A project that used Pathway Beale Street pavers won a Bronze Award in the recent Brick Industry Association’s Bricks In Architecture contest for a project that restored the historic Fairhope Pier and Park on Mobile Bay in Alabama.
All project photos: Louis E. Curtis, Jr.
A dazzling project, funded by a $10 million RESTORE Act grant, transformed the 10-acre Fairhope Pier and Park South Beach Park area, enhancing its resilience, sustainability, accessibility, and user experience, writes Katie Deaton, social media specialist for Acme Brick, who entered the project into the contest.
The winners demonstrate why brick matters as a sustainable building material offering exceptional durability, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and the ability to achieve any aesthetic.
Clay pavers played a vital role in the project’s pedestrian safety improvements and aesthetic upgrades. The installation of durable, slip-resistant clay pavers throughout the park and pier area ensures ADA compliance while providing a safe, comfortable, and inclusive walking surface for all visitors.
The award recognized Pine Hall Brick Company as the manufacturer, Acme Brick as the distributor. Harris Stone Works as the mason, Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood as the architect, and Louis E. Curtis Jr. as the photographer.
“The winners demonstrate why brick matters as a sustainable building material offering exceptional durability, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and the ability to achieve any aesthetic,” said BIA President and CEO Tricia Mauer.
In all, the Bricks in Architecture competition generated 120 entries this year from the United States, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia and South Africa. Forty-two winners from that number were named in categories including Best in Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze with an overall Craftsmanship Award honoring a mason or team of masons for artful or unique installation.
The project seamlessly integrated with other key renovation components, such as the bulkhead/seawall repair, fountain upgrades, pier enhancements, and new restroom facilities. The clay pavers contribute to the park’s long-term sustainability and will effectively reduce future maintenance costs.
The Fairhope Municipal Pier and Park renovation exemplifies the versatility of clay pavers in elevating public spaces while prioritizing accessibility, safety, and aesthetic appeal. This successful integration serves as an inspiration for future public works projects, showcasing the value of investing in durable, sustainable, and visually striking materials that enhance the built environment and improve the community’s quality of life.
Fairhope, by all accounts, is a neat place to be. If you browse in a bookstore or record shop, you may find the work of locals, such as the author of Forrest Gump or Fried Green Tomatoes; or the musical stylings of one James William Buffett.
Southern Living put it best: It might just be the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. Go visit; we won’t tell a soul. We’re just glad we were able to play a part.
