Last summer, Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power chairman, president and CEO, unveiled preliminary conceptual designs for restoring the company’s historic Powell Avenue Steam Plant in downtown Birmingham.

The goal: to redevelop the structure as a catalyst for further economic growth in the city center. Last autumn, workers began the process of stabilizing the structure, which dates to 1895. Seven months later, the first phase of preparing the building for new life is almost complete.

Birmingham-based Hoar Construction has been overseeing the stabilization work for Alabama Power. It included the removal of tons of industrial equipment from the plant, which once provided power and steam heat for downtown. Workers also leveled the plant’s floors, bringing them down to street level; re-opened long-sealed spots where windows used to be; and restored the building’s brickwork. Some of the more interesting and historic pieces of equipment, including old boiler fronts and ornate DC generators, have been put in storage. They are expected to return to the steam plant later and be placed on display as part of the final restoration. A rare skip car, which ran on rails inside the structure, delivering coal to the plant’s boilers, is also being removed and will be saved.

New Look, New Purpose

Perhaps the most visible change to the plant is the look of its towering, concrete chimney, which was added to the structure in the mid-1980s. The chimney – most recently painted a rust-red – has been washed, cleaned, and encased in a black, carbon-fiber wrap, which will protect it from the elements going forward. Workers then repainted the chimney a lighter, concrete color, which is closer to its original hue. The lighter color will also make the chimney more reflective when outdoor lighting is installed. An older, smaller brick chimney is also being stabilized and restored.

Company officials and a design team are considering a variety of potential uses for the steam plant, including restaurants and retail businesses, entertainment and cultural venues, and offices. An open plaza and urban park is also expected to be part of the project, providing a grand entryway to the building. The public plaza will complement neighboring Railroad Park to the west, and the new Rotary Trail, under construction just to the east. Whatever the final decision on the building’s mix, the stabilization and restoration work has helped provide insight into the structure and its capabilities – insights that will help the company identify the best use for the steam plant as a vibrant addition to Birmingham’s downtown renaissance.