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[[Image:Liberty National Building.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Liberty National Building, June 2005]]
[[Image:Liberty National Building.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Liberty National Building, June 2005]]
[[Image:LibertyNationalBuilding.JPG|right|375px|thumb|Liberty National Building, March 2011]]
[[Image:Liberty National Building 1947.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Liberty National Building in 1947]]
The '''Liberty National Building''' is a combined 10- and 16- story office building at the intersection of [[20th Street South|20th Street]] and [[3rd Avenue South]]. It was the headquarters of the [[Liberty National Life Insurance Company]] from [[1925]] to [[2010]].
[[File:Miss Liberty tour.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Aerial view of the Liberty National Building, c. 1962]]
The '''Liberty National Building''' (originally the '''Pioneer Building''') is a combined 10- and 16-story office building at the intersection of [[20th Street South|20th Street]] and [[3rd Avenue South]]. It was the headquarters of the [[Liberty National Life Insurance Company]] from [[1931]] to [[2010]].


The original 10-story structure facing 20th Street was completed in 1925. In addition to the life insurance company, the building housed the the [[FBI Birmingham Field Office|U. S. Bureau of Investigation]]'s Birmingham field office.  
The original 10-story structure facing 20th Street was developed as a speculative project in [[1925]]. The building was designed by [[Warren, Knight & Davis]] and constructed by [[C. M. Allen & Son]]. The recently-completed office tower was purchased by Liberty National for $227,000 in [[1931]] for its headquarters offices. In addition to the life insurance company, the building housed the the [[FBI Birmingham Field Office|U. S. Bureau of Investigation]]'s Birmingham field office.  


A six-story addition was completed in [[1952]]. A 1/5th-scale bronze replica of the [[Liberty National statue|Statue of Liberty]] was placed on top of the older building on [[September 13]], [[1958]]. Liberty National provided guides for visitors wishing to see the statue up close.
A second, larger, 10-story "Tower II" was completed to the south of the original building in [[1952]]. A 1/5th-scale bronze replica of the [[Liberty National statue|Statue of Liberty]] was placed on top of the older building on [[September 13]], [[1958]]. Liberty National provided guides for visitors wishing to see the statue up close.


In [[1971]] a 10-story addition to the lower building was completed at a cost of $5,500,000, overshadowing the original structure. The expansion was designed by [[Warren, Knight and Davis]] and constructed by [[Brice Building Company]]. The addition utilized the same white-glazed face brick as the earlier building and provided space for a new employee cafeteria as well as eight high-speed elevators and new heating and air-conditioning equipment.
In [[1971]] a huge 16-story addition was added to the east, behind the original towers, at a cost of $5,500,000. The expansion was also designed by Warren, Knight & Davis and constructed by [[Brice Building Company]]. The addition utilized the same white-glazed face brick as the earlier building and provided space for a new employee cafeteria as well as eight high-speed elevators. The heating and air-conditioning equipment plant for the combined building is housed on the 11th floor of the 1971 building, opening onto the rooftop of the older portion.


Liberty National vacated the 487,000-square foot downtown building, in [[2010]], moving its Birmingham offices, with 225 employees, to 30,000 square feet in the [[100 Concourse]] building in [[Riverchase]].
Liberty National vacated the 487,000-square foot downtown building, in [[2010]], moving its Birmingham offices, with 225 employees, to 30,000 square feet in the [[100 Concourse]] building in [[Riverchase]].


In [[2010]] [[Robert Simon]] of [[Corporate Realty Development]] announced plans to purchase the building and erect a new 12-story office tower in its place. The proposal is contingent on CRD landing a corporate headquarters tenant.
In [[2010]] [[Robert Simon]] of [[Corporate Realty Development]] announced plans to purchase the building and erect a new 12-story office tower in its place. The proposal was contingent on CRD landing a corporate headquarters tenant, which never came to fruition.
 
In early [[2016]] a portion of the original building's brick veneer came loose on the south facade, dropping debris onto the alley near 20th Street and forcing officials to close off part of the street.
 
Pembroke Academy Investments LLC acquired the property out of foreclosure, and subsequently sold it for $3.6 million to [[Scott Bryant]] and [[Dick Schmalz]] of [[RGS Properties]], developers of the nearby [[20 Midtown]] mixed-use district, who formed '''Liberty Building LLC'''.
 
In [[2017]] a newly-created entity, '''Liberty Redemption LLC''', led by [[William Rose]] and representing the former owners, re-acquired the property through right-of-redemption and named the complex '''Liberty Towers at Midtown'''
 
In [[2018]] the [[City of Birmingham]] and several economic development agencies submitted a bid for the vacant complex to host a relocation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture from Washington D.C.
 
