KPS Group

KPS Group

KPS Group Adds to Board of Directors

New Board Members and Senior Vice Presidents, Thomas “Topper” Parham AIA and Jasper Cornett AIA 

 

We are pleased to announce that Thomas “Topper” Parham AIA and Jasper Cornett AIA have been promoted to Senior Vice President and named to the KPS Group, Inc. Board of Directors.  Both Jasper and Topper have served in key leadership roles at KPS for several years.  They join existing Board members Donald Simpson AIA, President; Hugh Thornton AIA, Chairman; Donna Dowling IIDA, Director of Interiors; and Kristine Harding FAIA, Huntsville Studio Director as part of the firm’s third generation of leadership since its founding in 1965.  Their addition to the firm’s senior leadership team assures continuity and stability across all practice areas and is a commitment to our clients, our employees, and the values that have contributed to our success.

This expansion of the Board reflects KPS Group’s recognition of the next generation of emerging leadership and our commitment to maintaining the firm’s stability for both clients and employees.

Meet Our New Senior Vice Presidents

 

Jasper Cornett, AIA, LEED® AP  |  Senior Vice President

Jasper Cornett has a passion for design and an ability to forge enduring connections with both clients and peers.  With a diverse portfolio spanning aviation, institutional, education, hospitality, and corporate buildings across the country, his long-term relationships with clients like the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and the Lakeshore Foundation are a testament to his ability to synthesize the needs of multi-faceted stakeholders with differing priorities into a cohesive vision embraced by all.

Jasper has led many technically demanding, one-of-a-kind projects during his tenure at KPS including the Barber Vintage MotorSports Museum and the Stran-Hardin Arena at the University of Alabama – the only new collegiate basketball facility in the United States designed for adapted athletics.  Among his noteworthy projects are the recently completed 2222 Arlington building, the LEED Gold, $200M Terminal Modernization & Expansion Program and $46M Rental Car QTA at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, the Lakeshore Foundation’s Multipurpose Recreation Facility (and home of the US Paralympic Rugby Team), and the I-3 Academy charter school.  Current projects include a $90M new corporate campus for Bank Independent, the US Space & Rocket Center’s Master Plan and Inspiration 4 Skills Training Facility, and the new Tramont luxury condominium tower.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Architecture, Jasper is a registered architect in both Alabama and New York.  He is NCARB certified and a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional.  He joined KPS Group in 1993.  

Contact Jasper | jcornett@kpsgroup.com

Thomas “Topper” Parham, AIA, AAH | Senior Vice President & Director of Healthcare Design

A career specialist in healthcare design, Topper Parham has over 20 years of experience and an extensive portfolio that encompasses the comprehensive range of healthcare-related projects nationwide including hospitals, medical office buildings, physician practices, surgery centers, and senior assisted living.  His collaborative approach and focus on accountability have earned him a loyal client base that trust him to look after their best interests.

Topper has been instrumental in establishing KPS Group as one of Birmingham’s leading providers of healthcare design and oversees these projects firmwide.  The firm has secured dozens of projects across the healthcare and senior living spectrum under his leadership including the new $300M UAB Medical West Replacement Hospital campus in McCalla, ambulatory surgery centers across the country, the headquarters clinic of Birmingham Orthodontics, upgrades to the UAB Highlands Hospital and Medical Office Building, and the interior development of the Grandview Hospital Medical Office Building.  Topper is the current president-elect of AIA Birmingham and an active participant in both the American Institute of Architects and the Academy of Architecture for Health. He has been a guest lecturer for the UAB Master of Healthcare Administration program.

Topper earned his Master of Architecture & Health from Clemson University’s prestigious graduate studies program.  A registered architect in Alabama and NCARB certified, he joined the firm in 2017.

Contact Topper  | tparham@kpsgroup.com

 

 

 

A Legacy of Design Excellence

KPS Group projects have been recognized with more than 125 awards and accolades from peer, community, and client groups 

We’re proud of the reputation we’ve earned for outstanding design and innovative solutions that enhance the client’s competitive advantage – and honored by the accolades our work has received from peer, community, and client groups. 

