and very big step, toward designing for industry
across a vast geography.
The mapping alone was a major step, and the fact that three other similar studies have been completed (1-20/59
between Birmingham and Gadsden, 1-20 from Birmingham to Anniston and 1-65 south from Birmingham) makes the scope
of this work unprecedented.
Announcement of the Honda plant at Lincoln gave impetus to the 1-20 study, and it represents the scale and thrust
of all four. Produced jointly by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPC) and the East Alabama Regional
Planning and Development Commission (EARPDC) in cooperation with local agencies, it embraces a 5-mile wide swath
centered on the interstate and 75 miles long extending through Birmingham, Irondale, Leeds, Moody, Pell City, Riverside,
Lincoln, Oxford, Hobson City, Anniston and Heflin, and five counties (Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega, Calhoun and Cleburne).
The introduction to the report points out that prior to Mercedes-Benz '1he primary focus of local economic development
efforts along the major interstate corridors was commercial and small-scale industrial development." Now the level of the
industrial game has changed, and the East Alabama and other studies include location-by-Iocation scoring based on infra­structure,
environment and land use. They are not plans, per se, but they create a regional framework for planning at many levels.
In fact, while the Honda plant was a stimulus, it did not come about in a planning vacuum, The East Alabama
regional staff had earlier analyzed growth patterns in the area and concluded that the Gadsden metro area, Calhoun County
and into the Talladega area were growing together along transportation corridors in the valleys, constrained by ridges, flood­plains
and large public land ownership. EARPDC was also in the process of preparing a master plan for the City of Lincoln.
"If you have been planning all along on land-use issues and infrastructure, when you have a major investment
with spin-off effects, you can fold that into your process," says Bill Curtis, executive director of EARPDC. "If you had to start
cold, there wouldn't be time to handle such situations." As it tumed out, the regional planning group was critical in a quick
response to help identify and find $13 million in grants for needed water and sewer that didn't exist.
When the Honda site was identified, the planners
set aside the Lincoln master plan to be able to absorb the
huge new factor. When they resumed the process, a
requirement of a grant from the Economic Development
Administration (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce)
restricted Lincoln from lapping into the new sewer and
water lines for development on existing farmland or envi­ronmentally
sensitive areas. 'The master plan Lincoln has
adopted sets aside farmland and encourages developers to
let floodplains and wetlands remain untouched," says
Dawn Landholm, principal planner with EARPDC. "The
plan also encourages infill development. Lincoln has very
low density, with a population of just under 4,600 and a land area of 21 square miles. It will both protect the environment and
reduce infrastructure costs if new development fills in gaps rather than spreading out."
While the large scope of the 1-20 and other corridor studies provides a big picture framework and helps counties
and cities assess potential for industrial and other kinds of development, it still comes down to the local level to manage the
quality and character of what happens. The responses can be surprising.
"We can help protect the wondertul environment we have in East Alabama by reusing older, abandoned industrial
properties," says Mayor Chip Howell of Anniston. "We have a 14-acre former textile mill site right downtown that doesn't
require new water or sewer lines and would put jobs where people need them." There are many such sites across Alabama
that the state, by reducing back tax claims and insulating new owners from environmentalliabilHies, can help bring back to
good use. Even the old, out-of-date industrial park or site could be given a new economic life. III
~.-"O'>~,,, ..• ,,">,
~""-,.."-,,,,,,,, '''e'
"''''~;',';:~\'''
21 Volume XII!, No. I
DesignlllMakes A Difference
DesignA!abama 22
One of Birmingham's most dramatic
adaptive-reuse projects is a 45,OOO-square-footwarehouse
at the corner of Fifth Avenue South and 23rd Street.
The once-abandoned property is now WorkPlay, a mUltipurpose
Private versus public space
drove many aspects of the
design. The lounge and music
haJJ are located in the
upublic" corner of the
building for visibility and
easy access.
entertainment and business complex
infused with style and energy.
ons
by jessica Armstrong
birmingham was spared urban renewal, the well-intentioned but shortsighted force that
leveled entire sections of cities during the 1960s. This left the city with a veritable
treasure trove of early buildings that are providing new uses today. "Unlike Atlanta, the lUXUry
of Binningham is that it didn't grow in the 1960s, so the city has this wealth of architecture
that few cities have," notes WorkPlay's primary deSigner, Neil Davis of Davis Architects in
Birmingham. "1 don't think there's a facility like WorkPlay anywhere in the region."
His challenge was to renovate the cavernous space, making it functional and inviting.
