About
HSC Vision
The Hill Student Center strives to be the center of student focused interactions on the UAB Campus. The vision is to create an open environment where students can come not only to study, dine, and socialize; but to also give them access to several different services intended to assist in their personal, academic, and professional growth.
HSC Mission
Hill Student Center enhances the campus environment by providing quality facilities and services to the students, university, and Birmingham community
Core Values
Student Centered
Serve as a central gathering place for all members of the UAB community. Also provide open access to several key student affairs departments that aim to increase the students ability to persist and succeed here at UAB
Diversity & Inclusivity
Foster an understanding and appreciation of diversity across the UAB campus and beyond through programming and open communication
Provide an open forum for university members to demonstrate a commitment to the visual and performing arts, cultural inclusiveness, and intellectual development
Development
Provide experiential and reflective developmental opportunities to cultivate a holistic educational experience that prepares students for their professional and individual future
Service
Provide an excellent level of customer service and engagement to all patrons using the Hill Student Center regardless of classification or title
Provide convenient, useful services in a clean and friendly environment
Safety
Make sure each student feels welcomed and comfortable in the Hill Student Center regardless of any emergency situations that may arise during their visit
Responsibility
Encourage civic treatment of all patrons as well as the facility as a whole. Making sure to keep each area of the facility clean and well-maintained
History
The S. Richardson Hill University Center (HUC, originally the University Center) was the home of student services and activities on the UAB campus from 1983 to 2013. It occupied the site of the present Hill Student Center, on the block between 7th Avenue South and University Boulevard and between 14th and 15th Street South.
Ground was broken for the $8.8 million building in 1980 and it opened its doors on October 10, 1983. The 5-story modernist brick-clad structure was designed by Blondheim, Williams & Golson Architects of Montgomery and built by the B. H. Harmon Construction Co. of Chambers County.
The building was named for former UAB President S. Richardson Hill on May 17, 1991.
The 1983 building was demolished in 2013 to make way for construction of a new $35 million Hill Student Center. Also lost during construction was a row of magnolia trees planted between the sidewalk and the curb by the owner of a store that used to be located at 7th Avenue South and 14th Street. The owner's daughter kept in contact with former UAB Campus Services director Tim Sullivan regarding the condition of the trees.
The Hill Student Center (The HILL) is the home of several student services and activities on the UAB campus. Construction of the facility was completed on the site of the former Hill University Center, on the block between 7th Avenue South and University Boulevard and between 14th and 15th Avenue South. Construction of the new 162,00-square-foot, four-story facility began in 2013 and ended Spring of 2016. It was designed by Hastings & Chivetta Architects of St Louis, Missouri with Herrington Architects of Birmingham. Doster Construction built the center for $35 million. Like its predecessor, the building was named for former UAB President S. Richardson Hill. Within the facility are multiple functional areas focused on serving students including; a multi-media campus visitors' center, a 700+ seat multi-purpose room which can be divided as required, a 250+ seat theater, a food court with established franchises like Panera and Full Moon BBQ, student serving offices and reservable meeting spaces. Retail tenants are set to include the UAB Bookstore (Barnes & Noble), Starbucks Coffee, Panera, Full Moon BBQ, Mein Bowl Asian, and UAB AskIT TechConnect.