John A. Hand Building

The John A. Hand Building (Built as the American Trust and Savings Bank Building, then renamed the First National Bank Building, and named in honor of John A. Hand, president of First National, in 1970) is a 284 foot tall, 21-story building constructed in 1912 for the American Trust and Savings Bank. The building is located on the southeast corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North. When it was built it was the tallest building in Alabama for a year before being surpassed by the City Federal Building. The architect was William Leslie Welton with the New York firm of Mowbray and Uffinger and the builder was Houston Brice, who later founded Brice Building Company.

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 1930, American Trust and Savings Bank merged with First National Bank of Birmingham, which was renamed AmSouth in 1972.

The John A. Hand Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. AmSouth, with two newer towers also on 20th Street North, vacated their offices in the John A. Hand Building in 1994.

In 1997 the John A. Hand building was purchased for $1.5 million at auction by James A. Taylor who began a multimillion dollar restoration for his startup The Bank (formerly Warrior Savings Bank, now Superior Bank). The upper floors were converted into luxury apartments, including one on the 19th floor for the Taylors themselves, who relocated from Shoal Creek, and another for Charles Barkley. The Downtown Athletic Club occupies a floor and some space in the lower floors not used by the bank are leased as private offices. A fitness center is located in the basement. The original banking lobby and vault were carefully restored according to the architects original plans, using the same Sylacauga marble. McCrory Building Company was the general contractor for the multi-phase restoration. The 11th floor was the best preserved, with original woodwork and fixtures, and served as a model for work on other floors.

In support of the renovation, the City of Birmingham financed a new $4.5 million parking deck across Morris Avenue, which is now spanned by a pedestrian bridge. The building is managed by the Morris Avenue Management Group and residential units are marketed by RealtySouth. Superior Bank, which is now run by CEO Stanley Bailey, is considering selling the building, but plans to remain as a tenant.

References

• Wilkinson, Kaija. (March 11, 2005) "McCrory tackles restoration of high-rise". Birmingham Business Journal.
• Wilkinson, Kaija. (March 11, 2005) "Hand Building nearly restored". Birmingham Business Journal.