The Pizitz

Above, the Pizitz – a LEED® Certified building recognized for its key role in the revitalization of downtown Birmingham – has been lauded by over a half-dozen local, regional, and national organizations for outstanding achievements in design, sustainability, urban renewal, adaptive re-use, and historic renovation.  These include:

Merit Award, Birmingham AIA  |  Development of Excellence Award, Urban Land Institute  |  Finest Realization of Historic Building Potential, Real Estate Forum + Globe Street  |  Gold Award + Sustainable Project of the Year Award, ICSC National Design & Development Awards  |  Southeast Region Best Renovation/Restoration, Engineering News Record  |  National Best Historic Project, Marvin Windows Architects Challenge

Other KPS Group projects that have been recognized for design excellence include:

St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church

St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church (above) received a Merit Award from AIA Alabama in 2022.  Creating connections between functional areas and preserving the character of this historic church were the two key concerns for this renovation and addition.  The new Randolph Memorial Hall (left) features a warm stone and slate exterior and large metal windows that bathe the parish hall in natural light while capturing views of Red Mountain.  Elevating the new room above grade allowed the urban church to provide a motor court, porte-cochère, and entrance that connects to all levels of the facility.  The new glass connector perched atop an existing stone arcade (right) links the church’s sanctuary with Christian education and the new fellowship hall and provides a central elevator with half-stops to make all levels of the church accessible, while a metal sculpted angel watches over those who enter the new columbarium garden walk and into different functions of the church complex.

Most recently, KPS Group’s design for the renovations and additions at St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church in Birmingham received a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects | Alabama Chapter.

Bakers Row

Bakers Row (above) received both an Honor Award from AIA Birmingham and a Merit Award from AIA Alabama. This adaptive re-use in Birmingham’s Parkside revitalization district transformed a former bread factory into a vibrant office building, honoring the building’s “bones” by maintaining its original sawtooth clerestory windows and industrial feel.  Three flour silos remain, serving as reminders of the 1930s building’s history as the landmark Merita Bakery.

Avondale Park and the Southern Progress Headquarters

The renovations and additions to Avondale Park received a Merit Award from ASLA Birmingham.  With a reimagined amphitheater, new ballfields, custom designed entry, and new fountain featuring Birmingham’s beloved “Miss Fancy,” Avondale Park has been hailed as a catalyst for the Avondale neighborhood’s revitalization.  (above left)

The Southern Progress Headquarters received Honor Awards from the Alabama, Georgia, and Gulf States Regional chapters of the AIA, and in 2018 was the first building to be recognized with the AIA Alabama’s 25-Year Award for buildings that have stood the test of time and continued to set standards of excellence for architectural design and significance.  The building leans into its natural landscape, expressing Southern Progress’ philosophy of “enlightened use of the land.”   (above right)

 

19th Judicial District Court and Ruffner Mountain Nature Center

The 19th Judicial District Court of Appeals in Baton Rouge received a Merit Award from AIA Birmingham and a Rose Award from AIA Baton Rouge, and was featured in the Retrospective of Courthouse Design 2001-10.  Sited in a downtown redevelopment area and anchoring a government mall with a dynamic mix of historic and contemporary buildings, the 10-story building respects its Baton Rouge context and judicial function with clean lines, transparency, and traditional roots.  (above left)

The Ruffner Mountain Nature Center received an Honor Award from AIA Alabama, the Southeast Wood Design Award, and the Conservation Development Award from the Cahaba River Society; and was named Green Project of the Year by the Birmingham Business Journal.  This LEED® Gold building was designed to be a lesson in sustainability for the thousands of schoolchildren who visit each year.  (above right)

Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts

The Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama Birmingham received a Merit Award from AIA Alabama.  KPS collaborated with design architect Randall Stout FAIA of Los Angeles, CA to realize the vision for what would be his last project.  (above)

Contact

Hugh Thornton, AIA | hthornton@kpsgroup.com

St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church Recognized with AIA Alabama Excellence in Design Award

St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands received a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects | Alabama

KPS Group’s design for additions and renovations at St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church was presented with a Merit Award from the Alabama Council of the American Institute of Architects at the 2022 Excellence in Design Awards Gala held on Saturday, October 22nd during its annual Conference on Architecture.  

