Auburn University’s Hood McPherson Building

Higher Education

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Opening in May 2024, Auburn University renovated a historic building in downtown Birmingham. The new Hood McPherson Building is a 44,000-square-foot urban campus. It provides a new home for two key departments: the Harbert College of Business and the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC).

Williams Blackstock Architects was the A+D firm on the project. The project was recognized at the 2025 IIDA Alabama IDIE Awards. It received “Best of Education (Higher Ed)” and “Best in Show” awards for its superb work.

The Business Interiors team partnered with AU and WBA. They provided furnishings for many of the open areas. The goal was to create a state-of-the-art academic environment.

BI’s furniture scope for the six-floor project focused on a transparent and adaptable environment for students. The main areas included studio galleries, workshare open office spaces, classrooms, and collaborative rooms. The building’s design serves as a teaching tool. Exposed structural, mechanical, and electrical systems reinforce the CADC’s hands-on learning philosophy. The new campus connects students to Birmingham’s urban fabric. It shapes the future of design, construction, and business.

This award-winning project is a great example of combining the old with the new. We’re proud to have been a part of it.

 

Photography by: Nick McGinn

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