Honoring History and Cementing The Future

Nestled amid the bustling streets of downtown Birmingham, the legacy Hood-McPherson Building stands as a testament to the city’s history. Originally built in 1914, the six-story structure became a cornerstone of the city’s retail scene in 1932 as the Hood-McPherson Furniture showroom. The building had periods of both vibrancy and vacancy through the years, notably a stunning renovation in the early 1960s and a long-empty stretch before the building was purchased by previous owners at auction in 2011.

Auburn University purchased the building in 2018 and has embraced a vision beyond renovation, creating a more formal foothold in the Magic City to house collaborative programs that connect Auburn students with area professionals and alumni.

Space to Grow

Transforming the Hood-McPherson Building, now known as Auburn in Birmingham, creates a permanent home for Urban Studio, an academic program that empowers students in Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) to immerse themselves in real-world projects shaping the urban landscape of Birmingham. Formally the Center for Architecture and Urban Studies and founded in 1991, Urban Studio enables students to design architectural projects in an urban context, build relationships with local practicing professionals and see firsthand the strategy, challenges and opportunities involved in community development projects.

“Auburn University has always been dedicated to serving the entire state, and our solidified presence in Birmingham underscores our mission to provide high-quality education and resources to communities throughout Alabama,” said Vini Nathan, Auburn University provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “By bringing programs from our College of Architecture, Design and Construction and the Harbert College of Business programs to Birmingham, we are not only enhancing experiential learning for our students, but also strengthening partnerships with local businesses and industries.”

Urban Studio has been instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Birmingham, leaving an indelible mark through initiatives like the Pepper Place Farmer’s Market and Railroad Park. Over the years, the Urban Studio has moved to several locations in Birmingham. Its first long-term home was in the old Parisian building on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 20th Street, before moving to the Young and Vann building, then to Pepper Place, before finally settling in the historic Porter Building downtown.

“Urban Studio has had an invaluable presence in Birmingham over the past 30 years, bringing expertise and creativity from our faculty and students to the city’s revitalization efforts,” said Karen L. Rogers, interim dean in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. “Creating a new home for the program within the Hood-McPherson Building underscores what the program is about—giving our students an immersive experience and creating opportunities for them to collaborate with each other and industry professionals to find new ways to meet the needs of Alabama communities.”

Programs in CADC will be housed in the building’s second and third floors, designed to maximize the educational experience and encourage community. Each floor features studio, work and gallery areas, along with faculty offices, telecommuting workstations and a small conference space. A fabrication laboratory, equipped with materials, software, and tools to help students create design prototypes, will be located on the first floor beyond the building lobby.

Industry and Innovation

CADC won’t be the only Auburn college in the renovated building. The Harbert College of Business will occupy the fifth and sixth floors, a testament to Auburn’s commitment to fostering excellence in business education.

The expansion into Birmingham will allow college leaders to better leverage the expertise of alumni and business professionals to enrich the student academic experience through special seminars, engagement events and mentorship.

“We are excited to bring Harbert faculty and students closer to the heartbeat of Alabama’s business community, with opportunities to engage with area industry leaders and alumni,” said Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, dean of the Harbert College of Business. “We see many possibilities, particularly for graduate and executive education.”

The fourth floor—featuring a large multifunctional classroom space, small group meeting rooms and a relaxing lounge area—will be a shared space for collaborative endeavors between HCOB and CADC, including the Institute for Real Estate Development, City Builders Symposium, and the Master of Real Estate Development Program.

The fifth and sixth floors both feature hybrid instructional spaces and collaborative areas, plus workshare spaces that will act as a bridge between current students and working professionals. The facility will also accommodate executive education for alumni and working business leaders, graduate-level degree programs and post-graduate credentialing education, as well as networking and special alumni events to connect graduates with their fellow professionals.

As Birmingham continues to revitalize its downtown areas, Auburn University will play a role in the city’s transformation—highlighting its land-grant mission and advancing excellent academic programs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement.

By Kendra Carter ’08