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[[Image:Quinlan Castle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Quinlan Castle in August 2006]]
[[Image:Quinlan Castle.jpg|right|thumb|450px|View of the southeast corner of Quinlan Castle in August 2006]]
The '''Quinlan Castle''' is a 4-story, castle shaped apartment building built on the northwest corner of [[9th Avenue South]] and [[Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard South]]. The building features a light brown stone façade. The roofline is highlighted with both battlements and four separate turrets, with one at each corner. It is divided into two sections connected with a pair of stone archways. The interior has since fallen into a state of disrepair as it has remained vacant since the mid-1990s, but includes 72 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments.
'''Quinlan Castle''' was a 4-story, stone-veneered, castle-shaped building on the northwest corner of [[9th Avenue South]] and [[21st Street South]]. It was constructed in [[1927]] and originally housed 72 efficiency-size apartments.
 
It was vacated in the late 1990s and ownership defaulted to the [[City of Birmingham]]. Over the next decade the city regularly solicited proposals for its redevelopment, a process slowed by historic preservation protections applied to the structure. In [[2008]], the building was purchased by [[Southern Research|Southern Research Institute]] for $400,000. They made repairs to the exterior, but did not reopen the building. In [[2022]] the building was demolished for construction of a new [[Center for Pandemic Resilience]].


==History==
==History==
Opening in [[1927]] as the '''Quinlan Castle''', the building was designed by architect [[William C. Weston]]. Although no one is certain why the castle design was carried out, one legend credits a pair Birmingham doctors for it. Legend says after serving in the U.S. military in France during World War I, the doctors wanted to recreate one of the medieval castles they had seen there.
Quinlan Castle was designed by [[C. W. Ford]] and constructed by [[H. P. Hanna]], who formed the [[Quinlan Construction Company]] for the $100,000 project. The unusual castle motif has been credited to a pair of doctors, investors in the building, who were inspired by castles they saw in France during [[World War I]]. A [[1929]] advertisement makes the unlikely claim that the design was based on "the actual plans of a medieval English castle."


Constructed by [[H.P. Hanna]] of the [[Quinlan Construction Company]], a [[1929]] advertisement for the castle quoted that its eclectic design was taken "from the actual plans of a medieval English castle." Although this was never confirmed, it acted in adding an even greater degree of intrigue for Birmingham's castle.
The building is composed of two U-shaped halves connected by arched gateways on the north and south, forming a 4-story rectangle punctuated with dozens of arch-topped windows. The roofline is crested with a battlement and adorned with conical turrets at each corner. The building was constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, infilled with structural clay tile and clad with rough sandstone veneer.


The ''Quinlan'' moniker was taken from its location along [[Quinlan Avenue]], which has since been renamed [[9th Avenue South]]. The street had been originally named for Mobile's [[Bishop Quinlan]], who had purchased the hilltop and surrounding property and planned to make it the site of Birmingham's first Catholic church.
The floor slabs were poured with integral joists separated by hollow tiles. The building's plumbing and heating systems were supplied by the [[Birmingham Purchasing Company]]. [[Vulcan Brick & Tile Co.]] furnished structural clay tile. The [[Grayson Lumber Company]] supplied framing lumber, and the [[Carmichael Tile Company]] supplied interior ceramic tile. [[Birmingham Paint & Glass Co.]] supplied glass and glazing and the [[Builders Supply Company]] supplied kitchen equipment. The building formally opened on [[August 20]], 1927. [[Wood & Hawkins]] were the apartments' rental agents.


In [[1940]], the castle was at the center of controversy when it was rumored that it served as the headquarters for the Communist Party in Birmingham. In that year, Birmingham police Lt. [[Ollie F. Osborne]] raided the building after it was discovered [[Robert Hall]] was renting an apartment there. At that time Hall was the secretary of the Communist Party chapter in Birmingham. The incident resulted in its name being changed to the '''Royal Arms Apartments''' to regain its stature as one of Birmingham's premier apartment communities.
The name of the building was adopted from [[Quinlan Avenue]], the former name of [[9th Avenue South]] which honored [[Bishop Quinlan]] of the [[Catholic Diocese of Mobile]]. Quinlan had purchased the hilltop and surrounding property as a potential site for Birmingham's first Catholic church.


