Brown Marx Building: Difference between revisions
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The building was financed by the [[Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company]], and designed by architect [[William C. Weston]]. The exterior of the building was light-colored brick with rusticated banding and arched windows on the third story, surmounted by a cornice. The ground floor was clad in stone with broad expanses of glass showcasing retail goods. The interior was clad in Alabama marble, and the roof parapet was surrounded by a broad, highly detailed cornice. Most of these details have since been removed. As early as 1930, when the building was again expanded, the rusticated story was covered over with a more "streamlined" art-deco inspired light-colored banding. The cornice has since been replaced by a metal-clad mechanical enclosure at the roofline. | The building was financed by the [[Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company]], and designed by architect [[William C. Weston]]. The exterior of the building was light-colored brick with rusticated banding and arched windows on the third story, surmounted by a cornice. The ground floor was clad in stone with broad expanses of glass showcasing retail goods. The interior was clad in Alabama marble, and the roof parapet was surrounded by a broad, highly detailed cornice. Most of these details have since been removed. As early as 1930, when the building was again expanded, the rusticated story was covered over with a more "streamlined" art-deco inspired light-colored banding. The cornice has since been replaced by a metal-clad mechanical enclosure at the roofline. | ||
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 | 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 improbable "[[Heaviest Corner on Earth]]", which remains a popular name for the grouping. In 1985 the "Heaviest Corner on Earth" was added to the [[List of Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Places]]. | ||
In 1951 U. S. Steel (which had absorbed TCI) moved their Birmingham headquarters from the Brown Marx to the new [[Flintridge Building]] in [[Fairfield]]. A pool hall was located in the basement for a while. Other tenants included the [[Southern Building Code Congress]]. | In 1951 U. S. Steel (which had absorbed TCI) moved their Birmingham headquarters from the Brown Marx to the new [[Flintridge Building]] in [[Fairfield]]. A pool hall was located in the basement for a while. Other tenants included the [[Southern Building Code Congress]]. | ||
Revision as of 15:12, 6 September 2006
The Brown Marx Building is a 193,000 square foot, 16-story, 210 foot tall Chicago-style steel-frame office tower on the northeast corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North.
History
The site of the Brown Marx Building was where Charles Linn built the first National Bank of Birmingham in 1873. Known as "Linn's Folly", the building hosted Birmingham's first Calico Ball.
The Brown Marx Building, named for Otto Marx and Eugene Brown, early tenants of the structure. (The alternate name, The Eugeneotto Building, was rejected early-on). It was built in two phases beginning with a narrow 16-story tower on the corner (pictured), which was completed in 1906. The immediate success of that building encouraged the builder to more than double the overall size of the building over the next two years. In 1908 the footprint of the building was expanded, creating a U-shaped plan with an average of about 12,000 square feet per floor and windows providing natural light to every office.
The building was financed by the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company, and designed by architect William C. Weston. The exterior of the building was light-colored brick with rusticated banding and arched windows on the third story, surmounted by a cornice. The ground floor was clad in stone with broad expanses of glass showcasing retail goods. The interior was clad in Alabama marble, and the roof parapet was surrounded by a broad, highly detailed cornice. Most of these details have since been removed. As early as 1930, when the building was again expanded, the rusticated story was covered over with a more "streamlined" art-deco inspired light-colored banding. The cornice has since been replaced by a metal-clad mechanical enclosure at the roofline.
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 improbable "Heaviest Corner on Earth", which remains a popular name for the grouping. In 1985 the "Heaviest Corner on Earth" was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1951 U. S. Steel (which had absorbed TCI) moved their Birmingham headquarters from the Brown Marx to the new Flintridge Building in Fairfield. A pool hall was located in the basement for a while. Other tenants included the Southern Building Code Congress.
Recent plans
In 2002, Inman Park Properties purchased the Brown Marx Building along with the Empire Building across 20th Street and the Commerce Center at 1st Avenue North and 21st Street. The following year they proposed to convert the Brown Marx into over 100 loft apartments, perhaps in tandem with the Empire Building. In advance of the planned renovation they moved most of Brown Marx's tenants to the Commerce Center. Unable to negotiate a deal with the Birmingham Parking Authority to build a new deck adjacent to the site, they abandoned the renovation.
In 2006 SAW Holding LLC, a group of local investors led by former Pride Restaurants owner Arnold Whitmore announced places for a $22 million renovation of the building, including 108 condominiums, a roof-top pool, gym, spa, a top-floor bar, an executive office suite, and ground floor restaurant, office and retail space. The proposal includes a 200-space parking deck to be built adjacent to the tower. RealtySouth and Nationwide are jointly marketing the condominiums and will have sales office in the building.
References
- Jefferson County Historical Commission. (1998) Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama Images of America Series. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN0752413465
- Nicholson, Gilbert (July 25, 2003) "100 lofts will fill Brown-Marx". Birmingham Business Journal.
- Tomberlin, Michael (February 12, 2006) "Brown-Marx joins hot condo market". Birmingham News.
- Prouty, William F. (1916) "Preliminary Report on The Crystalline and Other Marbles of Alabama". Bulletin 18. Geological Survey of Alabama.
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
- White, Marjorie Longenecker, ed. (1977) Downtown Birmiingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.