University of Alabama at Birmingham New Student Residence Hall

Birmingham, Alabama

Size: 215,000 sf
Project Awards: Award of Merit, AIA Montgomery Design Awards 2016

With enrollment at a record high for the fifth consecutive year, The University of Alabama at Birmingham initiated the construction of a New Student Residence Hall to accommodate the increased demand for on-campus housing. The 215,000 square-foot residence hall is located in the heart of UAB’s urban campus. Approximately 714 students live in the new U-shaped facility comprised of an eight-story tower and four-story wing that includes common areas and multipurpose space in addition to student housing. The 8 story tower provides the density of housing required for this urban residence hall to meet demand while the 4-story wing helps the building relate in scale to it’s neighboring buildings on campus without overshadowing them. Together they create a dedicated green space for residents seating walls, a shaded pergola, tables, concrete table tennis for recreation, and wooden seating boxes which conceal storm drainage inlets. The atrium lobby provides access from both sides of the sloped site and includes a large stairway commons, and a custom dragon scale chandelier to emulate the UAB Blazers mascot. Landscaping and planning included the creation of a pedestrian corridor at the front of the building between 16th and 17th Streets to connect 9th Avenue South with Denman Hall located across the street.

Scope of Services
Architecture
Engineering
Geotechnical
Interior Design
Landscape
Planning
Surveying
Transportation