==Tenants==
* ground floor
** 301: [[Liberty National Life Insurance Co.]] Birmingham city agency (1944)
** 303: [[Western Union Telegraph Co.]] (1944)
** 305: [[Liberty National Life Insurance Co.]] purchasing department (1944)
** 307: [[Liberty National Life Insurance Co.]] general agent (1944)
* rooms
** 201–220: [[U.S. National Emergency Council]] / [[U.S. National Recovery Administration]] (1935)
** 221: building office
** 301–302: [[C I T Corp]] auto financing (1935)
** 306: [[Southern Ribbon and Carbon Co.]] office supplies (1934–1935)
** 307–309: [[Andrew Camerson]] physician (1935)
** 310–316: [[Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Co.]] (1935)
** 318–320: [[Southern Ribbon and Carbon Co.]] work room (1934–1935)
** 321–322: [[Alabama State Advisory Committee of Motor Vehicle Retailing Code]] (1935)
** 403-408: [[Pan-Am Petroleum Co.]] (1935)
** 410: [[Commercial Credit Co.]] (1935)
** 421-422: [[Southside Bank]] (1935)
** 5th floor: [[General Motors Acceptance Corp.]] (1935)
** 7th–8th floors: [[Liberty National Life Insurance Co.]]
** 901–905: [[Liberty National Life Insurance Co.]] print department (1935)
** 906–920: [[Southeastern Compensation Rating Bureau]] (1935)
** 10th floor: [[Alabama Mills Inc.]] cotton manufacturers (1935)


==References==
==References==
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/LibertyNational(5-69).jpg Liberty National to build upward]" (May 1969) {{BN}} - accessed via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/LibertyNational(5-69).jpg Liberty National to build upward]" (May 1969) {{BN}} - accessed via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* Samford, Frank P, Jr (October 3, 1984) Torchmark Corporation: History of a New Company. Birmingham: Newcomen Society address.
* Cooper, Lauren B. (July 23, 2010) "Liberty National leaves downtown." {{BBJ}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (July 23, 2010) "Liberty National leaves downtown." {{BBJ}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (October 17, 2010) "The man with the Magic City touch: Developer has plans for downtown Birmingham tower." {{BN}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (October 17, 2010) "The man with the Magic City touch: Developer has plans for downtown Birmingham tower." {{BN}}
* Hrynkiw, Ivana (February 24, 2016) "Bricks fall from downtown Birmingham building onto 20th street again." {{BN}}
* Godwin, Brent (April 28, 2017) "Original owners get Liberty National building back." {{BBJ}}
* Poe, Kelly (May 25, 2017) "Liberty National building to be renovated, owners say." {{BN}}
* Godwin, Brent (May 26, 2017) "New owners eye revival of Liberty National Building." {{BBJ}}
* Godwin, Brent (September 26, 2018) "Birmingham eyes major HQ projects for prominent downtown tower." {{BBJ}}


==External links==
==External links==
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* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=2bac4ff612d3c68a36171921c65bdb18 3-D model] of the Liberty National Building by Jordan Herring
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=2bac4ff612d3c68a36171921c65bdb18 3-D model] of the Liberty National Building by Jordan Herring


[[Category:Liberty National Building|*]]
[[Category:1925 buildings]]
[[Category:1925 buildings]]
[[Category:1952 buildings]]
[[Category:1952 buildings]]
[[Category:1971 buildings]]
[[Category:1971 buildings]]
[[Category:Warren Knight & Davis buildings]]
[[Category:Warren Knight & Davis buildings]]
[[Category:20th Street South]]
[[Category:10-story buildings]]
[[Category:3rd Avenue South]]
[[Category:16-story buildings]]
[[Category:Tall buildings]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
[[Category:Threatened structures]]
[[Category:Threatened structures]]

Latest revision as of 16:37, 4 September 2023

Liberty National Building, June 2005
Liberty National Building in 1947
Aerial view of the Liberty National Building, c. 1962

The Liberty National Building (originally the Pioneer Building) is a combined 10- and 16-story office building at the intersection of 20th Street and 3rd Avenue South. It was the headquarters of the Liberty National Life Insurance Company from 1931 to 2010.

The original 10-story structure facing 20th Street was developed as a speculative project in 1925. The building was designed by Warren, Knight & Davis and constructed by C. M. Allen & Son. The recently-completed office tower was purchased by Liberty National for $227,000 in 1931 for its headquarters offices. In addition to the life insurance company, the building housed the the U. S. Bureau of Investigation's Birmingham field office.

A second, larger, 10-story "Tower II" was completed to the south of the original building in 1952. A 1/5th-scale bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty was placed on top of the older building on September 13, 1958. Liberty National provided guides for visitors wishing to see the statue up close.

In 1971 a huge 16-story addition was added to the east, behind the original towers, at a cost of $5,500,000. The expansion was also designed by Warren, Knight & Davis and constructed by Brice Building Company. The addition utilized the same white-glazed face brick as the earlier building and provided space for a new employee cafeteria as well as eight high-speed elevators. The heating and air-conditioning equipment plant for the combined building is housed on the 11th floor of the 1971 building, opening onto the rooftop of the older portion.

Liberty National vacated the 487,000-square foot downtown building, in 2010, moving its Birmingham offices, with 225 employees, to 30,000 square feet in the 100 Concourse building in Riverchase.

In 2010 Robert Simon of Corporate Realty Development announced plans to purchase the building and erect a new 12-story office tower in its place. The proposal was contingent on CRD landing a corporate headquarters tenant, which never came to fruition.

In early 2016 a portion of the original building's brick veneer came loose on the south facade, dropping debris onto the alley near 20th Street and forcing officials to close off part of the street.

Pembroke Academy Investments LLC acquired the property out of foreclosure, and subsequently sold it for $3.6 million to Scott Bryant and Dick Schmalz of RGS Properties, developers of the nearby 20 Midtown mixed-use district, who formed Liberty Building LLC.

In 2017 a newly-created entity, Liberty Redemption LLC, led by William Rose and representing the former owners, re-acquired the property through right-of-redemption and named the complex Liberty Towers at Midtown

In 2018 the City of Birmingham and several economic development agencies submitted a bid for the vacant complex to host a relocation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture from Washington D.C.

Tenants

References

External links

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