Tuscaloosa awards $74M contract for Saban Center, groundbreaking scheduled for July
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The City of Tuscaloosa has taken another step in making the vision of the Saban Center a reality.
Earlier this week, the city awarded a $74 million contract to Stone Building Company for construction on the new state-of-the-art education facility near the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in downtown Tuscaloosa.
“I always thought the amphitheater was an ambitious project. This makes the amphitheater look like a walk in the park. I’m very proud of the work of our team and I think all of us are proud to present this today.”
Walt Maddox, Tuscaloosa mayor during a Public Projects committee meeting
With the construction contract approved, a groundbreaking has now been scheduled for July with a grand opening expected in 2027.
Stone Building Company
Stone Building Company, a Vestavia Hills-based construction business, has started making a name for itself across the state.
Most recently, the company has been selected for major projects including the new Coca-Cola Amphitheater in Birmingham + the 17 Springs multi-use development in Millbrook.
Some previous projects from the group include:
- Plainsman Park in Auburn
- Mountain Brook High School
- Bill Noble Park in Gardendale
- One Pratt Park in Birmingham
- UAB basketball practice facility
Stone’s construction bid for the Saban Center came in more than $6 million below the initial construction budget from the city.
Construction of the building is expected to take roughly 18 months with an estimated completion of December 2026. That would allow for the final touches including installation of exhibits to be finished in 2027.
Saban Center
In previous meetings, the city has approved a $120 million total budget for the project which includes construction, exhibits + more.
During a projects committee meeting this week, the city reported around $31 million in donations and pledged funds.
Looking for more information on the Saban Center project? Check out some of our previous stories:
- Partnership with Stillman College to advance STEM and arts education in Alabama
- Center to promote water literacy through new partnership with NOAA
- New renderings of future campus released
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