Alabama A&M University Welcome Center

The project site is a corner lot adjacent to the campus's entrance with a long history of service to the University and its community. Historically, this lot held Harris & Son Service Station, the first black-owned service station in Huntsville. For many AAMU professors, the station was a place of respite, and for many students, it served as an after-school drop-off point; a place where any student in an old, beat-up car trying to get home could find their way. The station's owner would often take care of them regardless of whether they could pay or not.

The architect was tasked with honoring the site's spirit by turning it into a new "front porch" for the University. The subsequent design sought to bridge the gap between old and new. The building is contemporary in its use of glass and metal panels, but also uses brick, stone, and classical columns along the "porch" to maintain its relationship with the historic campus. In contrast, the multiple retail spaces and multipurpose rooms within are designed with the University's future in mind. The upper floor is designed as one of the first destinations for prospective students and incoming freshman via condensed administrative facilities. Meanwhile, the ground floor features space for various eateries, community rooms, and a campus store, providing a place where the community and University can intersect, just as they did in the days of Harris & Son Service Station.