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[[Image:Regions Plaza.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Regions Plaza in May 2008]]
{{About2|the 1976, 18-story building|For the 1989, 32-story building, see [[Regions-Harbert Plaza]]; for the bar, see [[Upside Down Plaza]].}}
The '''Marriott Renaissance Hotel Birmingham''' (formerly the '''First Alabama Bank Building''' and '''Regions Plaza''') is an 18-story, 261-room luxury hotel currently under development by [[Harbert Realty Services]] of [[Birmingham]] and Concord Hospitality Enterprises of Raleigh, North Carolina. It is expected to open in mid-[[2010]] in the building which served as the headquarters of [[Regions Bank|First Alabama Bank]] (now [[Regions Bank]]) from [[1976]] until its merger with [[AmSouth Bank]] in [[2006]]. The glass and aluminum-clad building is located at 417 [[20th Street North|20th Street]] on the southeast corner of its intersection with [[5th Avenue North]] in downtown Birmingham.
 
[[Image:Regions Plaza.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Regions Plaza in May 2008]]
'''The Plaza''', also known as the '''Viva Health building''' (formerly the '''First Alabama Bank Building''' and '''Regions Plaza''') is an 18-story building which serves as the headquarters of [[Viva Health]]. It previously housed [[Regions Bank|First Alabama Bank]] (now [[Regions Bank]]) from [[1976]] until its merger with [[AmSouth Bank]] in [[2006]]. The glass and aluminum-clad building is located at 417 [[20th Street North|20th Street]] on the southeast corner of its intersection with [[5th Avenue North]] in downtown Birmingham.


The 240,000 square-foot office tower was completed in [[1976]] on the site of the landmark [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]], which had been demolished in the early 1970s for redevelopment. [[Canal-Randolph Birmingham]] and First Alabama Bank partnered on the new development. The contractor was the Henry C. Beck Company of Dallas, Texas. The tower's steel frame can be seen under construction in the [[1976]] feature film ''[[Stay Hungry]]''.
The 240,000 square-foot office tower was completed in [[1976]] on the site of the landmark [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]], which had been demolished in the early 1970s for redevelopment. [[Canal-Randolph Birmingham]] and First Alabama Bank partnered on the new development. The contractor was the Henry C. Beck Company of Dallas, Texas. The tower's steel frame can be seen under construction in the [[1976]] feature film ''[[Stay Hungry]]''.
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The building was dedicated in October [[1976]] and served as the headquarters of First Alabama Bank, which changed its name to Regions Bank in [[1992]].
The building was dedicated in October [[1976]] and served as the headquarters of First Alabama Bank, which changed its name to Regions Bank in [[1992]].


==Hotel conversion==
==Planned hotel conversion==
On [[May 25]], [[2006]], Regions announced a merger with [[AmSouth Bank]]. The following January it put the Regions Plaza building up for sale and made plans to consolidate headquarters operations into the neighboring [[Regions Center]]. The Regions Bank branch on the ground floor of the building closed on [[July 12]], [[2007]], with its employees and accounts moving with the headquarters.
On [[May 25]], [[2006]], Regions announced a merger with [[AmSouth Bank]]. The following January it put the Regions Plaza building up for sale and made plans to consolidate headquarters operations into the neighboring [[Regions Center]]. The Regions Bank branch on the ground floor of the building closed on [[July 12]], [[2007]], with its employees and accounts moving with the headquarters.


In April, 2007, it was announced that [[Harbert Realty Services]] of Birmingham and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, North Carolina, planned to convert the office building into the four-star '''Marriott Renaissance Hotel Birmingham'''. Regions workers completed their move in the summer of [[2008]].
In April, 2007, it was announced that [[Harbert Realty Services]] of Birmingham and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, North Carolina, planned to convert the office building into the four-star '''Marriott Renaissance Hotel Birmingham'''. Regions workers completed their move in the summer of [[2008]].


