Creature's Award-Winning Design for Mercantile on Morris

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Birmingham Chapter has awarded Creature with a Citation Award for the interior courtyard at Mercantile on Morris in Birmingham, Alabama.

Mercantile on Morris is an adaptive reuse, mixed use building located in Birmingham’s downtown core. The site is made of three historic buildings. The building connects Morris Ave and 1st Ave N, streets that host businesses, and mid to high-density housing with a public plaza. Commercial tenants front the avenues and the plaza, and a vertical void centrally located in the project produces abundant light and increases the surface area for windows, which allows for the creation of more residential units.

residential courtyard overlooking the interior plaza

The plaza occupies the footprint of the central historic building, while maintaining its facade. The structure required to create the plaza out of the central building creates a rhythm along the existing walls. Cedar ceilings add a balance of warmth with the texture of the brick and steel. The new architecture honors the historic character of the existing structures by recessing from the street edge.

CEO and Co-Founder Mike Gibson accepted the award on behalf of Creature

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