In 1984 the Quinlan Castle was added to the [[List of Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Places]].  
[[File:1997 Quinlan Castle ad.png|left|thumb|250px|1997 ad for Quinlan Castle]]
Quinlan Castle was rumored to have been the Birmingham headquarters for the [[Communist Party]]. In fact it was home to party secretary [[Robert Hall]]. The building was raided by [[Birmingham Police Department|Birmingham Police]], led by Lieutenant [[Ollie Osborne]] in [[1940]], but they found little of interest besides a letter from a [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] employee suggesting Communist activities in that agency. Still, the negative publicity led the owners to change the name to the '''Royal Arms Apartments'''.


In [[1994]], the castle gained a great degree of local publicity as then Birmingham City Councilman [[William Bell]] leased a $295 per month efficiency within the complex. Bell took residence here after a great deal of controversy arose after it was revealed he living in the neighboring [[Pickwick Hotel]] to be eligible to run as a candidate for the [[Jefferson County Commission District 2]] seat whilst remaining within his elected city council district. His move into Quinlan was done in an effort to minimize this controversy. Residents of the complex believed his presence would improve their living conditions and make the complex safer.
In [[1984]] Quinlan Castle was added to the [[List of Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Places]]. Its ownership fell to the City of [[Birmingham]] in [[1993]].


In [[1995]], the city cleaned the exterior, added new landscaping and renovated the apartments for use as lower-income apartments. Additionally, signage at the corner of 9th and Arrington was added that features both its completion date and the Quinlan coat of arms. The Quinlan coat of arms is of Irish origin and features "two lions rampant combatant between a mullet surmounted of a crescent in chief and a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erect in base all gules" on the seal. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jkmacmul/namemeanings-coatofarms/quinlan.html]
Quinlan returned to the spotlight in [[1994]] when then [[Birmingham City Council|City Council]] representative [[William Bell]] was running for [[Jefferson County Commission]] [[Jefferson County Commission District 2|District 2]]. In order to establish residency in both districts, he took a room in the [[Pickwick Hotel]]. When the temporary nature of his arrangement was publicized, he leased an efficiency at Quinlan Castle. Residents interviewed in the press hoped that the Councilman's presence would lead to improvements in safety and maintenance for the deteriorating facility.


After becoming the property of [[Birmingham]] in January [[1993]], the future of the structure has remained in doubt due to its deteriorating state. By [[1998]], the structure was added to the ''Places in Peril'' list of the [[Alabama Historical Commission]] and the [[Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation]].
[[Image:Quinlan arms.jpg|right|125px]]
In [[1995]], the city cleaned the exterior, added new landscaping and signage, and renovated the apartments as affordable housing, managed by [[Engel Real Estate]]. The new signs added a Quinlan coat-of-arms depicting "two lions rampant combatant between a mullet surmounted of a crescent in chief and a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erect in base all gules" on the seal. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jkmacmul/namemeanings-coatofarms/quinlan.html]


At 6:00 a.m. on February 26, [[2003]], a small fire broke out in one of its apartment units. The [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service]] ruled the fire as accidental and was probably caused by vagrants inproperly discarding a cigerette.
The apartment building was vacated by the mid 1990s and its ownership reverted to the [[City of Birmingham]]. The future of the structure remained in doubt due to its deteriorating state. By [[1998]], the structure was added to the ''Places in Peril'' list of the [[Alabama Historical Commission]] and the [[Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation]]. In the morning of [[February 26]], [[2003]], a small fire broke out in one of its apartment units. The [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service]] ruled the fire an accident and stated that it was probably caused by vagrants.
 
Over the next decade the city regularly solicited proposals for its redevelopment, a process slowed by historic preservation protections applied to the structure. In [[2008]], the building was purchased by [[Southern Research|Southern Research Institute]] for $400,000. They made repairs to the exterior, but did not reopen the building.


