Archives: Works

Vulcan Materials

After 30 years in their Birmingham headquarters, Vulcan Materials, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregate, chose renovation over relocation. Vulcan aimed to create a modern, healthy work environment for employees returning to the office, partnering once again with Williams Blackstock Architects (WBA) for the significant architectural redesign of their 187,000 square foot, six-floor office space.

Business Interiors, in partnership with MillerKnoll, proudly worked with Vulcan and WBA to provide the furnishings solutions for this transformation. Vulcan Materials clearly defined the goals for the renovation: a complete office overhaul, including all new furnishings; redesigned workstations with lower panels, upgraded storage, and enhanced ergonomics; a variety of meeting areas to accommodate diverse work styles; and a sit-stand workstation or desk for every employee.

Designing the Modern Workplace
Working closely with WBA, BI helped achieve Vulcan’s vision. The architecture and interior design embraced biophilic principles, maximizing natural light and exterior views. Open floor plans and glass-lined offices achieved this goal. The renovation successfully opened up the office, creating longer sightlines from the building’s core to the windows. This transformed both private and shared workspaces.

Vulcan modernized workstations for the post-COVID era, featuring lower panels, upgraded storage, and enhanced ergonomics. They redesigned private offices, and the team added numerous collaborative and meeting spaces, including centralized café and lounge areas. MillerKnoll was a key partner in providing furniture solutions, with their brands comprising nearly 90% of the project’s furnishings.

Identity, Durability, and Sustainability
The design also prioritized creating a visually and culturally rich environment. Natural materials like concrete and stone reflect Vulcan’s identity, simultaneously fostering collaboration and connection. Strong imagery and graphics from Vulcan’s quarries around the world appear throughout the building, celebrating the company’s culture, employees, and history. The project incorporated current design trends regarding function and finish, but it prioritized the long-term durability of both the style and the furnishings themselves, ensuring they would remain relevant and functional for the next three decades.

Beyond the new additions, Business Interiors also addressed the challenge of managing six floors of 30-year-old furniture. Business Interiors and MillerKnoll implemented a comprehensive furniture removal plan, achieving an impressive 97% landfill diversion rate. They successfully donated the majority of the furniture to numerous local charities, nonprofits, and civic organizations.

This project reflects Vulcan Materials’ commitment to providing an elevated workplace experience for their employees. We are honored to have been a part of this significant project.

 

Photography by: Luker Photography

Sheraton Hotel Lobby | Downtown Birmingham

The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel completed a comprehensive $5 million lobby transformation. This change marks a pivotal moment in the hotel’s commitment to the new Sheraton brand standard. The BJCC made this significant investment. It reimagined the entire ground-floor public space to blend Southern hospitality with a modern, community-centric aesthetic. Business Interiors proudly provided the furnishing solutions that helped bring this vibrant, multi-functional design and the overall Sheraton Lobby Furniture Renovation to life.

The new lobby concept was inspired by the idea of a “Public Square.” This demanded a strategic approach to furniture. Our mandate was simple: Deliver stylish, durable, and flexible products. These products had to support various activities, from quick coffee breaks to full-scale meetings. They also needed to transition seamlessly from day to evening. We ensured the furniture renovation elevated the guest experience.

 

We curated distinct zones throughout the expansive lobby:

    • The Signature Bar & Dining Area: &More by Sheraton is the brand’s new signature café/bar and restaurant. It is central to the new space. We furnished this fluid area to handle high-volume dining. We also maintained a refined, welcoming look. The seating and tables facilitate breakfast and lunch service. They transform into a sophisticated cocktail setting in the evening.

    • Collaborative Work Areas: We served the modern traveler by providing high-tech, multi-functional furniture for gathering and working. This includes the custom-designed Community Tables. These tables come equipped with integrated power and lighting. We also included comfortable sitting nooks. They offer semi-private spots for solo work or casual conversation.

    • The Studios (Breakout/Meeting Rooms): The introduction of The Studios was a key functional upgrade. Business Interiors outfitted these glass-enclosed, state-of-the-art meeting areas with flexible, ergonomic furniture. Guests can book these rooms. They offer the necessary privacy for productive sessions while staying connected to the lobby’s dynamic energy.

