Down South

I've been out on business travel the last few days which can always be a fun adventure though not exactly made for sharing photos.  I'm a professional after all; my work is classified, or I like to think so, 007.

However, being in Alabama for more than six hours is a first for me.  Today we spent the day in Birmingham which is another first.  It is a beautiful and diverse community.  

That being said, the pictures I have to share are of the airport.  Seems I only have time to shoot photos while waiting for a plane.  I'm not usually one to note aviation design, but when you have the time, you take notice.  The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is in the middle of a $200 million modernization project to improve passenger convenience and efficiency while keeping the eye on sustainability.

Here's a photo of one of several canopy structures sheltering the walk from the parking garage to the terminal.  They are in the middle of roofing the one shown.  See where the canopy meets the garage?  I'm interested to see just how they plan to flash it-looks like a mess.  It makes me think someone set the angle incorrectly. 

Above are some shots of the interior.  Though I never saw the state of the concourse prior to renovations, the architect - KPS Group - seems to have done a great job with opening up the interior to natural daylighting.  Light flows in from the curtainwalls looking out onto the air field as well as from above in the form of skylights, bringing light all the way to the back wall.  There is also evidence of LED lighting throughout which is a technology which is finally becoming affordable for the rest of us.

I really like the materials despite that thy are typical of an airport; it must be all the natural light with the the shades of white.  It would be interesting to come back in ten years to see how the white, cast stone tile is holding up.  It could get really dirty--a dust catcher as my mother would say.  I LOVE the over-sized white tiles on the wall.  From far away, I thought they were perfectly polished metal panels.  Perfect installation job by the way.  You'll be seeing this finish again in a modern home with tall, double volume spaces...perhaps a town home!

Another great thing about the Birmingham airport: I'm certain that is Morgan Freeman's voice on the overhead speaker telling you to stay away from unattended baggage.  Sweet.