The result is a one-of-a-kind place that's both dignified and fanciful, merging art into the
day and nightlife of the city. Recording studio, movie sound stage, cabaret-style concert
hall, bar and commercial offices all function under one roof. Based on the maxim that
gives old buildings value for their context, the design features strong visual shapes,
Crayola-colors and vistas. All of these elements are set against the industrial background
of the original warehouse. Forms created include a curved, free-standing front wall, a
rotunda lobby, a 50-foot-tall sound stage that features a suspended light grid, mezzanine
offices, dressing rooms and other support spaces.
"One of the themes that nms through the design is of motion and framed views, generated
from our romance with film," explains Davis. "You can stand outside and see one color,
then multiple colors behind the openings. Driving past, the building becomes animated in
its own way. Inside we took a stage-set approach'vith little villages as part of the environment
The building allows people to be creative. It's their own interpretation."
Four brothers - Hugh, Alan, Randy and Blake Hunter - wanted a place to work and
play. They wanted a versatile, incubator-like space to hatch music, film and other creative
endeavors. "Here you can make a film or watch a film, record music live or listen to live
music," says Alan. "Work here and rela.x, or rela.x here after work."
After an extensive search for the right building, the Hunter brothers purchased the
1950s warehouse for $1 million. workPlay is a collaborative venture drawing on their
expel1ise. Hugh worked as a commercial photographer. Randy was a musical recording
artist. Alan's background includes acting and hosting television productions, and Blake
handles the business side.
"We were not able to find a good model to look at when we were thinking about what
we wanted WorkPlay to be," Hugh recalls. "There are concepts that have some of the ele­ments,
but not all that WorkPlay has to offer. There are production facilities ,vith offices
and a restaurant. There are music venues with a bar and recording studio. There is the
House of Blues and the Hard Rock Cafe, but nothing with the depth of WorkPlay.
Well, maybe Disney World."
Hugh and Alan are the principals of Hunter Films Inc.,
a film development company operating out of WorkPlay.
Other tenants include Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, an
independent film festival started four years ago to bring
new films to a new audience.
"WorkPlay is a space that inspires creativity and imagi­nation,"
says Hugh. "We want to build excitement for what
goes on here in Birmingham, without being pretentious.
We hope that people sense the vibe that the name WorkPlay
implies and know that there should be play in the work
and vice-versa."
Another challenge was keeping the various functions
separate under one roof. Sound isolation and performance
acoustics were primary concerns. Sound isolation was
achieved several ways, such as cutting the floor slabs to
lintit sound transfer and with the use of wall insulation and
air-conditioning dampers. Walls, floors and ceiling surfaces
were specially treated to provide the right acoustical environ­ment
in the music hall.
In the 300-seat music hall and lounge, original steel
grating was reshaped vertically to create a balcony. Acting
as a screen for absorptive material, the grating offers func­tional,
as well as aesthetic benefits. The original steel-frame
building contains concrete-bearing walls, a wood roof
deck, concrete floors and single-pane metal windows.
Private versus public space drove many aspects of the layout. The lounge and music
hall, for instance, are located at the "public" corner of the building for visibility, easy access
and servicing. The recording studio, sound stage and offices are located in the "private"
corner, out of sight from the patrons in the music hall and lounge. "This dichotomy was
further reinforced by the fact that the facility is used both during the day and at night,"
Davis notes. The main lobby was the element used to bring public and private functions
together. It was designed to serve as a hub for all types of visitors, with devices to guide
both public and private guests."
With 5,250 square feet of usable space, the sound stage is spacious enough to shoot
feature film interiors, commercial spots or television series. The stage can also be used
as a construction area and rehearsal facility for a musical group's pre-tour production.
Adjacent to the stage is a large indoor loading bay, office space and a green room with
makeup ntirrors and showers. A canteen offers performers a place to eat and relax, and
it can be used to stage tabletop shoots and cooking shows. 1\vo recording studios are
available, using the latest in studio design. Each studio is self-contained with its own
isolation room.
At the heart of the public space is the theatre, combining the latest in audio equipment
and acoustics with state-of-the-art lighting and multi-level seating. Local, regional and
national acts perform in an intimate setting where every seat is billed as "the best seat in
the house." Entertainment lineups change regularly. An eclectic mix is offered during any
given week and may include techno jazz, Persian musiC, magic and poetry readings. The
theatre is also used for movie screenings, private parties and lectures.
Vibrant colors and bold
geometric shapes make a
strong statement in the
building's urban context,
adding monumental scale
and excitement to the
city's commercial core.
23 Volume XIII, No. I
Dressing rooms and a
canteen where performers
can eat and relax is part of
the many amenities offered
under the former ware­house's
enormous roof.
