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Ramsay McCormack Update – July 2023



Development of the new Ramsay McCormack building continues as the project transitions from design and pre-construction to vertical construction. The downtown Ensley development led by Ensley District Developers (EDD) will be constructed on the original 10-story office tower site, bringing a 5-story contemporary commercial office building with features that focus on keeping occupants and the building’s visitors healthy and enabling them to be more productive.


The new, all-electric building will contain state-of-the-art lighting, efficient heating, cooling, and water-reducing systems that are environmentally friendly. It is Birmingham’s first private sector building of its kind -- built to the LEED Silver Certification standard by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a widely recognized and respected certification for environmentally sustainable building design and construction.

Recent project milestones include:


  • Construction Drawing Completion. The EDD architecture and design team completed the drawings and specifications supporting the building’s construction. This design package depicts elements of the finished building, including the foundation, floor, walls, elevations, interior details, and elevations, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) design, structural details, and landscaping plans.


  • Design Review Approval. The City of Birmingham Design Review Committee, during its April 2023 meeting, unanimously approved the design and specifications for the new Ramsay McCormack building. Approval by this regulatory body is a requirement of construction projects prior to permitting by the City of Birmingham. The Design Review Committee is responsible for determining conformance with the City’s Design Review Ordinance and with the design review standards and guidelines affecting the exterior and interiors visible to the public.


  • Community Engagement. As part of the EDD’s commitment to ongoing community engagement, the company met with community leaders in March and faith-based leaders in June from the Ensley area to provide an update. Both meetings were held at the McAlpine Park Recreation Center on the development progress. During both meetings, the discussion with leaders covered construction, financing, and tenanting plans for Ramsay McCormack and leaders’ updates on the leaders’ future community development interests and plans.


  • Financing Advances. Despite inflation and rising interest rates that have cooled an already struggling real estate development market, financing for the Ramsay McCormack project continues to advance with the commitment of financial institutions evidenced as they move into due diligence. EDD is working with several investors and financial institutions who are committed to the construction and completion of the Ramsay McCormack as many developers rethink, retool, or shelve planned projects, with those already underway experiencing a host of labor, equipment delays, and cost-related issues.

The Ramsay McCormack project is successfully navigating an environment dominated by various challenges in project funding, extended material delays, rising equipment costs, labor availability, and regulatory compliance. The catalytic nature of the Ramsay McCormack project and its potential to both spur and support other investments in the area remains a critical piece of the project’s value – a truly high-performing building.

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