==Redevelopment==
==Redevelopment==
[[File:Quinlan Castle Google Earth view.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Google Earth view of Quinlan Castle from the southeast]]
[[File:2021 Quinlan Castle interior.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Interior of Quinlan Castle in 2021]]
Each year since [[1999]] the City of Birmingham has solicited proposals for redevelopment of the property.  
Each year since [[1999]] the City of Birmingham has solicited proposals for redevelopment of the property.  


Line 41: Line 49:
In September [[2006]], Birmingham received these new proposals:  
In September [[2006]], Birmingham received these new proposals:  


* A proposal from the [[Southern Research Institute]] to purchase the building for use as a storage facility or as additional office or laboratory space. They may also decide to completely demolish the interior for a central utility plant and preserve the exterior facade as a shell.
* A proposal from the [[Southern Research Institute]] to purchase the building for use as a storage facility or as additional office or laboratory space. They may also decide to completely demolish the interior for a central utility plant and preserve the exterior facade as a shell. SRI offered $400,000 for the building.
* A proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs would convert the building into short-term housing for families and patients at the [[Birmingham VA Medical Center]].
* A proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs would convert the building into short-term housing for families and patients at the [[Birmingham VA Medical Center]].
* A proposal from [[Urban Development and Management]] would convert the castle into 32 condos and 50 underground parking spaces.
* A proposal from [[Urban Development and Management]] would convert the castle into 32 condos and 50 underground parking spaces.
* A fourth proposal from developer [[Herschell Hamilton]] has since been withdrawn.
* A fourth proposal from developer [[Herschell Hamilton]] has since been withdrawn.
* In [[2007]], Tampa, Florida developer John Hagan told the press that he submitted a proposal after the deadline which would be more lucrative than the three being negotiated. He argues that since the city is continuing to market the property, that his proposal should be considered.
No deal was reached with any of these parties. In the fall of 2006, [[Lee Stayer]]'s 3rd grade class at [[Advent Episcopal School]] wrote letters to the ''[[Birmingham News]]'' as part of a class assignment to share their ideas of how the castle should be redeveloped. The children's proposals included a movie theater, orphanage, library, mall, animal shelter, hotel, antique shop and a medieval museum.
===2008===
The city again solicited proposals for purchase and redevelopment of the property in May [[2008]]. Among the proposals were those from the Veteran's Administration and from Urban Development and Management (who offered $520,000 to purchase the property), as well as SRI's $400,000 offer. The mayor's office recommended that the city approve Southern Research's proposal because it has adequate parking in the area already and the expansion of biotech uses benefits the city. The [[Birmingham City Council]] voted to approve the mayor's recommendation on [[August 5]]. [[Valerie Abbott]] was the only member to vote against the proposal, saying that the deal did not include the language protecting the historic facade.
SRI closed on the purchase in early December and proceeded with plans to stabilize the roof and facade. On [[February 21]], [[2009]] the turret roofs were lifted off the corners of the building and set down on the flat part of the roof to make them accessible for repairs. Exterior windows and fences were replaced and the courtyards were cleaned of overgrowth and litter.


As a result of the recent press given to the property for the 2006 proposals, a group of third-graders from [[Advent Episcopal School]] wrote letters to the ''[[Birmingham News]]'' expressing their ideas of how the castle should be redeveloped. Under the direction of their teacher [[Lee Stayer]] some of the children's proposals included: a movie theater, orphanage, library, mall, animal shelter, hotel, antique shop and a medieval museum. The children wrote the letters as a part of a class assignment after learning how to properly compose one.
==Demolition==
[[File:2022-01 Quinlan demolition.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Demolition of Quinlan Castle in January 2022]]
In November [[2021]] Southern Research executive CEO [[Josh Carpenter]] announced plans to demolish Quinlan Castle for construction of a new [[Center for Pandemic Resilience]]. He and architect [[Joel Blackstock]] explained that the historic building was beyond repair and entirely unsuited to any modern use, let alone to the non-profit's mission. The [[Birmingham Design Review Committee]] confirmed that no restrictions had been attached to the transfer of property, and unanimously approved the demolition permit on [[November 16]]. Demolition began on [[January 7]], [[2022]].


