Regions Center (Birmingham)
| Formerly | First National-Southern Natural Building, AmSouth-Sonat Tower, AmSouth Center |
|---|---|
| Company type | Office building |
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United States |
Area served | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Products | Office space |
The Regions Center—previously known as the AmSouth Center, AmSouth-Sonat Tower, and initially the First National-Southern Natural Building—is a 30-story high-rise office building situated at the intersection of 20th Street and 5th Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
From 1972 until 2006, it functioned as the corporate headquarters for AmSouth Bancorporation. It also housed Sonat, Inc. and its subsidiaries until 2007, when Sonat relocated to Colonial Brookwood Center. Currently, the building serves as the main office for Regions Financial Corporation.
History
Completed in 1972, this modernist tower was designed by Welton Becket & Associates based in Houston, with local collaboration from Charles H. McCauley Associates. The building was developed through a joint venture between First National Bank and Southern Natural Gas Corporation, initially bearing the name First National-Southern Natural Building. Its exterior features reflective glass panels above a black granite base complemented by a louvered steel penthouse. The design incorporates an elevated terrace plaza and a single-story banking lobby on 20th Street that encloses a recessed courtyard serving the basement cafeteria.
In the early 1980s, following corporate changes where First National became AmSouth Bancorporation and Southern Natural Gas transitioned to Sonat, Inc., the building was renamed AmSouth-Sonat Tower. Although Sonat contemplated selling its 50% ownership to AmSouth in 1986, it retained its share and leased its portion of the space.
After Sonat merged with Houston-based El Paso Corporation in 1999, El Paso continued to operate significant divisions within the building, including Southern Natural Gas and energy trading units. In 2001, Sonat sold its half-interest to AmSouth, leading to a rebranding of the structure as the AmSouth Center in 2002.
Following the merger between AmSouth and Regions in November 2006, the building adopted the name Regions Center along with updated branding. On January 29, 2007, Southern Natural moved its headquarters to Colonial Brookwood Center, enabling Regions to become the sole occupant after refurbishing the former Sonat office spaces.
Lighting
Each holiday season, approximately 2,200 colored gels are placed on every glass curtain wall panel to produce an expansive graphic display visible throughout Birmingham’s skyline. The east and west façades depict a Christmas tree, while a wreath is displayed on the south side and a stocking on the north side.
Since 2007, during May, the building has been illuminated to promote the Regions Tradition golf tournament and its predecessor event, the Regions Charity Classic. All four sides feature an image of a golfer teeing off in support of these tournaments.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Birmingham, Alabama
- Regions Financial Corporation
- AmSouth Bancorporation
- Sonat, Inc. / El Paso Corporation
- Birmingham, Alabama