One of three stained-glass windows inside Spencer Honors HouseOne of UAB’s most recognizable buildings will get a facelift this semester. The stained-glass windows in Spencer Honors House, the 118-year-old home to classrooms and meeting areas for the UAB Honors College situated on 10th Avenue South, will be removed and restored during a months-long process this fall.
As the three glass windows and their surrounding wood façades are removed for restoration, contractors will replace each with a temporary plywood covering. The building’s west window is currently being restored; the south has been removed and will be reinstalled within the month, and the east will be removed, repaired and replaced in the coming months.
“Spencer Honors House has a rich history as both a part of the UAB campus and as a Birmingham landmark,” said Sarah Smith, planning, design and construction project manager in the UAB Facilities Division. “Ensuring its stained-glass windows remain preserved means future generations of Blazers and Birminghamians can continue to enjoy their beauty.”
In addition to the stained-glass restoration, more renovations are in store for the Honors College at UAB. In June, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved a renovation to the former Snoozy’s Bookstore for a facility that also will house the Honors College — in addition to its current home in Spencer Honors House.
The renovation will comprise the entire two-story, 11,000-square-foot structure with a total construction cost of $2.69 million. The exterior grounds will be leveled and developed into a landscaped courtyard. Renovation is scheduled to begin in August and be completed in May 2020.