==References==
==References==
* Coman, Victoria L.(November 08, 2006) "Third-graders offer ideas for saving Quinlan Castle." ''Birmingham News.
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll8/id/34454/rec/4 New Apartment Opened]" (August 25, 1927) ''Dixie Manufacturer'', vol. 17, no. 4, p. 21 - via {{BPLDC}}
* Coman, Victoria L.(October 7, 2006) "City looks at Quinlan Castle future." ''Birmingham News.
* {{Burkhardt-1982}}
* Coman, Victoria L.(October 3, 2006) "4 plans to redevelop castle reach city." ''Birmingham News.
* Dedrick, Patricia (May 10, 1994) "Bell hopes move into apartment quells flap over residency rules." {{BN}}
* Estes, Cary (September 29, 2006) "City's castle may soon find its knight." ''Birmingham Business Journal''. [http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2006/10/02/story3.html?i=57629&b=1159761600^1353446]
* Walsh, Maggie Hall (December 13, 1995) "Quinlan Castle unique building saved, talk about it continues." {{BN}}
* Birmingham Business Journal (July 20, 1999) "Keep Quinlan Castle." ''Birmingham Business Journal''. [http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/1999/08/02/editorial1.html]
* Scribner, Chris (March 25, 2001) "Quinlan Castle may find style." {{BN}}
* Anderson, John (February 27, 2003) "Metro briefs." ''Birmingham News.
* Goldman, Adam (March 4, 2002) "Quinlan Castle renovation plans stall over parking." {{BN}}
* Coman, Victoria L. (December 3, 2003) "Castle saving quest: plan in the works to save Quinlan." ''Birmingham News.
* Anderson, John (February 27, 2003) "Metro briefs." {{BN}}
* Goldman, Adam (March 4, 2002) "Quinlan Castle renovation plans stall over parking." ''Birmingham News.
* Coman, Victoria L. (December 3, 2003) "Castle saving quest: plan in the works to save Quinlan." {{BN}}
* Scribner, Chris (March 25, 2001) "Quinlan Castle may find style." ''Birmingham News.
* "[http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/1999/08/02/editorial1.html Keep Quinlan Castle]" (July 20, 1999) {{BBJ}}
* Blackledge, Brett J. (November 10, 1999) "Firm offers $400,000 for castle." ''Birmingham News.
* Blackledge, Brett J. (November 10, 1999) "Firm offers $400,000 for castle." {{BN}}
* Walsh, Maggie Hall (December 13, 1995) "Quinlan Castle unique building saved, talk about it continues." ''Birmingham News.
* Estes, Cary (September 29, 2006) "[http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2006/10/02/story3.html?i=57629&b=1159761600^1353446 City's castle may soon find its knight]" {{BBJ}}
* Dedrick, Patricia (May 10, 1994) "Bell hopes move into apartment quells flap over residency rules." ''Birmingham News.
* Coman, Victoria L. (October 3, 2006) "4 plans to redevelop castle reach city." {{BN}}
* Coman, Victoria L. (October 7, 2006) "City looks at Quinlan Castle future." {{BN}}
* Coman, Victoria L. (November 8, 2006) "Third-graders offer ideas for saving Quinlan Castle." {{BN}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (February 2, 2007) "Fighting for the castle." {{BBJ}}
* Coman, Victoria L. (June 5, 2008) "City seeking Quinlan Castle site proposals." {{BN}}
* DeButts, Jimmy (August 4, 2008) "Mayor selects SRI's bid to purchase Quinlan Castle." {{BBJ}}
* Coman, Victoria L. (August 5, 2008) "Birmingham Council accepts SRI's $400,000 on Quinlan Castle site." {{BN}}
* DeButts, Jimmy (February 23, 2009) "Renovations begin on Quinlan Castle." {{BBJ}}
* Bryant, Joseph (March 27, 2009) "Southern Research shows off first restoration efforts for Birmingham's Quinlan Castle." {{BN}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (November 17, 2021) "‘Unusable’ Quinlan Castle will be demolished, replaced with Southern Research biotech center." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (January 7, 2021) "Demolition begins on Quinlan Castle." {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=243504 Quinlan Castle] on Emporis.com
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=243504 Quinlan Castle] on Emporis.com
* [http://www.dupontcastle.com/castles/quinlan.htm Quinlan Castle] on Castles of the United States
* [http://www.dupontcastle.com/castles/quinlan.htm Quinlan Castle] on Castles of the United States
* [https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=69599411%40N00&view_all=1&text=Quinlan Photos of Quinlan Castle] on Flickr.com
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=4a723833cc0403fb9dd0973cf9e73bf5 3-D model] of Quinlan Castle by Jordan Herring


