3.1 Public Library for the City of Rainsville, AL.

Bid in June of 1991 this 7400 s.f. single story building cost  $407,480 or $55.06 per sq.foot.  This building ended up finding a great site after 2 years of searching.  Two fine local families donated part of their land and shared their pond with the library.  The building has concrete parking lots and a covered drop off area.  On one rear corner is the Gazebo Room with comfortable sofas and chairs and open views of the lake and trees.  Along the back wall are Dormer Study Windows with corian counters and space for two to sit and read or study looking out at the lake.  More pictures are available at:  The Rainsville Library Site .

3.2 The Tom Beville Community Center for the City of Rainsville, AL.

Bid in Jan-92 this 7000 sq.ft. community center is designed for square dances with a stage, wood flooring, & raised seating in the main hall.  There are several additional meeting rooms and a Promenade Porch surrounding the building with Gazebo Porches at each of the four corners.  During the design phase we joked that the Auburn Democrats could claim the SW Gazebo, the Auburn Republicans claim the SE Gazebo, while Alabama fans of similar persuasion claim the NW and NE Gazebos.   Whatever happens there's a place for the teenagers, young adults and young people of all ages in Rainsville at the Tom Beville Community Center.  Total cost at $43.86 per sq. foot for the entire building was very economical at a total cost of approximately $307,000.  More pictures and information is available at:  The Tom Bevill Enrichment Center Site.

3.3 Valley Hills Family Life Center the Housing Authority of Northport, AL.

Bid in Feb-92 this 10400 sq. foot metal building is like a big barn in which to play, learn, and meet.  At $283,000 it only cost $27.41 per sq.foot.  The gymnasium is in the middle with two large fans on one end to pull air through for cooling.  On the other end is a small built-in stage for speakers, plays, bands, etc.  Along one side are storage and classrooms. Along the other side are restrooms, a serving kitchen, a game room, and an office with shower.  This building is kept very busy with basketball & volleyball games, cheerleader practices, study hall work, and it's just a nice place for the young people to hang out at night under friendly, but vigilant eyes.

3.4 BOYKIN GYM IN AUBURN, ALABAMA

Bid in Dec-92 this 16,600 s.f. gymnasium cost approximately $641,000 or about $38.00 per square foot.  Half the funds came from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and half the funds came from the City of Auburn.  The scan of this photograph makes the grill in the building over the front door and the grill in the van both look bent, but they both were straight.  We feel this building successfully provides space for both the City and the local Boys & Girls Club and multiplies the use of many common areas. The front entrance is rather exciting and not so expensive. Notice that the sidewalk squares step in a saw tooth design similar to the stepped wall and glasswork of the entry.  This keeps the large volume of people on the sidewalk as they "round" the corners.  The Boys & Girls Club has a covered porch and separate entry on the right.  The lady in the purple dress is my mother-in-law who's a sweetheart and a fine gardener.  I've visited this building several times when in use and it seems to work quite well.  The City of Auburn last year hired us for another joint venture gymnasium of 16,000 s.f. to be built in front of Drake Middle School.

3.5  OPELIKA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

Bid in Jun-94 this 8800 sq. foot building had a hard time finding a site also.  As first bid it was located tightly jammed between two large, multifamily apartment buildings with a deep slope down a hill.  Later the City of Opelika through dilligent efforts of the Housing Authority Board Members donated a nice flat site just a few hundred feet away.  The housing authority recently built their new main office building on the nearby corner which further strengthened the area as a positive growing community area.  This building cost $48.39 per square foot or $425,820 total.  The two fiberglass encased figures on the front were made by my wife's company Shades of Imagination (her web pages of artwork will follow soon).  The guy with the basketball is over 11 foot long.  The figures seem to be floating upward illustrating the inspirational ability of athletic endeavors. The picture on the right is during construction. Several high windows provide plenty of natural light to save on power bills.

3.6  NORTHPORT PARKING GARAGE
(picture to be inserted later)
Bid in Jun-94 this 3000 sq. foot metal building cost $31.67 per s.f. or $95,000 total.  It has 7 large rollup doors with space for vehicles two deep and one large rollup door for a bus.

3.7  TUSCALOOSA HOUSING AUTHORITY GYMNASIUM

Bid in March-95, this 10,000 s.f. gymnasium was completed in early 1996 at a cost of $486,100 or about $48.60 per square foot.  The City of Tuscaloosa Planning Department was reviewing our schematic plans for this gym as located in a playground in the middle of a housing development and noted the cramped conditions and lack of space for parking.  They called me and asked if we didn't have a better place to put it and I said not.  Adrian Straley, Head of Planning told me the property adjoining our property was recently purchased by the City to give a part to Martin Luther King Middle School next door and the lower 3/4 of that property was without use.  He asked if the housing authority and I might like to see about putting the gym there so we could have plenty of parking and better access for area residents.  I said "SURE!" and spoke with the Director and arrangements were made.  The project cost a little more since the parking lot was not included before, but everyone came out a winner.  Last time I visited the City Police were running programs there for the community.  Watching the kids play volleyball and basketball and study in the study hall is a huge thrill for me.  Apartment buildings just outside are often painted with gang markings, so this facility and programs allow the youngsters and other ages to get involved in healthy productive activities rather than gangs.  This was the first air-conditioned gym I've designed and as such the cost is very affordable.

3.8  BENSON AVENUE FAMILY LIFE CENTER in Tuskegee, Alabama.

FRONT ELEVATION OF THE BUILDING               HAND PAINTED MURAL ON REAR WALL
Bid in Jun-95 this 12,000 s.f. metal building gymnasium with support areas cost $62.61 or $665,460.  This gym too is air-conditioned.  This building is placed next to an existing community building which received some renovations included it this money.  The gym has pull-out seating down each side of the full sized court and a famous artist painted a beautiful mural on the end wall as an inspiration to the young people to dedictate their lives to useful, healthy, productive activities rather than negative, destructive temptations.  This building is designed to be expandable to the rear for boxing and other athletic endeavors.

3.9 The Park Cameron Resource Center for the City of Aliceville, AL.

Bid in Jan-96 this 9000 sq.ft. community center was an automobile dealership damaged by a fire.  Our client purchased the building for a very reasonable price after our intensive investigation.  We added new siding and a new front entry with offices and meeting rooms.  The large gymnasium area is lit and usable but we hope to further renovate it and the kitchen area in the rear as funds become available.