St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands is the oldest church in Birmingham’s Five Points South Historic District and one of the city’s best examples of English Revival ecclesiastical architecture.  Beloved by parishioners, the original 1892 English Gothic church campus was expanded to include Drennen House – a stone parlor building – and a former YMCA building converted to educational space in 1974.  As is common with many older parishes, St. Mary’s was faced with obsolete systems and deteriorating physical facilities.  Compounding this were core issues of connectivity between essential levels and spaces on the steeply sloping site, as well as access from the surrounding narrow residential streets. 

Church stakeholders were carefully guided through a master planning process designed to elicit an understanding of aesthetic desires and program priorities as well as perceived issues and the facility wish list.  After optional solutions were developed, the Church decided what they wanted to accomplish and KPS worked with a general contractor to determine costs.  The scope of improvements was finalized after a process of “right-sizing” to align vision and desired budget.  KPS helped the Church communicate the project vision to the parish, providing images of design solutions to be used for fundraising. 

Led by project director Hugh Thornton AIA, the design team conducted a master planning process to determine specific needs and studied optional ways to solve the Church’s core issues.

Connectivity and character were the two key concerns for this renovation and addition:  connecting worship to Sunday school; forging connection with a new generation of young families with safe, relevant spaces to worship, learn, and celebrate; and maintaining connection with aging congregants by improving access to the beautiful Gothic building.  Just as important was assuring the historic character of the iconic original sanctuary was replicated in new and renovated structures.  The topography of the steeply sloping urban campus created multiple issues. Relying on street parking in a busy residential neighborhood, the campus lacked safe, convenient street access. Primarily outdoors, circulation was challenging. Essential levels and spaces lacked connection. Deteriorating facilities and systems needed rehabilitation, and the Church wanted a large, column-free parish hall.

Solutions prioritized renovation of existing space over demolition. New buildings are clad in the style of the old church, adding functionality while connecting with the past.  A new parish hall steps back to avoid traffic and defer to Drennen House and provides a safe, covered campus entry.  A new accessible circulation system connects new spaces to the existing sanctuary. Education and administrative spaces have been reprogrammed and modernized.

Forging Connections

Programmatic functions housed by the various additions precluded logical adjacencies and resulted in inefficient use of space, forcing parishioners to go in and out of buildings rather than flowing through them to transition between worship, fellowship, and educational functions.  Further, many of the floor levels of the previous additions did not align.  This limited use and created a particular hardship for elderly and disabled parishioners.

The team worked closely with the Church’s building committee to develop the solution:  a glass second-story connector perched atop an existing stone arcade and positioned to connect the sanctuary with the parlor, Christian education building, and new parish hall.  The connector incorporates a new central elevator that provides an accessible route to all levels of the church, using “half stops” to interconnect with various levels and resolve accessibility issues.  The connector’s scale and proximity to worship and education spaces fosters gathering and fellowship.  Below the new connector, the existing stone loggia was partially dismantled and reassembled with a new floor plate to finally connect the existing sanctuary and Drennen House.  Improved circulation from the stone loggia leads visitors through the new memorial gardens to the expanded columbarium.  A metal sculpted angel watches over those who enter the garden walk and into different functions of the church complex.

The New Randolph Memorial Hall

The new Randolph Memorial Hall features a warm stone and slate exterior and large metal frame windows that bathe the parish hall in natural light while capturing views of Red Mountain.  Elevated above an abandoned alley easement, it provides this urban church with a motor court, porte-cochere, and entrance that connects to all levels of the facility.  The parish hall fulfills two key needs:   a large, column-free banquet facility and safe, convenient access from the surrounding streets.  Stepping back to avoid traffic in this busy neighborhood, it defers to the existing Drennen House.  Elevating the parish hall above the former alley created the opportunity for both vehicular access and a covered drop-off below to serve as the primary accessible church entrance.  In addition to sheltered pedestrian and vehicular circulation for church functions, the motor court is used for outdoor worship services and neighborhood engagement.  Clad in the style of the old church, the building brings new functionality while providing a link to the past. 

