By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Cahaba Building is a concept for an office building with 27 private offices and much more. The hope is to bring people from multiple industries into the downtown area.
Partners in The Cahaba Building, Bo Watkins and Brice Falkner, said the idea began during the pandemic, creating shared commercial office space that provides a professional space for members.
“Those people that got affected the most by COVID are who we are probably going to end up serving the most, it’s the people that are now working at home that may not find it as productive because they have different distractions pulling them away from work, it’s just not conducive to a productive environment,” Falkner said.
With a vested interest in the community, Trussville residents Falkner and Watkins partnered with Ryan Harbuck and Mark Hancock of Hancock Construction, and Justin Collier Architect to bring the project to life. The joint-venture group known as Cahaba Capital Partners will serve as owners and managers of The Cahaba.
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The Cahaba Building will offer 9,600 square feet of space. In addition to 27 private offices, the Cahaba also offers two meeting rooms, a rooftop patio, views of the public plaza, and convenient access to all of the new restaurants, breweries, and entertainment that Trussville has to offer.
Justin Collier Architect, spearheaded the design concept of the building by integrating the original brick, steel, and wood.
“We exposed a lot of the brick, we wanted to leave it and show some historical elements,” Watkins said. “You look at the walls, and it tells you a lot about the age and what this building has been over the years. You have where they mortared over the brick to cover it up, and we tried to pull it all back, but all this structural steelwork was here from when it was Braden’s.”
The Cahaba Building allows for members to entertain clients or guests, and the building will offer members quick access to the city of Trussville’s Downtown Plaza area.
“Maybe that’s something that could be a benefit to them,” Watkins said. “If they wanted to have lunch out there, do something like that.”
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Falkner and Watkins wanted to incorporate a green space where members could go to relax or entertain guests, and during the design process, the rooftop patio was the perfect place. The public will also be invited to rent out the private patio space for events.
Several members have already moved into The Cahaba Building, one of those being Lee Huffstutler with Huffstutler Insurance Group, Inc. Huffstutler said that the convenience and professionalism of The Cahaba Building are what convinced him to set up shop.
“It’s new, it’s the attention to detail here that’s fantastic and the amenities that they have here,” Huffstutler said. “It’s a place that everybody in Trussville is going to know. That made it an obvious choice for me, as I’m starting this new endeavor.”
Huffstutler said that The Cahaba Building fits in with everything that is happening in this downtown Trussville area.
“For somebody who wants to have a place that is not terribly expensive with everything that’s included in here, that it’s going to have a sense of professionalism, that’s easy to get to, and that everybody knows, it just made sense,” Huffstutler said.
Private offices that are fully furnished and provide dedicated data connections will start at $875/month. Each office has floor-to-ceiling glass entries and upgraded acoustics for privacy, and the offices also include access to all the other amenities. Private offices also have a dedicated mailbox for their suite.
The offices will be rented on a month-to-month basis. Watkins explained that members who do not need a private office can use the open area for $250/month.
“You don’t have a designated desk, you just come in here and use it,” Watkins said. “This is for those people who just need a desk for a couple of hours or just need a high-speed internet connection.”
Members receive 24/7 access to the building, and Conference Pass users are granted access from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Even if you’re not a member, you can reserve a conference room. Purchasing a Conference Pass allows you to book the rooms through the online portal for up to two hours for $50/hour during normal business hours. Each room seats up to eight and has the capability to connect your PC or Apple device to a 60” display.
Cahaba Building amenities include:
- 24/7 Access
- Fiber Internet
- Free Printing
- Free Coffee
- Meeting Rooms
- Rooftop Patio
- Member Events
- Plaza Access
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 26, will mark the grand opening. For information, visit www.thecahababuilding.com. The building is located at the corner of North Chalkville Road and Main Street, in downtown Trussville.