Empire Building

The Empire Building is a 16-story, 247 foot tall classical revival style skyscraper built on the northwest corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North in 1909. The building was developed by the Empire Improvement Company, represented by Frederick Larkin. Architects were William T. Warren and William Leslie Welton. The contractor was T C. Thompson & Brothers

The elaborate and colorful glazed terra-cotta cornice features a repeating shield motif of large white capital "E"s, representing the developer. The arched niches above the paired windows in the upper story feature sculpted busts of allegorical figures. Larkin (as Frederick the Great) and Welton (as Emperor William) appear among them.

The building was constructed on the site of the former Bank Saloon. When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama. Within four years that honor was passed to the American Trust and Savings Bank Building right across the street.

The four early Twentieth century skyscrapers at 20th Street and 1st Avenue were billed, at the time, as the "Heaviest Corner in the South." Over the years, that claim was inflated to the improbably "Heaviest Corner on Earth", which remains a popular name for the grouping.

In 1965 the building was purchased and renovated for City National Bank. It is now the downtown headquarters of Colonial Bank.

In 1982 the Empire Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

References

• Jefferson County Historical Commission. (1998) Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama Images of America Series. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN0752413465