The Randolph Memorial Hall also provides St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands with an expansive, high quality space for church events, weddings, and other large gatherings.  Supported by a new commercial kitchen, its large banquet space draws inspiration from the design of the historic sanctuary.

 

 

 

 

Contact

Hugh Thornton, AIA | hthornton@kpsgroup.com

KPS Group Welcomes Its Third Generation of Leadership

New firm leaders (l to r) Kristine Harding FAIA, Donald Simpson AIA, Donna Dowling IIDA, and Hugh Thornton AIA

Birmingham-based KPS Group, Inc., one of Alabama’s largest architecture and design firms, has announced leadership changes.  Donald Simpson, AIA has been elected President of the firm and Hugh Thornton, AIA has been named Chairman of the Board.  Graduates of the Auburn University School of Architecture, both have spent their careers at KPS and have long been principals of the firm.  This transition to the firm’s third generation of leadership since its founding in 1965 represents continuity and stability across all practice areas of the firm and is a continuing commitment to its clients, its employees, and the values that have contributed to its success.  Other key leaders of the firm are Board members Donna Dowling, IIDA, Director of Interiors and Kristine Harding, FAIA, Managing Principal of the Huntsville office.  Gray Plosser, FAIA, has stepped down from the role of President and CEO that he has held since 1984, and continues his professional practice at KPS in a new role as Senior Principal.

The culmination of a years-long plan, this leadership change was implemented gradually to provide a seamless transition experience for the firm’s clients as well as our employees.

Donald Simpson, AIA, LEED® AP  |  President

Donald Simpson, AIA, LEED® AP Principal | Director of Operations

Donald Simpson always relishes a challenge – that’s probably why he is the go-to person at KPS Group for especially complex and technically demanding projects. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of project types with a common theme – they have complicated programs with many moving parts. He has consistently championed initiatives that offer clients best-in-class services, like the firm’s adoption of BIM technology and its Client Service Quality Initiative.

A graduate of Auburn University’s School of Design and a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional as well as a licensed architect in multiple states, Donald Simpson has been with KPS for more than 30 years and leads the firm’s Civic & Culture practice group. Nationally recognized for his expertise in courthouse design, he has a multi-faceted portfolio of institutional and private sector building programs nationwide. Donald also has significant experience in higher education and banking operations. He has led some of the most technically complex projects undertaken by Alabama universities and is known for his ability to deliver outstanding results on one-of-a-kind endeavors.

Contact Donald | mailto:dsimpson@kpsgroup.com

Hugh Thornton, AIA, LEED® AP | Chairman

Hugh Thornton, AIA, LEED® AP | Chairman

Hugh Thornton’s goal on every project is to make the client feel that they have been well advised, gotten more than their money’s worth, and enjoyed the process – and his long-standing client relationships are evidence that he’s achieving it. Believing that the best project results evolve out of a partnership between architect and client, the years he has spent forging and nurturing those partnerships have crystallized into a coherent philosophy rooted in developing a true understanding of the client’s problems and earning trust by delivering on our promises. Leading by example, Hugh propagates the value of this philosophy firm-wide.

With degrees in both architecture and environmental design from Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Hugh Thornton leads the firm’s Workplace & Technology and Learning practice groups. An expert in adaptive re-use, Hugh’s widely varied portfolio ranges from corporate and commercial office buildings to educational buildings to master planning and capital programs for mature churches. Hugh is known for his achievements in the design of competitive sports facilities for wheelchair-bound athletes, and led the team designing the first new collegiate adapted athletics arena in the nation. He has been with KPS Group for over 30 years.

Contact Hugh | mailto:hthornton@kpsgroup.com

Donna Dowling, IIDA, LEED® AP | Senior Principal & Director of Interiors

Donna Dowling, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED® AP Principal | Director of Interiors

Donna Dowling enjoys working closely with her clients to translate their purpose, culture, and vision into branded spaces that embody who they are – whether that is a business, a university, a church, a hotel, or any of the wide range of project types in her extensive portfolio. She is highly regarded for her expertise in helping clients pinpoint where they are now, forecast where they want to be, and understand how their mission and vision can be expressed and supported through design image. Donna’s enthusiasm and genuine desire to engage designers at all levels into the process have attracted the best and brightest designers to the KPS interiors studio.

