Highlands College
Birmingham, Alabama
Design Team
Dave Reese (Principal); Gary Larson (Project Architect); Anne-Marie Gianoudis (Project Interior Designer); Structural Design Group (Structural Engineer); Pinnacle Engineering (Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer); Jackson, Renfro & Associates (Electrical Engineer)
Highlands College is a biblical higher education institution that exists to train and empower leaders to fulfill the Great Commission. Through an incredible opportunity, the college was able to purchase a 62-plus-acre former corporate headquarters in a prime Birmingham suburb. The project includes a new glass curtainwall addition and a comprehensive renovation of a three-story facility to create collaborative and relational place for the students and faculty. Each floor features an open, light-filled circulation space connecting learning studios, practicum spaces, and faculty offices. The design intent for these “living laboratories” was to provide a sustainable, engaging facility that connects the users with their environment and with one another. This includes large expanses of glass to “share God’s light” and to provide unobstructed views of the outdoors, and natural materials such as wood and concrete to create a tactile, grounded, and organic foundation. The use of strong graphics, vivid colors, and patterns in textiles and furniture invigorate areas and reinforce the Highlands College brand, creating a vibrant and welcoming college atmosphere.
Additional Information
Capacity
1,354
Cost per Sq Ft
$128.00
Featured in
2022 Architectural Portfolio