DesignAlabama 24
Udignity on a monumental scale, yet fun," is what Davis wants conveyed as visitors step
into WorkPlay. The Hunters needed to attract capital, so the design had to appeal to
bankers and investors. At the same time it needed to be an exciting place, an enormous
canvas for creative output. "It needed to speak to both worlds, and I think the buildIng
does that successfully," says Davis. "Fun and seliousness runs through the theme."
At Davis Architects, part of the design approach is to search for the perfect solution to
each project. "I'm very much into context, where the project is, what its environment is,"
Davis explains. Because of WorkPlay's urban context, "a little color in a bland environment
went a long way," he adds. "If we were doing this project in the countryside or suburbia,
it would have been very different. WorkPlay is succeeding in bringing people dovvutO\vTI.
It's adding 24-hour vitality to the area. Other entel1ainment efforts have opened and
closed since WorkPlay opened, so they're doing something right."
Image and quality were a high priority, which adds credibility to Birmingham's revital­ization,
Davis continues. Adapting an existing building for reuse presents more challenges
than designing a new buildIng, he believes. It means dealing \\ith both the existing structure
and a design for the new faCility - and finding a way to balance these two needs in one
coherent project. Finding new uses for Birmingham's old buildings will continue, Davis
predicts. It shows a commitment to the city center, saves money, and, in this case, it would
have been too expensive to recreate a warehouse backdrop.
Communities often take pride in the success of adaptive­reuse
projects, and Birmingham is no exception. Just as
Birmingham has made the transition from manufactllling
to seflice, education and research, so will its downtown
structures make transitions to new and exciting businesses,
Hugh notes. "In the cOming years, this renaissance will
consume older buildings and breathe life into our image
as a community," says Hugh. "Aside from the mOre esoteric
discussion of good and Karma involved in the reuse of
older buildIngs, there is a cermin character in connecting
the old with the new. If we can link what was good in our
history with our future through adaptive reuse of buildings,
then I believe there is a continuity of substance that cannot
be achieved solely by building new." III
Jessica Armstrong is a freelance
writer based in Auburn.
Two state~of-the-art
recording studios, a
spacious sound stage
with the latest equipment
and production space
are part of WorkPJay's
private spaces.
Featuring strong forms
and (alar, office space is
as dynamic as other areas
in the building.
Designer~Profile
Tra c Engineer
Masters Transportation
Panning
SKIPPER CONSUL TINGTNC.
by Eli z abe t h \f i a B row n
Ideally, to accommodate the more than 75,000 vehicles that pass daily
through the intersection of Highway 31 and Interstate 459 near River-chase
Galleria in Hoover, the road infront of the mall should be a 10-
to 12-lane passageway. But, in reality, widening the existing four lanes
to a dozen would necessitate removing most of the businesses that line
the busy shopping corridor; without the concentration of shopping cen-ters
on either side of the highway, there would be no need to widen the
street at all
Traffic flow and access management are necessary
elements in successful development of roadways and
parking areas.
Instead. the inter­state
interchange was
modified to create an
additional direct
southern access from
Highway 150 to the
mall area giving the
Galleria another
major entrance or
"front door." The
modification was
complete in time for
the 2002 holiday sea­son.
and more than
20.000 motorists
avoided the busy
intersection during the high traffic crush.
Today, residents of the upscale neighbor­hoods
surrounding the Galleria continue to
enjoy safe, convenient and steady access to
and from their homes without the additional
delay of stop signs or traffic lights.
With the constant development of residen­tial
communities and the placement of addi­tional
businesses to accommodate increased
population, traffic at the intersection had
become so dense, back-ups onto 1-459 were
creating safety hazards. In Alabama, says
Darrell Skipper of Skipper Consulting Inc. in
Birmingham, 99 percent of the motorists travel
alone, and the congestion caused by the
magnitude of private vehicles necessitates the
need for creative and safe use of interstate
highways, as well as city streets. It wasn't
until the late 1960s and early 1970s that
much thought was given to traffic engineer­ing.
"Until then," says Skipper, "the concern
was on how signals worked and the place­ment
of pavement markings."
For more than 30 years, Skipper has been
active in transportation planning, either with
local government agencies or in the consult­ing
industry. His experience with "retro-fit­ting"
existing roadways has taught him that
master plans for traffic flow and access man­agement
are necessary elements in successful
development of roadways and parking areas.