A graduate of the University of Alabama and licensed interior designer, Donna Dowling brings more than 30 years of experience in interior design, space planning, and programming. With a portfolio encompassing more than 10 million square feet of corporate and commercial office space, she is an expert in the design of spaces for business with a keen ability to integrate company-specific program and vision into pre-existing or leased space.   Donna provides leadership on interior design efforts for all project types firm-wide and collaborates with the architectural teams to create cohesive environments.

Contact Donna | mailto:ddowling@kpsgroup.com

Kristine Harding, FAIA, NCARB, LEED® GA  |  Senior Principal & Huntsville Office Director

Kristine Harding, AIA, NCARB, LEED® GA

Telling clients what they need to hear – not what they want to hear – is at the core of Kristine Harding’s approach to every project. This candor has led to enduring relationships with loyal clients who count on Kristine to tell it like it is. By avoiding unfamiliar technical jargon and explaining things in layman’s terms, she helps her clients clearly understand the implications of their options and make informed decisions. This attitude extends to the project teams Kristine leads, where she’s careful to make sure the entire team understands the client’s needs and intent before moving forward, bringing a sense of collaboration to every endeavor. Kristine’s commitment to serving her clients’ interests is matched by her passion for evolving the practice of architecture in response to the 21st century technical and practical demands facing its diverse population of young professionals.

In 2018, Kristine Harding’s vital leadership in shaping the future of the profession led to her elevation to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects – an honor that has only been accorded to some 3% of its members nationwide. A graduate of Rice University and licensed architect in both Alabama and Tennessee, Kristine leads the firm’s Huntsville office and its teams on a wide variety of projects in the corporate, civic, and institutional markets. In addition to her demanding role at KPS, she has held numerous leadership positions in professional and civic organizations, and was named to the Alabama General Contractors Hall of Fame in 2017.

Contact Kristine | mailto:kharding@kpsgroup.com

Helping Redstone Federal Credit Union Visualize the Future with Advanced Computer Graphics

Led by Huntsville office director, Kristine Harding FAIA, the KPS team is working closely with Redstone Federal Credit Union to expand their presence across the Tennessee Valley.  Three projects are currently underway – new freestanding combination branch and office buildings in Murfreesboro TN and Huntsville AL, and a new drive-thru Teller Station on North Parkway in Huntsville. The Credit Union, named one of the “best banks” in the country by Money Magazine in 2018 and 2019’s recipient of NAFCU’s Credit Union of the Year award, envisioned modern buildings evocative of their forward-thinking approach. 

Drone fly-overs of the downtown Huntsville site helps RFCU stakeholders understand what the project will look like in context when completed.

KPS designers routinely translate design concepts and plans into 3-dimensional renderings that help owners make informed decisions about design.  Using an array of sophisticated graphics programs, the design team showed RFCU decision-makers progressively more realistic depictions of what their buildings would look like as the designs evolved.  Beginning with simple 2-dimensional sketches and massing models, the team provided RFCU with highly detailed 3-D renderings and drone fly-overs that have allowed them to compare design options and fully understand what their buildings will look like from all angles when completed, down to the smallest detail.

 

Downtown Huntsville Branch Complex

Slated for completion in 2020, Redstone Federal Credit Union’s new downtown Huntsville branch and office building at 200 Davis Circle will appear to glow as motorists travel into the city from the interstate. Close up, the building’s design of glass and metal panels will be even more impressive, with a fresh and cutting edge look.  The 66,718sf building will span five floors and include a ground floor Retail Branch as well as a Community Room and Rooftop Terrace.

 

Huntsville Drive-Thru Teller Station

This modern, drive-thru Teller Station will stand out for its design, convenience, and functionality. Featuring video teller services as well as general ATM functions, it is slated to open early in 2019.

 

 

 

 

Flagship Tennessee Branch Office

Currently under construction, the new flagship Tennessee branch office on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro is anticipated to open in the fall of 2019. The 28,000sf complex will incorporate a retail branch, administrative office space, and a call center, with a Community Room and Terrace on the top floor.

