On July 28, 2025, the newly constructed atrium for UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Volker Hall opened its doors. After one year of construction, the brand-new space welcomed the incoming class of medical students for their first day of new student orientation. The opening of the atrium marks the completion of a major milestone to refresh Volker Hall and enhance the student experience for UAB’s medical students.
Made possible in part by a gift from the Heersink Family Foundation, the atrium provides a modern look and feel to both the exterior and interior to the existing building. It represents the first street-level Volker Hall entrance from University Boulevard in recent history and provides easy access to the building from the corner of 16th St S and University Boulevard. The exterior also now features the new UAB core logo, which was updated in March 2025 as part of a university-wide brand refresh.
The interior of the atrium includes all-new furniture and light fixtures, providing students with a plethora of new relaxation and study options. The space has also been equipped with ample greenery, including a 24-foot-tall living plant wall. A custom chandelier was also imported from Italy to give the area a unique aesthetic and ambiance. Morning Grounds, a new self-service coffee bar, was installed to service the caffeine needs of Heersink School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students.
“The atrium project was years in the making,” said Craig Hoesley, M.D., senior associate dean for Medical Education. “Now that it’s a reality, we’re thrilled to see the shared excitement from faculty, staff, and students. It serves as a reminder that we care about our students and the spaces they inhabit on our campus. It’s a symbol of our investment in their futures and the future of medical education.”
The Volker Hall Atrium is the latest milestone in a line of renovation efforts for Volker Hall, including its new Active Learning Center, student relaxation spaces, refreshed Medical Student Services suite, and a refresh to its lecture halls currently in progress.