Architect : Nola | Van Peursem Architects
Total Construction Cost : $50M
Square Feet : 109,108
Seating Capacity : 6,000
Project Description:
Alabama A&M University has nearly 150 years of history serving and educating Normal, Ala., and the greater Huntsville area. The school’s new Event Center presents a unique opportunity — to celebrate the past, inspire the future, and serve today’s students, athletes and a community that demands the flexibility of a contemporary, multi-use event and athletic facility.
The Event Center connects the built and natural surroundings by incorporating traditional brick and stone masonry, Tuscan columns, and views of the campus and landscape. To enter the center, visitors are presented with a choice. To the left is a monumental external stone staircase connecting an entry on the concourse level. Comfortable landings with seating and lighting allow for pre- and post-event gatherings that take advantage of the elevated views. To the right is a celebration of Georgian architecture and scale. Impressive Tuscan columns frame the entry into the main lobby, where visitors are able to access the event floor or circulate upward to the elevated concourse. This entry sequence, with its monumental stair and triumphant columns, creates a place for graduates — diploma in hand — to be reunited with their loved ones and serve as the backdrop for photos that capture the past, present and future of the university and its students.
Once inside the building, tall ceilings and ample gathering space define the main lobby — characteristics that are seen throughout the building. Classrooms and a lounge area with an illustrated timeline of the university’s history are found just past the main open stair. This space is used by students and athletes alike, allowing for energy and activity even on non-event days.