"You can't effectively talk about one without
conSidering the other," says Skipper. "We
have to be more global in our approach to
25 Volume XIII, No. I
transportation planning," Skipper explains. Skipper Consulting Inc. has been involved
"We must be ever so mindful of land use and in the construction of the Chrysler Electron-realize
that some solutions impact other areas ics assembly plant in Huntsville and analyzed
of development." the traffic pattern and signals for the Honda
The first 200 feet of business property plant in Lincoln. Skipper developed com pre-usually
holds the most value, Skipper says, hensive community transportation plans for
and potential revenue depends on the quality Cullman County, Hoover, Trinity, Northport,
of access. While some consumer goods are Gadsden, Anniston, Decatur, Madison,
still transported by railway, the majoriry of Andalusia and Trussville, where the firm is
movement is now by truck. Effective place- located and where Skipper and his wife,
ment of industry, convenient use of interstate
roadways, ease of access into industrial parks
and the efficient use of parking areas all
impact the success of specific businesses.
Gayle, live. Active in the community, Skipper In the late 1960s and early 1970s, traffic engineering
A graduate of Auburn University with
extra study in transportation planning, Skipper
worked for other companies until 1998 when
he established his own firm to specialize in
traffic engineering, transportation planning,
parking studies and campus planning. A
major portion of his work is devoted to the
planning of governmental and institutional
agencies and medical/educational facilities.
His son, Scott Skipper, is now a partner, and
his background in business finance enhances
the service the firm presents to a broad range
of clients.
serves on the Trussville Development Board. became part of the transportation planning process.
He is a native of Montgomery, where he
studied the access management of Taylor
Road and Chantilly Parkway, one of the most
Significant of the new corridors in the rapidly
developing eastern quadrant of the city.
Other projects undertaken by the consulting
company include special studies of the
Auburn University shuttle system to deter­mine
redesign development of a parking plan
for downtown Birmingham and a master
parking plan for the North Carolina Baptist
Hospital in Winston-Salem. For the campuses
at the University of Alabama and UAB, the
firm created master development plans.
Preserving the capacity of the core of the
infrastructure results in effective transporta­tion
planning, says Skipper. Making the most
of what's available is his philosophy. g?
Elizabeth Via Brown is a freelance writer based in Montgomery.
/ / *'
340' TO STop
~
-i::~~-~12" R~CP ~~~~~~~~
CHALKVJLLE MOUNTAIN ROAD
Traffic signal plan
DesignAlabama 26
DesignAlabamatU pdate
Des . J""'i!I .....
Through OesignAlabama, an arts organization that works to increase awareness and value of the design disciplines, we
have the unique opportunity to provide public awareness and education on the many ways that design is enhancing the
quality of life and economic growth in our state. In partnership with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, which fostered
the creation of OesignAlabama in 1987 as an extension of their community design program, we are:
Educating Alabama's public, private and governmental sectors by
• Participating in workshops and conferences
that are consistent with our goals, such as the
League of Municipalities Annual Conference,
where we regularly sponsor panel discussions
on community design issues.
• Encouraging the involvement of our government
officials in design-related programs like the
Mayors Institute for City Design.
• Providing educational resources such as our
touring exhibit, "Design Makes a Difference,"
which illustrates inventive approaches to
defining our communities.
Demonstrating models of good design by
• Promoting the efforts 01 other community design
organizations like Your Town, Main Street and
the Alabama Preservation Alliance, as well as
university design programs including the work
of the urban and rural design studios.
• Collaborating on community-based design projects
like the award-winning DESIGNhabitat initiative
- a project we undertook in partnership with
Auburn University and the Alabama Association
01 Habitat Affiliates to develop new housing
designs lor Habitat lor Humanity in our state
that reflect the culture and context of Alabama,
respond to the climate 01 the region and rede­fine
affordable as a life-ol-the-home concern.
Alabama
S~te
Council
on the
Arts
As part of our educational programming, DesignAlabama partici~
pated in the Alabama league of Municipallties conference held
in Huntsvi!Je on April 28-29. In partnership with the Alabama
State Council on the Arts, we sponsored both our touring exhibit, DesignA!abama has also had great success with the
which was displayed in the convention hal!, and a discussion
panel on the many ways that design makes a difference in our
communities. Panel participants included Jim Byard, mayor of
Prattville; Cathy Back, director of Gadsden's Main Street orga-nization,
Deborah McGill, executive director of the Jefferson
County Economic and Industrial Development Authority; and
Neil Davis, prinCipal of Davis Architects in Birmingham.
In 2003, teaching the design arts will become a requirement 01
the new curriculum in the Alabama State Arts Education Plan.
In order to assist teachers with this addition, DesignAlabama
will partner with the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education to
sponsor a one-day teachers workshop based on the nationally
recognized design arts program "Design and Build a Box City."
It will be held at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham
on July 21. 2003.
tour of the "Design Makes a Difference" exhibit. Along
with the attention it garnered at the Alabama League
of Municipalities Annual Conference, it has been well
received by the citizens of Montgomery, Greenville,
Birmingham and Gadsden. It was installed at the
Conference Center in Mobile through May 15.
