Creating “the Living Room of UAB”

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Described by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) President Ray Watts as “the Living Room of UAB,” the new Hill Student Center is the place to see and be seen on campus.  The 159,000 sf facility centralizes student services on campus, and is key to achieving a range of the University’s strategic goals, including recruitment and retention. With a curved glass façade facing a prominent campus greenway, the architecture of the Hill Center promotes openness and transparency.  The interior design style and furniture are comfortable, modern and flexible, as well as branded in UAB green and the University’s Blazer mascot.  Bathed in natural light, the central community space forms a backdrop for campus events, impromptu performances and gatherings, as well as daily dining and social activities.

Key functions in the four-story Student Center include extensive seating and lounge spaces, a two-story bookstore, dining, the One Stop student services center, Student Publications & Media, Student Organizations, welcome center, multipurpose areas, a large theater, and as administrative offices. The glass-filled exterior offers transparency into all areas of the facility, truly making it an open and inviting space for students to gather.

The Hill Center was recently featured in Building Design+Construction.