KAYLA LAUREN | ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

When integrating this building to the urban form it was critical to respect the surrounding historical context.  However, this is not to say that improvements can not be made in Mobile. Looking at the big picture of the Mobile City code and what it would take to bring developers into downtown, this building stands to show how minor adjustments would benefit city growth. By adding one more floor to code limits, the cost of construction can be justified. Adding the requirement to hold at least 1/3 of the highest average monthly rainfall on site will begin to offset the undersized storm sewer and lower the severity of the flooding problem. Strategic design moves such as the use of subtle angles, water management strategies and dual structures drove this design to respond to the existing city in a thoughtful way.