JL.d~
~M
boX:- oJ
Endorsed by the Kennedy Center, Box City is an innovative educa- Alabama Course of Study: Arts Education and offers
tional program designed to teach children of all ages about the opportunities for students of all learning styles to par-style
and structure of architecture, the concepts of community ticipate successfully in a classroom venture. Best of
planning and the value of being a responsible citizen. With a all, Box City encourages students to think about their
hands-on approach to community planning and design principles, own community today and to dream about what it
the curriculum allows students to make their own buildings from
cardboard boxes and then create their own communities by
placing the boxes on a base plan. At the same time, they learn
how geography, economics, ecology, history and cultures have
affected the development of their community. The context of the
program also allows for learning in group cooperation, writing,
mathematics and spatial relationships. Additionally, the program
incorporates the across-the-curriculum requirements of the
could become tomorrow.
27 Volume XIII. No. I
Now in the second phase of development, the DESIGNhabitat
initiative has been a wonderful opportunity to develop new ways
of thinking about simple, decent homes for our state's low*
income families. And just as important, it has been a service
learning experience for the students involved with the process,
instilling in them a sense of social responsibility and engage­ment
with underserved communities.
In January the completed project report was published and
released with the generous assistance of The Home Depot.
Currently two houses of this design have been bUiit, and a
third is under construction, putting us weI! on our way to
achieving the goal of 50 houses over the next four years.
from a broad range of disciplines and expertise -
architects, builders, interior designers, planners and
federal government officials - revie\r'Jed, evaluated
and ranked the entries in the decision-making process.
According to Secretary of HUD Me! Martinez, "the
department was very pleased by both the number of
entries and the high quality of affordable housing
represented by these projects."
To assist with the continued development of the
The project has also received national recognition trom the U.S. DES!GNhabitat program, DesignAlabama hosted a
&mid f/inSOll, projessor ojIJrciJifc(/lIreat :1MIII1I Ullitt1~'i/)'; !Vlml Sad!:. execufiw din-c!()f oj D&"tWlIlfabama:
[{lid rum!!! .>'!cC(/uk,; «Ci..'CUlli't din-dol" o/4Jdmllltl tls:ioda!fon oj Habiklf J.jfilitl/l'S; odebm/e tbe DfSIG.·\'lxlbitrll
tlltllrd !i..l'th HI/bilatjor Humal/ify joul)(kr .1fil/tlrd Fliller (llfbe American Buildl..1· m/'{/rds a'll/mony ill Las ~'i::';ilS
Department of Housing and Urban Development as a silver award
winner in the HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence section of
silent auction at the Southern Progress corporate
offices in Birmingham on April 25. Dubbed "Houses
the "Best in American living Awards" competition. This presti- for Habitat," the auction included one-of-a-kind
gious award program has been sponsored by HUD, the National birdhouses designed by both Auburn University
Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Professional Builder architecture students and professional designers
magazine for the past six years. A panel of distinguished judges throughout the state.
Communicating the value of good design by
• Publishing a biannual journal for design in Alabama.
• Appearing regularly on Alabama Public Radio programs.
• Supporting the community design grant and fellowship
programs available through our state arts council, which
assists communities like Valley, Ala. The town of 8,000
citizens is trying to preserve its unique history as a textile
mill town, while establishing avenues for future progress.
Design!\!8q3rra
," , .. ,,0 IOn" >G' ''"0. ,~ ""a:
From our historic rural communities to our flourishing urban centers,
II!
design touches the lives of more than tOn citizens
DesignAlabama 28
in communities across Alabama,
and it is this vast impact that gives our mission for public design
awareness and education its substance.
In summary, DesignAlabama works to help others understand that good
design translates into economic growth which ultimately affects the quality
of life lor us all. This year, more than ever, we need your assistance to com-
TOG E THE R
WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
plete this valuable. community-based programming.
Sponsorship of DesignAlabama demonstrates your
support for statewide design awareness in building
quality 01 life in your community and in Alabama. As
a DesignAlabama sponsor, you will receive multiple
copies of our publications and prominent recognition on each issue of the
DesignAlabama journal. You will also be kept up to date on progressive
development taking place throughout the state. will have opportunities to
learn more about the design disciplines and to participate in the exploration
of community design issues. For information on the four levels of our
sponsorship program and their full benefits. please contact DesignAlabama
at 334-353-5081 or designalabama@arts.state.al.us .•
Birmingham Ad Fed Awards
In March, the Birmingham Advertising Federation presented
its ADDY" awards selected by four distinguished judges
from Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Iowa. Among the
awards were 30 gold ADDYs, four Special Judges' Awards
and two Best of Shows. Winning golds were: Perry, Harper
& Perry Communications (7), Intermark Group Inc.
