2008 Woodie Awards
Candidates chosen to design rec center
Anna Chapman
Senior Reporter
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News
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Four architectural firms have been chosen as candidates to design USA's new student recreation center. The candidates - Williams Blackstock/VOA, Cannon Design/TAG Architects, WHL/Sasaki, and Watermark/Cooper Carry - were announced at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 22. Each candidate is a team comprised of a local architectural firm and a national organization.
Administrators began the search for a project architect by sending out a request for qualifications and proposals. The request, dated Feb. 14, was sent to all local and state architectural firms, as well as a small number of regional firms.
The project was described as "a 110,000 to 125,000 square foot building, which includes an administrative office suite, wellness component, gymnasiums, pool, specialized activity areas and associated support spaces." The request also named a proposed project site, adjacent to Old Shell Rd. and across Stadium Drive from Stanky Field. The construction budget was estimated at $30,000,000, and JRB Associates of Montgomery, Ala., was named as the construction company.
The University required that each interested firm submit four bound copies of their proposal to the University architect's office by March 9. The main stipulation was that the firm must have designed at least three recreation facilities of similar magnitude within the past seven years. The firms were chosen based on how completely they met this and other criteria.
Williams Blackstock Architects are based out of Birmingham, Ala., but also have a location in Fairhope, Ala. Williams Blackstock teamed up with the national firm VOA Associates, who have offices throughout the country. Williams Blackstock designed University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) 152,275 square foot recreation center, as well as Auburn University's Varsity Athletic Center. The group also designed additions to the University of Alabama's student recreation center.
VOA Associates can be credited with designing several recreation-type facilities at schools throughout the nation, including Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois and Fairmont State University.
Administrators began the search for a project architect by sending out a request for qualifications and proposals. The request, dated Feb. 14, was sent to all local and state architectural firms, as well as a small number of regional firms.
The project was described as "a 110,000 to 125,000 square foot building, which includes an administrative office suite, wellness component, gymnasiums, pool, specialized activity areas and associated support spaces." The request also named a proposed project site, adjacent to Old Shell Rd. and across Stadium Drive from Stanky Field. The construction budget was estimated at $30,000,000, and JRB Associates of Montgomery, Ala., was named as the construction company.
The University required that each interested firm submit four bound copies of their proposal to the University architect's office by March 9. The main stipulation was that the firm must have designed at least three recreation facilities of similar magnitude within the past seven years. The firms were chosen based on how completely they met this and other criteria.
Williams Blackstock Architects are based out of Birmingham, Ala., but also have a location in Fairhope, Ala. Williams Blackstock teamed up with the national firm VOA Associates, who have offices throughout the country. Williams Blackstock designed University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) 152,275 square foot recreation center, as well as Auburn University's Varsity Athletic Center. The group also designed additions to the University of Alabama's student recreation center.
VOA Associates can be credited with designing several recreation-type facilities at schools throughout the nation, including Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois and Fairmont State University.
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