[[Category:Southside apartments|Quinlan Castle]]
[[Category:Southside apartments]]
[[Category:1927 buildings]]
[[Category:1927 buildings]]
[[Category:9th Avenue South|2030]]
[[Category:2022 demolitions]]
[[Category:21st Street South|915]]
[[Category:9th Avenue South]]
[[Category:William Weston buildings]]
[[Category:21st Street South]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:C. W. Ford buildings]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
[[Category:Southern Research]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 15 January 2022

View of the southeast corner of Quinlan Castle in August 2006

Quinlan Castle was a 4-story, stone-veneered, castle-shaped building on the northwest corner of 9th Avenue South and 21st Street South. It was constructed in 1927 and originally housed 72 efficiency-size apartments.

It was vacated in the late 1990s and ownership defaulted to the City of Birmingham. Over the next decade the city regularly solicited proposals for its redevelopment, a process slowed by historic preservation protections applied to the structure. In 2008, the building was purchased by Southern Research Institute for $400,000. They made repairs to the exterior, but did not reopen the building. In 2022 the building was demolished for construction of a new Center for Pandemic Resilience.

History

Quinlan Castle was designed by C. W. Ford and constructed by H. P. Hanna, who formed the Quinlan Construction Company for the $100,000 project. The unusual castle motif has been credited to a pair of doctors, investors in the building, who were inspired by castles they saw in France during World War I. A 1929 advertisement makes the unlikely claim that the design was based on "the actual plans of a medieval English castle."

The building is composed of two U-shaped halves connected by arched gateways on the north and south, forming a 4-story rectangle punctuated with dozens of arch-topped windows. The roofline is crested with a battlement and adorned with conical turrets at each corner. The building was constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, infilled with structural clay tile and clad with rough sandstone veneer.

The floor slabs were poured with integral joists separated by hollow tiles. The building's plumbing and heating systems were supplied by the Birmingham Purchasing Company. Vulcan Brick & Tile Co. furnished structural clay tile. The Grayson Lumber Company supplied framing lumber, and the Carmichael Tile Company supplied interior ceramic tile. Birmingham Paint & Glass Co. supplied glass and glazing and the Builders Supply Company supplied kitchen equipment. The building formally opened on August 20, 1927. Wood & Hawkins were the apartments' rental agents.

The name of the building was adopted from Quinlan Avenue, the former name of 9th Avenue South which honored Bishop Quinlan of the Catholic Diocese of Mobile. Quinlan had purchased the hilltop and surrounding property as a potential site for Birmingham's first Catholic church.

1997 ad for Quinlan Castle

Quinlan Castle was rumored to have been the Birmingham headquarters for the Communist Party. In fact it was home to party secretary Robert Hall. The building was raided by Birmingham Police, led by Lieutenant Ollie Osborne in 1940, but they found little of interest besides a letter from a Tennessee Valley Authority employee suggesting Communist activities in that agency. Still, the negative publicity led the owners to change the name to the Royal Arms Apartments.

In 1984 Quinlan Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Its ownership fell to the City of Birmingham in 1993.

Quinlan returned to the spotlight in 1994 when then City Council representative William Bell was running for Jefferson County Commission District 2. In order to establish residency in both districts, he took a room in the Pickwick Hotel. When the temporary nature of his arrangement was publicized, he leased an efficiency at Quinlan Castle. Residents interviewed in the press hoped that the Councilman's presence would lead to improvements in safety and maintenance for the deteriorating facility.

