As CCR Architecture & Interiors celebrates its 30th anniversary, we proudly reflect on three decades of creative solutions, meaningful relationships, and positive community impact. Since 1996, our mission has remained consistent: to provide thoughtful, creative solutions that improve and connect communities.
That legacy continues through CCR Vice President Roman Gary. Roman is a service-minded leader driven by a desire to improve his hometown and rebuild blighted neighborhoods. From public to non-profit work, Roman pursues projects that foster a sense of community. In his 21 years at CCR, Roman has led many community-focused projects, including the YMCA Youth Center, Hoover YMCA, YWoodlawn, and Northeast Community YMCA in Birmingham, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in Panama City, Florida.
Currently, he is working on the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center. Roman has helped guide the project’s design approach, ensuring that the new multipurpose facility respects the historic church’s legacy.
The new Education and Visitor Center is located adjacent to the parsonage and sanctuary buildings and is designed to enhance the church’s ability to welcome visitors while honoring its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement.
It includes meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen, dining room, and support spaces for educational programming, community events, and visitor experiences. Designed to complement the historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the project serves as a place for learning and reflection within Birmingham’s Civil Rights District.
Through careful planning and a deep respect for the site’s history, the design creates a balance between preservation and progress. The new center will provide a place where visitors can learn about the events and individuals who shaped the movement for equality, reflect on the lasting impact of those moments, and engage in conversations that continue to influence future generations.
For Roman Gary and CCR, this project represents the firm’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful design that strengthens communities and creates meaningful experiences for its users.
Article originally published by Birmingham Business Journal.