(5), 02 Ideas (4), WABM/WTTO (2), Sidewalk Moving
Picture Feslivallnc.(2), Means Advertising Inc.,
Production Plus, Hare Advertising, Elite Print
Group, Open Creative Group, Southern Progress
Corp., al.com, IIAB Creative & Marketing Group,
Luckie & Co. and Billy Brown Photography Inc. The
Special Judges' Awards were presented for: Creative
Direction - 02 Ideas, Photography - Billy Brown
Photography Inc., Writing - Luckie & Co. and Videography
- VRA. 02 Ideas won Best of Show/Print and Perry, Harper
& Perry Communications garnered Best of Show/Electronic.
At the 43rd annual Montgomery Advertising Federation
ADDye Awards ceremony held in February, 15 gold ADDYs
were among the awards presented. LWT Communications
garnered seven including two Best of Shows (for under
$5,000 and more than $ 5,000) and Graphic Designer of the
Year - Camille Leonard. Copperwing Design earned
four golds, Cunningham Group two and LWT/KBK New
Media and dti.tsu one each. Troy State students David
Brown and W. Blake Branch won the MAF Student
Achievement awards for print and interactive media. A silver
award was given to DesignAlabama for the Fall 2002 jour­nai
"Design Makes a Difference"
Left to fiQhi. lOp to bottom:
Perry, Harper & Perry Communications
Goid ADDY(TV
02 Ideas
8<'...$t of Show/Print, Special Judges" Award for Creative
Direction. Gold ADDY/Magazine Ad & Billboard
Open Creative Group
Gold ADOY/Magaziile Ad Campaign
02 Ideas
Goid ADDY/LogO (Hand in Paw Artimal Therapy for
Hospita!ized Chiidreil)
Intermark Group
Special Jutlges' Awaro jor Art Direction
Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
Gold ADDY/Poster & Cataiog
Details+of Interest
A w A R s
29 Volume XIII, No. I
Designer Natalie Chanin of Project Alabama (DA, Fall
2002) won a $20,000 award from the Ecco Domani Fashion
Foundation to preview her clothing line in New York during
Fashion Week this past February. Known for her hand-stitched,
high-fashion T-shirts, Chanin chose to present her collection to
the public in a bowling alley. Along with the elaborately embroi­dered,
recycled T-shirt tops that sell for as much as $3,000 in
London, Paris and New York, her line now features pants, skirts,
outerwear and handbags. The designer, whose business is based
in Florence and uses contract seamstresses from the surround­ing
area, was one of five award winners chosen by the EDFF. The
foundation established by the Italian winery Ecco Domani helps
young designers show their collections in New York during
Fashion Week.
Auburn University students placed third and Tuskegee
University students 11th out of the 14 universities chosen to
participate in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon
national competition. The teams were judged on the design and
energy performance of their houses, as well as the ability to meet
real-world energy demands in 10 contests: design and livability
plans and presentation, graphics and communication, interior
comfort, refrigeration, hot water, energy balance, lighting, oper­ating
a home business and transportation with an electric-pow­ered
car. Students raised the money to cover costs, designed
and built the houses, then disassembled them for transporting to
Washington, D.C., where they were reassembled for judging.
Auburn's entry received a top mark in energy balance and
Tuskegee's entry scored high in operating a home business. The
University of Colorado in Boulder came in first and the
University of Virginia second.
After the competition, Home and Garden Television presented a
segment on the Decathlon highlighting technology presented by
the universities involved. Additionally, the Do-it-Yourself
Network ran a series of programs showing viewers how to adapt
ideas presented at the Decathlon to their own environmentally
friendly homes.
AU's Decathion Solar Home
DeoiynAlabama 30
Rllral Stlldio Plays Ball
Auburn University's Rural Studio has received a $25,000 grant
from the Basebal! Tomorrow Fund to design and buiid a playing
field and buy new baseball equipment for the Newbern, Ala.,
Little League team. This is not the Studio's first baseball-related
project: In 2001 the Studio designed and built an innovative
backstop in the community for the Newbern Baseball Club (DA,
Fall 2002).
Four fifth-year architecture thesis students - Julie Hay of
Huntsville; Jason Hunsucker of Jeffersonville, Ind.; Patrick
Nelson of Huntsville; and Jermaine Washington of Pass
Christian, Miss., will complete the baseball field project already
in progress. The New York-based organization promotes and
enhances the growth of baseball among youth throughout the
world. Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball
Players Association developed the program as a collaborative
effort to ensure the future of baseball.
Trail Promotes Walking for Health
The new public walking trail at the Pineapple Community Center
in Wilcox County is a model of collaborative success.