 

 

Contact

Kristine Harding, FAIA | kharding@kpsgroup.com

Adapted Athletics

Stran Hardin Arena for Adapted Athletics at University of Alabama

Designing Sports & Recreation Facilities for Athletes and Students with Disabilities Takes ADA and Universal Design to the Next Level

Sports can play an important therapeutic role in both the physical and mental health of persons with disabilities.  Recreational and competitive adapted athletics programs are becoming more commonplace at colleges and universities across the country, with high profile programs that feed directly into the international competition of the US Paralympic games.  The increasing popularity of competitive adapted sports has highlighted the need for specialized facilities responsive to the unique requirements of these athletes and athletic programs.

Hugh Thornton, AIA, Birmingham Studio Director

Led by Birmingham Studio Director, Hugh Thornton AIA, our team recently completed the first new purpose-built collegiate adapted athletics arena in the United States.  We’ve designed facilities for adapted sports and recreation for over 20 years.

Stran-Hardin Arena for Adapted Athletics at the University of Alabama: Breaking New Ground

When the KPS team was selected by the University of Alabama to design the new arena for its national championship wheelchair sports teams – the first facility of its kind in the nation – the designers drew on lessons learned from their work on the Lakeshore Foundation’s award-winning recreation facility and feedback from its US Paralympic coaches.  Armed with that insight, our team fleshed out and refined the University’s initial program and project goals with input from UA facilities staff and Alabama Adapted coaches and players to develop this groundbreaking facility.  The arena is named for Dr. Brent Hardin and Dr. Margaret Stran, founders of the University of Alabama’s Adapted Athletics program, whose vision and dedication led to this facility specifically designed to suit the needs of physically disabled athletes.

A Facility Worthy of National Championship Teams

UA Stran-Hardin ArenaAttached to the south façade of the existing Student Recreation Center, the 27,000sf arena maintains synergy with the existing building while establishing its own distinctive identity.  A soaring entrance lobby, featuring custom graphics celebrating the teams’ accomplishments, leads to a 2-level lobby concourse with a dramatic floating ramp to its second floor viewing platform.  The NCAA-regulation basketball court provides bleacher seating for 500.  Coaches’ offices and a multi-media team meeting room are tucked under the upper viewing lobby.  Separate Home and Visitors’ locker rooms are equipped with lockable lockers and direct access, roll-in showers.  Support spaces include a weight room, wheelchair & equipment storage and service areas, and laundry.

Custom Designed to the Smallest Details

The design team was challenged to go beyond 100% accessible in this innovative facility, and collaborated closely with University coaches, players, and facilities staff.  Starting with corridors wide enough for two camber wheelchairs to comfortably pass and double entry doors with no center poles, even the smallest design elements were examined for ways to enhance the athletes’ experience and competitive edge.  Clearances around the basketball court exceed NCAA standard, with a generous setback for bleachers.  Many features were custom designed, from the roll-up lobby reception desk, to the lockers, to wheelchair storage and repair facilities.  Every detail was tested and adapted for ease-of-use.

 

The Lakeshore Foundation:  Realizing a Bold Vision

Known around the world for its innovative programs, the Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood, Alabama is a unique organization whose mission is to provide unparalleled recreational and therapeutic opportunities for the physically disabled.  Home to one of the nation’s leading centers for the advancement of athletics for people with physical disabilities and the only center of its kind in the southeast, Lakeshore attracts international athletes with disabilities to its training facilities.  Coaches, many of whom have stellar athletic careers of their own, have come to Lakeshore from all over the world, drawn by Lakeshore’s barrier-free recreation and athletic complex, staff expertise, and commitment to expanding opportunities for the physically disabled.

Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility:  Home of the U.S. Paralympic Rugby Team

KPS was commissioned to design a 42,500sf recreational facility on the Lakeshore campus that would allow its members to participate in a wide range of fitness, recreation, athletic, and education programs.  Featuring a grand 2-story atrium with sweeping campus views and a viewing lobby overlooking its Aquatic Center, it houses 3 courts striped for basketball, wheelchair rugby, and volleyball as well as a 200-meter track, bocce courts, therapeutic and competition pools, fitness center, marksmanship range, archery lanes, administrative and coaches’ offices, team locker rooms, and a sports science & medicine facility.

