It’s official—the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has inked a deal to purchase the Daniel Building for $16 million. Read on to learn more about the deal and what it means for Birmingham.

UAB Medicine buys Daniel Building for $16 million

Last month, UAB announced in a press release their intentions to purchase the Daniel Building from PNC Bank for $16 million. The office building—which includes approximately 316,000 square feet of office space—will be used by UAB Medicine.

“The office space offers the opportunity to locate and consolidate administrative and support services and provide space to accommodate UAB Medicine’s growing enterprise. Its proximity to UAB Medicine facilities will provide opportunities to expand clinical care facilities in alignment with the UAB Medicine Facility Master Plan.”
Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of the UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance

Located along 20th Street South, the Daniel Building was attractive to UAB Medicine due to its size and accessibility to several nearby UAB Medicine facilities, including:

The Kirklin Clinic
The Whitaker Building
Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine’s Lyons-Harrison Faculty Office Tower

“UAB continues to strategically grow our campus through new facilities, renovations and real estate acquisitions to enhance the overall experience of our students, employees and patients. This is an exciting time for our institution to gain access to these campus-contiguous spaces as we keep pace with grown opportunities across every pillar of our mission and our strategic plan.”
UAB President Ray L. Watts

About the Daniel Building

The Daniel Building in 2022, with the PNC logo being added to the tower. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Constructed in 1970 by the Daniel Corporation, the Daniel Building is a 20-story, 283-foot office building located south of the Railroad Reservation between Powell Avenue and 1st Avenue South. From the mid-90s until 2021, the Daniel Building was used as the headquarters for BBVA Compass (originally Compass Bank).

In 2021, PNC Bank acquired the Daniel Building in their purchase of BBVA USA Bancshares, Inc., and its U.S. banking subsidiary, BBVA USA. A year later, PNC Bank listed the Daniel Building—as well as two other Birmingham properties—on the market.

UAB’s purchase of the Daniel Building also includes an attached 390-space parking deck. In addition, UAB plans to lease an additional 644 parking spaces from Norfolk Southern in an adjacent surface parking area.

What do you think about UAB’s purchase of the Daniel Building? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know your thoughts!