       

The design palette honors Birmingham’s industrial heritage. Rich colors and textures celebrate elements like iron and limestone. Our overall furniture selection emphasizes both luxurious comfort and enduring durability. We chose every piece to withstand the rigors of a high-traffic hotel setting. The selection still maintains the elevated, refined feel of the new design.

 

 

A+D Firm: KPS Group

Photography by: Luker Photography

Total Dermatology

Business Interiors is proud to have provided comprehensive wall solutions for Total Dermatology during the substantial expansion of their downtown Birmingham location. This 25,000 sq ft, two-floor project was part of the continued historical renovation of the Woodward Building. Birmingham firm CCR Architecture and Interiors led the project design, with Rives Construction serving as the general contractor.

Precision Scope and Acoustic Priority

The primary challenge was maintaining privacy within the clinical setting. Specifically, client confidentiality was crucial, making soundproofing a vital factor. Falkbuilt effectively addressed this issue by integrating insulation into the solid walls to enhance acoustic performance. As a result, the walls achieved STC ratings of up to STC 53, effectively minimizing sound transfer between rooms.

Business Interiors provided the full Falkbuilt wall solution, totaling 2,906 lineal feet across two floors. The scope included walls for key areas: the lobby, exam rooms, waiting rooms, procedure rooms, conference rooms, offices, restrooms, kitchen, bar, and storage rooms.

Architectural Versatility

BI’s Architectural Product division collaborated closely with CCR on the project’s design development. We offered 3-D virtual walkthroughs of the space, along with plans, elevations, finish options, and renderings prior to finalizing the design. The project clearly highlights the versatility of Falkbuilt’s robust solutions, which included a diverse range of materials and functions:

  • Wall Types: The installation featured solid walls, glass walls, glass transoms, curved glass transoms, curved stacked solid walls, graphic laminated glass, and an operable wall.

  • Door Types: We included pivot and sliding doors, glass and wood doors, lever set and bar pull hardware, and access control hardware.

  • Cladding: Finishes utilized 3D laminate, woodgrain laminate, back painted glass, custom graphic glass, and fabric cladding.

Integrated Millwork

Falkbuilt solutions were successfully used for all custom millwork throughout the facility. This provided seamless integration and consistency. The millwork scope covered all custom cabinetry, including exam rooms, procedure rooms, nurse stations, kitchen cabinets, bar cabinets, work areas, storage, and wardrobe cabinets, as well as all solid surfaces.

Total Dermatology offers a variety of specialized dermatological services, including medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments. Their full-service spa, Total on 1st, is also located in the downtown Woodward Building. It provides a range of spa and medical-grade skincare services, further establishing the Woodward Building as a comprehensive wellness hub.

 

Photography by: Liesa Cole

UAB Medical West Hospital

UAB Medical West’s new $400 million hospital officially opened in August of 2024. In addition to the 412,000-square-foot, nine-story hospital, the campus also houses a 127,000-square-foot, seven-story medical office building.

Located in McCalla, Alabama, and serving the Birmingham-area rural communities, the facility replaced an existing hospital originally built in the 1960’s. The new 200-bed hospital features a robotic surgical and endoscopy suite, state-of-the-art imaging technology, cardiac services, more intensive care beds, and a 30-room emergency department.

Architecture firms HKS and Birmingham’s KPS Group collaborated on the project, with the goals to provide technologically advanced care environments for the local community while also staying true to the local Southern landscape and honoring the hospitality of Alabama’s residents. The campus design reflects the surrounding natural environment, aiming to create a more soothing atmosphere for patients, visitors, and staff.

Business Interiors is proud to have provided full solutions for the entire project, both for the hospital and the medical office building. BI’s scope included the main lobby, dining center, ER waiting and patient bays, staff offices and conference rooms, gift shop, lab, pharmacy, café, chapel, hospital patient rooms, behavioral health suite, and all waiting areas in the nine-story hospital, as well as all the executive offices and boardroom, break rooms, file rooms, training rooms, workstations, and clinic spaces with waiting and exam rooms in the five-story MOB.

 

Photography by: Tom Harris