Architectural Design / Miscellaneous

KENWORTH OF BIRMINGHAM

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Evan Terry Associates, LLC

Kenworth of Birmingham is a large truck sales and service center that is located in an aging, isolated group of buildings in an industrial area in the northern section of Birmingham. Needing a higher profile location for their premier facility in the state, Kenworth of Alabama partnered with the city of Birmingham to locate their new facility, just a stone's throw from I‑65 on Finley Boulevard. This new location, with its higher visibility, is hoped to be a catalyst for further new development in an economically depressed area of Birmingham.  The building is uniquely divided into a glass and CMU sales and administrative building and a multi‑bay, metal paneled service building. Bisecting the two is an expansive plane of CMU forming a four‑hour fire wall.

The sales and administration building consists of an aluminum and glass curtain wall system bisected with planes of painted CMU. The large expanses of glass allow for a panoramic view by the sales staff of the sales lot as well as a clear view within the building from the outside. The view to the inside is punctuated by a grid of black hollow metal view lights and bright red doors. Red painted CMU planes form portals into the main entrances.

Owner:
Kenworth of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama