When The University of Alabama decided to move forward with this one-of-a-kind facility, it selected TURNERBATSON to provide full architectural services. This project involved bringing five diverse departments within the University together into one state-of-the-art facility that integrated research and children’s programs. Since there are so few buildings nationwide that accomplish this objective, TURNERBATSON spent many hours interviewing the groups that would utilize the 61,000 square feet of space being created through the design.

This facility includes a child day-care center for up to 100 children from infancy to four years of age. Each classroom is adjacent to observation rooms used by both the department faculty and university students within the school’s education curriculum. The children are observed with cameras in teaching areas behind one-way glass in each room to study interaction and behavior patterns. Also included in the design are offices for faculty members and research suites for both faculty and students.

Dr. Judy Bonner, then Dean of the College of Human Sciences, summed up the University’s experience with TURNERBATSON by saying, “We are extremely proud of the building that TURNERBATSON designed for us. It takes into consideration everyone’s needs as well as their dreams. The building is both functional and beautiful.”

RESULTS

• Accomplished program objectives few facilities have nationwide.
• Brought multiple departments together in a state-of-the-art facility.