Because the building’s users are predominantly disabled, it was designed to be 100% accessible, greatly exceeding ADA requirements.  In 2003, the US Olympic Committee designated Lakeshore as the first-ever official USOC Training Site for both Olympic and Paralympic sports.  Since that time, the facility has trained thousands of disabled athletes and serves an average of 3,000 users annually.

The Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility is the official home of the US Paralympic Rugby team.  It was recognized internationally with an Award of Special Distinction from the IOC/IAKS 2005 Architecture & Sport Competition in Warsaw, Poland.  KPS is currently designing a new research wing for the facility.

Visiting Athlete Dormitory

After Lakeshore Foundation’s Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility was chosen as one of five US Paralympic training facilities, the Foundation needed to provide suitable space to house the disabled athletes and military veterans it welcomes from across the nation.

A former transitional living unit for the rehabilitation hospital on the campus offered an economical and ecologically sound solution to the problem.  The design team’s primary challenges were to make the unoccupied 11,000sf building compatible for exclusive use by the disabled while transforming its sterile atmosphere into a casual and inviting ambience much like a college dorm.  As well, Lakeshore wanted to incorporate sustainable features to achieve LEED Certification from the US Green Building Council. 

The Dormitory provides 100% accessible living space for its athletes-in-residence.  The central section of the building was substantially rebuilt with a double-height volume to bring daylight into its new common areas and kitchen.  Natural light, high ceilings, bright colors, and organic shapes evoke the motion and high energy of the athletes.  Interior materials and finishes were chosen for their durability, with strategically placed splashes of color and tactile surfaces that aid wayfinding for the visually impaired.

 

Contact

Hugh Thornton, AIA | mailto:hthornton@kpsgroup.com

 

Huntsville office director Kristine Harding named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects

Kristine Harding FAIA

Kristine Harding is among those architects named to the AIA College of Fellows in 2018, an honor awarded to AIA members who have made significant contributions to the profession of architecture. A principal at KPS Group, Kristine leads the firm’s Huntsville office and serves on the Board of Directors.  Her clients include the Huntsville International Airport, Boeing, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Oakwood University, the City of Scottsboro, Commercial Office Properties Trust (COPT), and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  In addition to her demanding role at KPS, she has held numerous leadership positions in professional and civic organizations, and was named to the Alabama General Contractors Hall of Fame in 2017.

KPS now counts two Fellows among its leadership – unusual for any firm, but particularly so for a firm of our size.

Oakwood University Health & Wellness Center - Redstone Federal Credit Union Murfreesboro

Only some 3% of AIA members have achieved the distinction of Fellowship, 41 of them in Alabama, since the inception of the College of Fellows in the 1920s. Kristine Harding is the third woman architect in Alabama to be elevated to AIA Fellowship, and the first Alabama architect to be named to the College of Fellows since 2014.  A trailblazing architect whose focus over the past 13 years has been to bring the architectural licensure process into alignment with the technical and practical aspects of the 21st century, Kristine is passionate about our profession’s need to embrace the real world demands faced by its diverse population of young professionals.  Her achievements in facilitating architectural licensure through leadership roles in both the AIA and the National Council of Architectural Review Boards (NCARB) have redefined the profession’s approach to ensuring the resiliency of practice and helped to forge alliances between the two organizations.

Clearview Cancer Center - Huntsville Utilities - National Childrens Advocacy Center

Kristine served as the FY 2016-17 President of NCARB, is a past president of both the Alabama Council AIA and the North Alabama Chapter AIA, and was Chair of the State of Alabama Board for Registration of Architects from 2005 to 2007. She has received the AIA Alabama Council’s Accolade – its highest honor – as well as multiple certificates of appreciation from Alabama’s highest officials including Governor Kay Ivey.  A participant in Leadership Alabama Class 16 and Huntsville-Madison County Leadership Class 14, Kristine has been active in many civic organizations including the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Madison County Marina & Port Authority.

Contact

Kristine Harding, FAIA | kharding@kpsgroup.com

KPS GROUP

Bakers Row | Suite 100
60 14th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35233

KPS GROUP

t: 205.251.0125
info@kpsgroup.com
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