Plans call for few changes to the exterior of the building, except at the lobby level, which will be opened up with larger expanses of glass. Along with a completely updated interior, the landscaping around the building is set for extensive upgrades. Architects for the project are [[Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood]]. The developer hopes to begin construction in the Fall for completion in late 2009. The estimated cost for the hotel project is $61 million.
Plans called for few changes to the exterior of the building, except at the lobby level, which would have been opened up with larger expanses of glass. Along with a completely updated interior, the landscaping around the building was set for extensive upgrades. Architects for the project were [[Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood]]. The developer hoped to begin construction in the Fall for completion in late 2009. The estimated cost for the hotel project was $61 million.
 
Originally slated to have 255 rooms, the developers increased that number to 261 when it presented more detailed plans in late July 2008. As then imagined, the hotel would feature a 1,448 square-foot presidential suite and a 1,238 square-foot governor's suite. 132 king suites and 127 queen suites would make up the remaining guest rooms, occupying floors 5 through 17.
 
The former chairman's office on the 18th floor would be converted into a 2,100 square-foot Marriott Club Lounge, re-using the original fireplace. The hotel lobby would have a 120-seat [[Starbucks]] Coffee shop and a 3,282 square-foot lounge with high ceilings. A second floor grand ballroom would accommodate as many as 717 people in just over 5,000 square feet. The third floor would be divided into meeting rooms while the fourth floor was to be marketed to fitness club operators. A heated swimming pool and spa were planned in a below-ground enclosed area.
 
The adjacent [[La Paree]] restaurant was to be converted into a steak house, managed by an independent operator. In May [[2008]] a 700-space expansion of the adjacent [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3]], seen as a key to the development's success, broke ground.


Originally slated to have 255 rooms, the developers increased that number to 261 when it presented more detailed plans in late July 2008. The hotel will feature a 1,448 square-foot presidential suite and a 1,238 square-foot governor's suite. 132 king suites and 127 queen suites will make up the remaining guest rooms, occupying floors 5 through 17.
In January [[2009]] developers announced a delay in completing the project as they negotiated with banks for financing. In June of that year, Harbert restated its commitment to the project as it continued to assemble financing. By September, the hotel was still planned but Regions officials were willing to consider alternate proposals. The plan was abandoned when the building was sold in March [[2011]].


The former chairman's office on the 18th floor will be converted into a 2,100 square-foot Marriott Club Lounge, re-using the original fireplace. The hotel lobby will have a 120-seat [[Starbucks]] Coffee shop and a 3,282 square-foot lounge with high ceilings. A second floor grand ballroom will accommodate as many as 717 people in just over 5,000 square feet. The third floor will be divided into meeting rooms while the fourth floor is being marketed to fitness club operators. A heated swimming pool and spa is planned in a below-ground enclosed area.
==2010 purchase==
In September [[2010]], West Second Street Associates of Flint, Michigan announced plans to purchase the tower and renovate it, most likely for federal offices. The deal was closed in March [[2011]] for $5 million, and a marketing flier from West Second Street indicated that the entire building was for lease. In the wake of the [[April 27]], [[2011 tornado outbreak]], West Second Street leased space to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who set up statewide headquarters and brought in 900 employees to help with disaster relief.


The adjacent [[La Paree]] restaurant will be converted into a steak house, to be managed by an independent operator. In May [[2008]] a 700-space expansion of the adjacent [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3]], seen as a key to the development's success, broke ground.
In early [[2017]] West Second Street hired [[Harbert Realty]] to manage leasing for the building. Later that year the General Services Administration approved a 10-year lease for three floors of the building which will be occupied by the Internal Revenue Service. The agency relocated their local office from [[Tom Martin Drive]] near [[Lakeshore Parkway]]. [[Spin Dry Cleaners]] also signed on as a ground floor retail tenant.


