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PROJECT
exteriors
Tornado-Devastated Alabama Town Rebuilds With Brick Fired clay brick preserves historic character and integrity of downtown Cullman. Above. After an EF4 tornado devastated historic downtown Cullman, AL, rebuilding the St. John & Associates Inc. office building was an integral part of the community’s reconstruction efforts. Photo: Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds
A
fter an EF4 tornado devastated historic downtown
CCR Architects worked with the city council president to review
& Associates Inc. office building was an integral part
and comment on new Downtown Cullman Design Guidelines. De-
of the community’s reconstruction efforts.
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
veloped and implemented in three months, the guidelines aim to
Birmingham, AL, architect Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds (CCR
preserve and ensure that new construction is compatible with the
Architects) designed the civil-engineering firm’s new 4,000-sq.-ft.
existing historic characteristics of downtown Cullman, including the
building, winning a gold award in the Brick Industry Associa-
rich and diverse historic brick buildings. The design guidelines for
tion’s (BIA, Reston, VA) 2014 Brick in Architecture Awards (com-
commercial and mixed-use buildings state that permitted materials
mercial category, less than $10 million.)
for exterior detailing include wood, brick, stone, cast stone, metal,
“This has been one of the most rewarding projects in my ca-
and materials identical in appearance such as decorative molded ure-
reer, being a part of such an event that is so important to the
thane millwork. Prohibited materials include concrete (when not im-
owner and the city’s recovery,” said CCR’s Richard Carnaggio,
itating permitted materials), metal used incompatibly, vinyl, EIFS
AIA, LEED AP. “The owner has become quite a brick aficionado
(exterior insulation and finish systems), and other materials deemed
who now photographs interesting brickwork and has even given a
inappropriate by the design-review committee.
presentation on masonry coursing in relation to his building and 38
the historic buildings from the city’s past,” he said.
Cullman, AL, in April 2011, rebuilding the St. John
NOV/DEC 2014
www.cbpmagazine.com
Building owner Bill St. John spearheaded the guidelines with his