Quinlan arms.jpg

In 1995, the city cleaned the exterior, added new landscaping and signage, and renovated the apartments as affordable housing, managed by Engel Real Estate. The new signs added a Quinlan coat-of-arms depicting "two lions rampant combatant between a mullet surmounted of a crescent in chief and a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erect in base all gules" on the seal. [1]

The apartment building was vacated by the mid 1990s and its ownership reverted to the City of Birmingham. The future of the structure remained in doubt due to its deteriorating state. By 1998, the structure was added to the Places in Peril list of the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. In the morning of February 26, 2003, a small fire broke out in one of its apartment units. The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service ruled the fire an accident and stated that it was probably caused by vagrants.

Over the next decade the city regularly solicited proposals for its redevelopment, a process slowed by historic preservation protections applied to the structure. In 2008, the building was purchased by Southern Research Institute for $400,000. They made repairs to the exterior, but did not reopen the building.

Redevelopment

Google Earth view of Quinlan Castle from the southeast
Interior of Quinlan Castle in 2021

Each year since 1999 the City of Birmingham has solicited proposals for redevelopment of the property.

1999

Southern Research Institute proposed to demolish the structure to make way for additional parking and a proposed expansion of their facilities early in 1999. The city refused to sell without an agreement to protect the exterior appearance of the building. After the SRI proposal, the city recieved four proposals for its reuse in November 1999. These proposals included:

2001

A proposal for the structure in March 2001 from the QC Partners would have converted the castle into 30 luxury apartments. By March 2002 the project stalled and was eventually cancelled after an agreement for parking could not be reached.

2003

A failed 2003 proposal from Excell Financial would have converted the castle into 20 luxury condominiums. The proposal called for 16 two-story townhomes and 4 penthouse units with access to the roof and to the castle's turrets. Covered parking on the castles eastern side would have also been included as part of the development.

2006

In September 2006, Birmingham received these new proposals:

  • A proposal from the Southern Research Institute to purchase the building for use as a storage facility or as additional office or laboratory space. They may also decide to completely demolish the interior for a central utility plant and preserve the exterior facade as a shell. SRI offered $400,000 for the building.
  • A proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs would convert the building into short-term housing for families and patients at the Birmingham VA Medical Center.
  • A proposal from Urban Development and Management would convert the castle into 32 condos and 50 underground parking spaces.
  • A fourth proposal from developer Herschell Hamilton has since been withdrawn.
  • In 2007, Tampa, Florida developer John Hagan told the press that he submitted a proposal after the deadline which would be more lucrative than the three being negotiated. He argues that since the city is continuing to market the property, that his proposal should be considered.

No deal was reached with any of these parties. In the fall of 2006, Lee Stayer's 3rd grade class at Advent Episcopal School wrote letters to the Birmingham News as part of a class assignment to share their ideas of how the castle should be redeveloped. The children's proposals included a movie theater, orphanage, library, mall, animal shelter, hotel, antique shop and a medieval museum.

2008

The city again solicited proposals for purchase and redevelopment of the property in May 2008. Among the proposals were those from the Veteran's Administration and from Urban Development and Management (who offered $520,000 to purchase the property), as well as SRI's $400,000 offer. The mayor's office recommended that the city approve Southern Research's proposal because it has adequate parking in the area already and the expansion of biotech uses benefits the city. The Birmingham City Council voted to approve the mayor's recommendation on August 5. Valerie Abbott was the only member to vote against the proposal, saying that the deal did not include the language protecting the historic facade.

SRI closed on the purchase in early December and proceeded with plans to stabilize the roof and facade. On February 21, 2009 the turret roofs were lifted off the corners of the building and set down on the flat part of the roof to make them accessible for repairs. Exterior windows and fences were replaced and the courtyards were cleaned of overgrowth and litter.

Demolition

Demolition of Quinlan Castle in January 2022

In November 2021 Southern Research executive CEO Josh Carpenter announced plans to demolish Quinlan Castle for construction of a new Center for Pandemic Resilience. He and architect Joel Blackstock explained that the historic building was beyond repair and entirely unsuited to any modern use, let alone to the non-profit's mission. The Birmingham Design Review Committee confirmed that no restrictions had been attached to the transfer of property, and unanimously approved the demolition permit on November 16. Demolition began on January 7, 2022.

References

External links

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