In January [[2009]] developers announced a delay in completing the project as they negotiate with banks for financing. In June of that year, Harbert restated its commitment to the project as it continued to assemble financing. By September, the hotel was still planned but Regions officials were willing to consider alternate proposals.
In [[2019]] the [[Peoples Bank of Alabama]], headquartered in [[Cullman]], opened a retail branch on the ground floor of The Plaza and moved some of its credit and government-guaranteed lending operations from [[Gardnedale]] into new offices on the 8th floor.


==References==
==References==
* {{White-1977}}
* {{White-1977}}
* Cooper, Lauren B.  (April 30, 2007) "[http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2007/04/30/daily4.html Regions' downtown headquarters to become four-star hotel]." ''Birmingham Business Journal''.
* Cooper, Lauren B.  (April 30, 2007) "[http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2007/04/30/daily4.html Regions' downtown headquarters to become four-star hotel]." {{BBJ}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (July 24, 2008) "Developers update ONB leaders on downtown projects." ''Birmingham Business Journal''
* Cooper, Lauren B. (July 24, 2008) "Developers update ONB leaders on downtown projects." {{BBJ}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (July 30, 2008) "First look at planned improvements to downtown Marriott Renaissance Hotel." ''Birmingham News''
* Tomberlin, Michael (July 30, 2008) "First look at planned improvements to downtown Marriott Renaissance Hotel." {{BN}}
* Kent, Dawn (January 31, 2009) "Completion of downtown Marriott Renaissance in Birmingham pushed to 2010." ''Birmingham News''
* Kent, Dawn (January 31, 2009) "Completion of downtown Marriott Renaissance in Birmingham pushed to 2010." {{BN}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (October 16, 2009) "Former Birmingham Regions tower may not house hotel." ''Birmingham Business Journal''
* Cooper, Lauren B. (October 16, 2009) "Former Birmingham Regions tower may not house hotel." {{BBJ}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (October 1, 2010) "Birmingham's Regions Plaza has buyer who wants to convert it to federal offices." {{BN}}
* "Regions Plaza sold to Michigan firm." (March 23, 2011) {{BBJ}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (March 23, 2011) "Regions Plaza sale ends plan for luxury hotel." {{BN}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (April 1, 2011) "Regions Plaza sold for $5 million." {{BBJ}}
* Oliver, Mike (May 10, 2011) "Few Alabama tornado victims applying for help, FEMA says." {{BN}}
* Poe, Ryan (August 26, 2013) "Viva Health finishes move to former Regions Plaza." {{BBJ}}
* Godwin, Brent (November 2, 2017) "IRS to take large space in downtown Birmingham skyscraper." {{BBJ}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=regionsbankbuilding-birmingham-al-usa Regions Plaza] on Emporis.com
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=regionsbankbuilding-birmingham-al-usa Regions Plaza] on Emporis.com
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=cae679423b06f11c8c59bc53bd5954c 3-D model] of Regions Plaza by Jordan Herring


{{DEFAULTSORT:Plaza, The}}
[[Category:Office buildings]]
[[Category:Office buildings]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
[[Category:Vacant buildings]]
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[[Category:Tall buildings|18]]
[[Category:Tall buildings|18]]
[[Category:Regions Bank]]
[[Category:Regions Bank]]
[[Category:Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood buildings]]

Latest revision as of 17:07, 11 February 2019

This article is about the 1976, 18-story building. For the 1989, 32-story building, see Regions-Harbert Plaza; for the bar, see Upside Down Plaza.
Regions Plaza in May 2008

The Plaza, also known as the Viva Health building (formerly the First Alabama Bank Building and Regions Plaza) is an 18-story building which serves as the headquarters of Viva Health. It previously housed First Alabama Bank (now Regions Bank) from 1976 until its merger with AmSouth Bank in 2006. The glass and aluminum-clad building is located at 417 20th Street on the southeast corner of its intersection with 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.

