Highlands College created “The View” not merely as a dining space. Instead, it is a student-focused fine dining venue designed to serve as an experiential learning venue. The facility provides practical training for students in life skills, interpersonal communication, and proper dining etiquette. Business Interiors’ role was to ensure the furniture solution served this high-level, formal educational mission.

BI proudly collaborated with TURNERBATSON and the team at Highlands College to realize this specialized vision. Our core goal was to implement furniture that conveyed the elegance and formality required of a fine dining establishment. It also needed the durability essential for intensive, student-led instruction. Achieving this sophisticated result required thoughtful selection of Highlands College student furniture that supports a sophisticated atmosphere.

The design of The View centered entirely on supporting formal training scenarios. BI meticulously sourced specific furnishings to meet the educational demands of the venue.

We provided elegant, comfortable, and durable seating and tables appropriate for formal, multi-course service. These pieces allow students to practice proper dining etiquette using furnishings that reflect true high-end hospitality environments.

For the adjacent lecture areas, we supplied flexible, mobile furniture. This furniture quickly adapts to accommodate guest speakers, formal presentations, and structured classroom instruction on communication and leadership skills.

Our selections featured resilient finishes and sophisticated materials. These materials contribute to the elevated, non-casual atmosphere, ensuring the aesthetic standards of a fine dining room are maintained despite heavy use.

The resulting space successfully marries the polish of a fine dining venue with the function of a teaching facility. The furniture solution is a powerful tool for transforming the student experience, providing essential real-world training that directly complements the academic curriculum. The View now stands as a unique and functional showpiece for Highlands College.

Photography by: Chad Baumer

Space Camp Operations Center

Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosted a ribbon-cutting last week for the opening of the new Space Camp Operations Center.

Business Interiors is proud to have worked on this 40,000-square-foot project, having provided the furniture solutions for the classrooms, labs, private offices, workstations, and common areas. The BI team worked directly with the client and in collaboration with Fuqua & Partners Architects, the A+D firm, on the project.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield joined Space and Rocket Center officials and other local leaders to celebrate the occasion. The Operations Center houses all program operations, providing an exceptional educational resource for campers who come from 150 countries and all 50 states.

“Space Camp provides a unique opportunity to learn about scientific disciplines in a hands-on, interactive way, and through this program we are igniting our young people with a passion for discovery and filling their minds with great opportunities,” Governor Ivey said.

Project photography by Lori Gardner.

Business Interiors recently completed a furniture refresh and redesign at Birmingham’s Innovation Depot. This world-class startup incubator is home to over 110 companies. It focuses on high-growth, tech, and bio-focused businesses.

Innovation Depot is an integral part of Birmingham’s entrepreneurial spirit. It has been key to the revitalization of the downtown landscape over the past two decades. The goal of the refresh was to update the central amenity spaces to better support the diverse needs of its member companies.

Redesigning the Common Areas
The furnishings design team at BI updated the lounge seating and tables along the entrance corridor. Additionally, we redesigned the central common area using a variety of multi-use furniture pieces.

This update provides flexible areas for members to engage in different activities: checking email over a coffee break, having a collaborative chat with other startup leaders, or hosting larger event meetups. This flexibility directly supports the dynamic, fast-paced environment of the startups housed there.

Supporting Co-Working and Sustainability
Furthermore, we successfully implemented a sustainability measure. We re-purposed existing furniture to the Depot’s ‘Ignite’ co-working space. In this space, freelancers can reserve a “hot desk” benching area on a monthly basis, and also take advantage of private phone booths and meeting areas.

BI is honored to work with such an outstanding organization that continues to drive local economic growth.

Valleydale Baptist Church

Located in Pelham, Valleydale Baptist is much more than just a church. While providing the community with a place of worship on Sundays, the church also serves as a neighborhood center and gym during the other six days of the week.

A unique challenge for this project was specifying furniture that functioned in active spaces- outside of two gymnasiums, in a coffee shop and library, and in a youth zone-and that concurrently worked well when church members and guests attended Sunday services.

Specified during the height of COVID Quarantine May + April 2020, the team was very pleased how the project turned out … especially since finishes were finalized via a  Zoom meetings! Great job, all!