Spearheaded by Partners in Progress, a local community-based
organization, the trail includes landscaping, tables, benches and
mile markers. The project was funded by a grant from the Robert
B. Wood Johnson Foundation as a health initiative for women in
rural communities. The University of Alabama in Birmingham
helped with the grant writing. An additional grant from the ALA­TOM
Resource Conservation and Development Area is designated
for further landscaping and lighting. The embodiment of "com­munity
health in action," the trail promotes health and fitness for
rural residents with a scenic and safe paved walkway in the hilly
terrain surrounding the center.
Compete
The Southern Growth Policies Board released a new tool kit to
help communities understand the knowledge economy and how
new economic forces affect quality of life and economic devel­opment.
"Seeing the Future: The Knowledge Economy" is a self­guided
tool kit designed to stimulate discussion among com­munity
groups of any size or background - from economic
development councils to public officials and city planners to
civic and service clubs - by providing information on how
technology and innovation, globalization, the work force and
community affect economic development. The tool kit contains
a moderator's script; a video that introduces the basiC principles
of the knowledge economy; interactive exercises to stimulate
critical thinking and community planning; comprehensive
resource materials including briefing books on globalization,
technology and innovation, the work force and community;
ideas for taking action; real-world success stories and
sources for further research. "Seeing the Future" is available for
$50. For more information visit the Southern Growth Policies
Board Web site at http://www.southern.org/.
2003 Fashion Design Competition
On November 15 at 7 p.m, the second annual Southeastern
Fashion Design Competition will take place at the downtown
Huntsville Hilton. Aspiring fashion designers, along with stu­dents
studying fashion design, will compete for the title
"Designer of the Year 2003/04" for the Southeast region, media
exposure and an array of prizes. Contestants will present one
design for each of the following categories: ready-to-wear, haute
couture, avant-garde, evening and bridal. Deadline for entry is
September 30th. Please contact event organizer Lejeune for
information on the competition by calling 256-539-0001 or vis­iting
the Web site at wvlW.lejeuneproductions.com.
Designer Treehollses
The Treemendous Treehouse exhibit at the Huntsville Botanical
Gardens wili feature fanciful, kid-sized, tree-friendly treehouses
by local designers. Architects, landscape architects and design­er/
builders submitted design entries earlier this year from which
eight Treemendous Treehouses were selected for installation as
a garden fundraiser. Among those contributing are: Ray
Townsley & Associates, JH Partners Architecture &
Interiors, Fuqua Osborn Architects, Crow and
Associates and Carol Lambdin, ASLA.
Kids of all ages will enjoy "The Garden Fairy" treehouse by JH
Architects. The fairy towers over a platform on which one can
stand and experience her scale, mass & proportions. Her torso
is formed by stained glass clerestory windows, creating a medley
of colors that dance and play when viewed from below.
The concept of the tree as shelter but not as the traditional sup­port
for lofty perches underpins "Tree Thing" by Townsley and
Associates. The hideaway embraces the tree with natural hexag­onal
form and rises with tree-like structure. Mobiles and wind
chimes suggest blossoms and wind sounds from real trees.
Other treehouse exhibits are "Leafy Lair," "Harvey's House,"
"The Street of the Lifted Lorax," "The Fabulous Flying Fortress,"
"AREA 51 - To Infinity and Beyond!" and "The Pine Cone Zone."
The Huntsville Times-sponsored installations may be viewed
Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 - 8 p.m. from
May 23 through October 30 at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.
Vulcan Park Renovation Reflects Its WPA Origins
Nimrod Long & Associates of Birmingham is currently working with Amaze Design of Boston and HKW Architects, also of
Birmingham, on the renovation of Vulcan Park The project includes restoration of Vulcan, the world's largest cast iron statue, preser­vation
of the WPA tower, a new visitor center and rehabilitation of the surrounding historic park,
The new park will remain faithful to the character of the original WPA park, Architectural elements and heavy plantings will be
removed from the area directly around the tower and Vulcan statue, re-establishing its importance within the park setting, The location
of the original cascade fountain wiil be expressed on the south slope below the tower, as w!!1 the slope terracing, Important views will
be selectively cleared to open vistas of the city and Jones Valley,
Site materials will reflect a documented history of use in the original park or at Birmingham sites of similar use contemporary with the
1938 park, Remains of original WPA stone retaining walls, steps and terraces will be stabilized, preserved and returned to use in the
park, Material selection, design detailing and attention to spatial relationships will bui!d a park that is well tied to its 1938 origins
while fulfilling the needs of a 21st century community,
AUFA Awards Nominations
The Alabama Urban Forestry
Association is soliciting nomi­nations
for its annual awards
program, The non-profit organi­zation,
established in 1989,
Alabama Urban Forestry
Association works to maintain, protect and
preserve community forests
throughout the state, The AUFA awards program seeks to honor
those who have contributed significantly to improvement of the
environment of urban forests found in their communities and the
state, Categories for nomination are: individuals, businesses,
civic organizations, local governmenVpubiic oHicials, education­al,
Alabarna Tree Cities, The Lifetime Achievement Award and the
Aiabama Power/AUFA Tree Planting Award, Nominations must
be postmarked by August 29,2003. Contact the Alabama Urban
Forestry Association at P,O, Box 549120, Birmingham, AL
35254, to receive a forrn, Award recipients will be recognized
at the AUFA 19th Annual Convention in Prattville, November
5-7,2003.
