Davis Design Crush: | Interiors We Love
As Valentine’s Day approaches, I am in my 23rd year at Davis Architects, and I started thinking about our team and the work we do. As a tribute to the things we love, I would like to introduce the Interiors team and share our favorite Davis projects & details with you!
Kathleen Cowley Hirschfield has been with Davis for 20 years and is an Associate and Senior Designer on our team. Her favorite details are the elegant fiber optic chandeliers in the BJCC Concert Hall Lobby, which Davis renovated in 2008. Kathleen says: “These custom fiber optic chandeliers at the BJCC Concert Hall were so fun to design, detail, and then to see installed. I love how they enliven the space.”
Morgan Nelson, a registered Interior Designer since 2016, is also an Associate and has been with Davis for 11 years. Morgan’s favorite detail is the First Round Draft Pick wall in the Recruiting Lounge of the University of Alabama’s Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, which Davis completed in 2018. Each helmet holds a small projector that flashes player highlights on the face mask, which proved to be a challenge for the design team. Morgan says: “I really love this whole project and the process of designing it, but I specifically like this wall because of the coordination & collaboration with 49Degrees to figure out how these helmets would work with the computers located in the rear wall and accessed from the other side.”
Amelia Hicks, who received her Registration as an Interior Designer in 2025, has been with Davis for 4 years. One of Amelia’s recent projects is Seibert Hall, completed in 2024 at her alma mater, Samford University. Siebert is the home of all things related to Samford Campus Recreation. Amelia comments on one of her favorite parts of the project. “The bridge that connects Seibert to adjacent housing areas is a compelling example of thoughtful, purposeful design expressed through detail and composition. Encountering it for the first time while driving onto campus was striking — it immediately communicated a sense of identity and care in the built environment.”
Kacy Hawkins Gall is a Junior Designer who has been at Davis for 5 years. When asked about her favorite detail, Kacy also pulled inspiration from Seibert Hall. “One of my favorite design details is the ‘hobbit hole’ at Seibert Hall. It is a perfect reminder that even the most utilitarian elements, like a watercooler, can become thoughtful, playful features with the right design approach.”
Katie Carnes came to Davis in 2022 and works as a Junior Designer on our team. Katie’s favorite project is Auburn University’s McWhorter Center, the home of AU Softball and Gymnastics, which Davis renovated in 2024. Of the McWhorter Center, Katie says: “I love the Auburn McWhorter Center renovation because it truly captures the Auburn spirit and helps cultivate a sense of the Auburn Family among the athletes who pass through this facility. War Eagle!”
Emily Raley is another Junior Designer who has worked with us at Davis for 3 years. She says, “Over my three years at Davis, my favorite project has definitely been the University of North Alabama’s new Bank Independent Football Stadium, now under construction and set to be completed Fall 2026. I learned so much throughout the process, and it really helped me to work more independently on other smaller projects. I also helped design UNA’s weight room, which was super fun for me! As someone who practically lives at the gym, getting to combine my work with one of my personal passions made this project both fun and incredibly rewarding.”
Matthew Richardson is an Interiors Intern who will graduate from the University of Alabama in May 2026. Matthew has been at Davis for almost a year. Though the Environmental Education Center at the Alabama 4H Center was completed many years ago, in 2007, Matthew says, “My favorite project from Davis is the Environmental Education Center. As someone who loves environmental education and LEED buildings, this was truly inspiring for me to see, and it helped lead me to Davis, love at first plan if you will!”
Finally, I always say that my favorite project is my most recently completed project. Crimson Reserve is the Men’s and Women’s Golf Facility at the University of Alabama. Not only is the expansive site and course magnificent, but the Clubhouse is also the perfect combination of state-of-the-art training facilities with high-end hospitality interiors curated specifically for each team.
It is a privilege to work with the entire amazing team at Davis every day. We treat each job as a new and fun adventure, and we take great pride in our work. To borrow a statement from our website: We are “rooted in relationships. We’re more than a team — we are a family. Our culture is built on mutual respect, shared passion, and a commitment to one another and our craft.”