About
New Ideal began as an ambitious effort to transform a century-old, abandoned retail and office building into a prominent location to live in Downtown Birmingham. The New Ideal building has been an icon in the Birmingham community since 1925. New Ideal combines 44 condominiums, one 3,000sf retail space, and indoor parking onto a 21,000 square foot lot on a prominent corner in the Theatre District.
When designing around existing structures it is our goal to respect the history of the site by preserving as much of the existing buildings as possible. Unfortunately, during construction, we had to remove more than anticipated from the original annex building. We approached this problem as an opportunity for new life to emerge. We took the opportunity to create a more unified connection with the adjacent plaza at the historic Pizitz building. Furthermore, the second floor outdoor courtyard cultivates a sense of community by providing a gathering space for people to congregate. The resulting space is a compelling synergy of old and new.
Photography by Chris Luker
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