Vulcan Park Site Plan
Interpretative Stations:
o Entry Plaza
@ Geology
@ Natural Environment
o Birmingham Views
@ Vulcan
@WPAStory
@ Birmingham Mineral Railroad
@ Lone Pine Mine
o Vulcan Plaza
N
l'
Historic All Landmarks To Be Renovated
Davis Architects of Birrningham will provide restoration and
renovation design services for three historiC buildings at Auburn
University. The structures, buil! in the late 1880s, include
Samford Hall, Langdon Hall and Langdon Hall Annex. Current
plans call for the complete restoration of Sarnford Hall into an
upper administrative complex - including the president's oHice
suite - with Langdon Hall and its annex serving related admin­istrative
functions, The restoration and renovation work will be
historically sensitive and include removal of non-historiC items
added over the years, such as fire escapes and alum inurn win­dows,
Davis Architects is joined by Atlanta's office of Jack
Pyburn as preservation architect and TVS Interiors serving as
lead interior designer. The schedule for the project has not yet
been finalized, but work is expected to occur over the next sever��al
years, climaxing in 2006 to celebrate Auburn University's
150th anniversary,
AU's Samford Hall
Visitor Experience To Be Enhanced at
Historic Sloss Furnaces
Following a master plan developed by HKW Associates for
Sloss Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark in Birmingham,
the architectural firm is now at work deSigning site improve­ments
and the visitor experience, The project includes con­structing
the Visitor Center/Museum at the west end of the site,
near the confluence of the railroad lines, By doing this, the visi­tor
will be betler able to follow the process of converting the raw
materials of iron are, limestone and coke 'Into iron, In addHion,
this location creates a new access point to the site less impacted
by trains that sometimes block the entrances, Visitors will now
enter the site near the cooling pond, with a great view of the site
as they approach, and can watch metal artists work in the
foundry from a protected viewing area, The Birmingham firm is
currently developing the conceptual drawings for the Visitor
Center/Museum and has selected Van Sickle & Rolleri of
Medford, N,J, as exhibit designer, Mark Coyle is HKW project
manager, Jeff Slaton is intern architect and Chris Green
designs and coordinates environmental graphics,
Wanted: Future Designers
p
Auburn University'S Industrial Design Workshop for 2003 will be
held June 22-27 on the Auburn campus, The program for young
people interested in a design career will cover basic design fun­damentals
and progress to more advanced industrial design
concepts, Participants will be taught by industrial design faculty
and staH and have studio space plus access to photo, computer,
wood and piastic fabrication labs, Included in the $495 cost is a
five-night stay on campus, all meals, instruction and organized
social activities, Scholarships or financial assistance may be
available through schools, art associations or civic organiza­tions,
Registration is due before June 13. For information,
contact the department office at 334-844-2364 or visit the
Web site at wwwauburn,edu/outreach/idi. A
AU Des:,gn Camp Partic',parrls
31 Volume XIII No, I
Desi nAlabama
Volume XIII, Issue I
PUBLIC DESIGN AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
DesignAlabama Inc. works to increase awareness and value of the design disciplines
(~ stop sign is a gift
that injluence our environment. We believe that the quality of life and
for you to learn that
economic growth of this state are enhanced through attention to and
moving in the same
investment in good design.
direction won't take you DES I G N I N G FOR I N D U S TRY
any place new." ((Great discoveries
Alabama Council AlA
((The grandest of all laws is .
- Rex Steven Sikes and zmprovements
the law ofprogressive invariably involve
the cooperation of
development. Under it, in the
many minds. ))
wide sweep of things, men
- Alexander Graham Bell
grow wiser as they grow
olde'0 and societies better. "
- Christian Nevell Bovee
Alabama Architectural Foundation
GRAHAM FOUNDATION
This publication was made possible through funding by the contributors listed above.
For additional information about DeslgnAlabama, please call (334) 353·5081.