Project Overview

Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., is known for its strong academic tradition, vibrant campus life, and classical Georgian architecture. When university officials set out to transform the aging Seibert Hall into a modern wellness and student activity center, the goal was clear: honor the campus’s historic character through the delivery of a contemporary facility capable of supporting current and future students. The result is a dynamic renovation and expansion that blends old and new, anchored by a signature pedestrian bridge spanning an active football practice field. Designed by Davis Architects and featuring 117 pieces of precast concrete manufactured by Wells of Monroeville, Ala., the project is a testament to what happens when thoughtful design is combined with strategic execution.

Bridging Tradition and Transformation

Precast concrete was central to overcoming the project’s most complex challenges. The pedestrian bridge features multiradius precast concrete arches that flatten as they rise, an approach that evokes the hand-laid limestone coursing found throughout Samford’s campus. These arches were modeled in Revit with embedded hardware and connections, allowing precise fabrication and minimal field adjustments. Nearby wall zones and column wraps were also clad in precast concrete; acid-etched finishes and coursed reveals visually unify the bridge and the base of the expansion while paying homage to the campus’s legacy architectural aesthetic.

Additionally, with only about 15 ft of clearance around the football field and a consistently active environment, conventional construction methods weren’t feasible. Precast concrete’s just-in-time delivery and rapid installation—completed in just five weeks—kept the field operational and avoided major disruptions. Precast concrete also supported an accelerated schedule. Panel production began while site prep and structural framing were still underway, allowing the most geometrically complex portions of the project to be completed within a narrow window. This speed helped maintain momentum across trades and ensured timely delivery.

Beyond performance and speed, precast concrete contributed to the project’s sustainability goals. Off-site fabrication reduced jobsite waste, noise, and emissions while minimizing disruption to the surrounding campus. The acid-etched finish eliminated the need for coatings that emit volatile organic compounds, and the panels’ durability ensures long-term performance with minimal maintenance. These benefits aligned with the university’s broader environmental goals, which included LEED certification, reuse of original materials, and energy-efficient systems.

The Seibert Hall renovation offers students more than a building upgrade: the work spotlights Samford University’s commitment to honoring its past while investing in its future. Precast concrete was instrumental in realizing the project’s vision, offering a solution that delivered architectural continuity, construction efficiency, and environmental responsibility. In an effort defined by complexity and constraint, precast concrete proved to be the bridge between tradition and transformation.

Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013.

Owner: Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.

PCI-Certified Precast Concrete Producer: Wells, Monroeville, Ala.

Precast Concrete Specialty Engineer: Wells, Brentwood, Tenn.

Architect: Davis Architects, Birmingham, Ala.

Engineer of Record: LBYD Inc., Birmingham, Ala.

Contractor: HOAR Construction, Birmingham, Ala.

PCI-Certified Erector: C&A Erectors, West Monroe, La.

Project Cost: $57.14 million ($1.78 million for the precast concrete)

Key Project Attributes

• Renovations to Seibert Hall at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., transformed an aging recreational center into a modern student wellness and activity hub.
• The project is anchored by a signature pedestrian bridge that spans an active football practice field.
• Blending recreation and wellness for students with traditional and modern architecture for the campus, the project honors Samford’s past while looking to the university’s future.

Project/Precast Scope

• Wells produced 117 pieces of precast concrete for the project, representing 15,170 ft².
• The pedestrian bridge features multi-radius precast concrete arches that flatten as they rise, an approach that evokes the hand-laid limestone coursing found throughout Samford’s campus.
• Multiple sustainability goals were met with precast concrete: off-site fabrication reduced jobsite waste, noise, and emissions; the acid-etched finish eliminated the need for coatings that emit volatile organic compounds; and the panels’ durability ensures long-term performance with minimal maintenance.