The 240,000 square-foot office tower was completed in 1976 on the site of the landmark Tutwiler Hotel, which had been demolished in the early 1970s for redevelopment. Canal-Randolph Birmingham and First Alabama Bank partnered on the new development. The contractor was the Henry C. Beck Company of Dallas, Texas. The tower's steel frame can be seen under construction in the 1976 feature film Stay Hungry.

The architects for the building were Russell McCaleb & Associates with John Carl Warnecke & Associates of San Francisco, California. A gold-anodized aluminum frame divides the curtain-wall facades into three vertical sections with no cornice termination. A ground-level plaza directs customers towards the Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3. Typical office floors had 9-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass on the exterior. The original interior finishes include Italian travertine and red Tennessee marble in the banking lobby. Executive offices were outfitted with suede and natural grass wallcoverings and teak, mahogany and walnut paneling. The chairman's office was constructed with a fireplace.

The building was dedicated in October 1976 and served as the headquarters of First Alabama Bank, which changed its name to Regions Bank in 1992.

Planned hotel conversion

On May 25, 2006, Regions announced a merger with AmSouth Bank. The following January it put the Regions Plaza building up for sale and made plans to consolidate headquarters operations into the neighboring Regions Center. The Regions Bank branch on the ground floor of the building closed on July 12, 2007, with its employees and accounts moving with the headquarters.

In April, 2007, it was announced that Harbert Realty Services of Birmingham and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, North Carolina, planned to convert the office building into the four-star Marriott Renaissance Hotel Birmingham. Regions workers completed their move in the summer of 2008.

Plans called for few changes to the exterior of the building, except at the lobby level, which would have been opened up with larger expanses of glass. Along with a completely updated interior, the landscaping around the building was set for extensive upgrades. Architects for the project were Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood. The developer hoped to begin construction in the Fall for completion in late 2009. The estimated cost for the hotel project was $61 million.

Originally slated to have 255 rooms, the developers increased that number to 261 when it presented more detailed plans in late July 2008. As then imagined, the hotel would feature a 1,448 square-foot presidential suite and a 1,238 square-foot governor's suite. 132 king suites and 127 queen suites would make up the remaining guest rooms, occupying floors 5 through 17.

The former chairman's office on the 18th floor would be converted into a 2,100 square-foot Marriott Club Lounge, re-using the original fireplace. The hotel lobby would have a 120-seat Starbucks Coffee shop and a 3,282 square-foot lounge with high ceilings. A second floor grand ballroom would accommodate as many as 717 people in just over 5,000 square feet. The third floor would be divided into meeting rooms while the fourth floor was to be marketed to fitness club operators. A heated swimming pool and spa were planned in a below-ground enclosed area.

The adjacent La Paree restaurant was to be converted into a steak house, managed by an independent operator. In May 2008 a 700-space expansion of the adjacent Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3, seen as a key to the development's success, broke ground.

In January 2009 developers announced a delay in completing the project as they negotiated with banks for financing. In June of that year, Harbert restated its commitment to the project as it continued to assemble financing. By September, the hotel was still planned but Regions officials were willing to consider alternate proposals. The plan was abandoned when the building was sold in March 2011.

2010 purchase

In September 2010, West Second Street Associates of Flint, Michigan announced plans to purchase the tower and renovate it, most likely for federal offices. The deal was closed in March 2011 for $5 million, and a marketing flier from West Second Street indicated that the entire building was for lease. In the wake of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak, West Second Street leased space to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who set up statewide headquarters and brought in 900 employees to help with disaster relief.

In early 2017 West Second Street hired Harbert Realty to manage leasing for the building. Later that year the General Services Administration approved a 10-year lease for three floors of the building which will be occupied by the Internal Revenue Service. The agency relocated their local office from Tom Martin Drive near Lakeshore Parkway. Spin Dry Cleaners also signed on as a ground floor retail tenant.

In 2019 the Peoples Bank of Alabama, headquartered in Cullman, opened a retail branch on the ground floor of The Plaza and moved some of its credit and government-guaranteed lending operations from Gardnedale into new offices on the 8th floor.

References

External links

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