TURNERBATSON is pleased to announce it is the recipient of the Best of Education: Higher Ed Award at the 2023 IDIE Awards presented by The International Interior Design Association – Alabama Chapter (IIDA-AL). The awards showcase the exemplary work of the chapter’s members and celebrate excellence in interior design. Winners were announced and honored at an event on Friday, April 21, 2023, at The Florentine in Birmingham, Ala.

TURNERBATSON won Best in Higher Education for the work at Highlands College. Highlands College is a Biblical higher education institution that exists to train and empower student leaders to fulfill the Great Commission. The college was able to purchase a 62+ acre former corporate headquarters in a prime Birmingham suburb.

The project transformed an existing corporate office into a collaborative, light-filled, energetic space for educating, training, and fellowship. The design includes a new glass curtainwall addition and a comprehensive renovation of a three-story, 294,000 SF facility to create collaborative and relational place for the students and faculty.

“TURNERBATSON was thrilled to be honored for our work at Highlands College,” said TURNERBATSON President Dave Reese. “This project is so unique and so personal to us. It was the result of a terrific collaboration between the leaders of Highlands College and our consultant team.”

The biennial awards program invites organizations, firms, and furniture dealers to submit projects completed in the previous two years. Submissions are judged by a panel of professional peers who practice in other market areas. This year’s awards drew 88 submissions from 28 firms and furniture dealers.

“Alabama is rich with interior design talent, and it is our honor to recognize those contributing to the industry through the IDIEs,” says Mary-Claire Brown, IIDA Alabama Chapter President. “Congratulations to all the winners – we thank you for your participation and help in growing our profession and industry.”

IIDA-AL is the state’s association for the commercial interior design industry, providing resources to professionals and students in the industry and their clients to advance the profession and enhance business value. The chapter has a City Center located in Birmingham, as well as Campus Centers at Auburn University, Samford University and the University of Alabama. Members enjoy a variety of professional development programs and networking events throughout the year to support culture, enhance business value, solve problems, and bring awareness to the field of commercial interior design.

Sponsors of the 2023 IDIE Awards include: Interior Elements, Shaw Contract, Tarkett, and BPI.

For more information about IIDA-AL, visit https://www.iida-al.org/.