The Pizitz In Birmingham Named Best Historic Project In 2018

By Alabama NewsCenter Staff

The iconic 1920s former department store The Pizitz in downtown Birmingham has been recognized as the Best Historic Project in the 2018 Marvin Architects Challenge. The decade-old juried competition awards innovative real estate projects for exceptional architectural design.

The Marvin Architects Challenge includes seven categories, with one winner selected in each annually. The historic project award recognizes properties that have been altered or added to a historic building to meet continuing or new uses while retaining the building’s historic character. Birmingham-based Bayer Properties is the commercial real estate firm responsible for The Pizitz revamp, which was completed in 2016. Bayer worked with top architecture and construction companies to restore the iconic property, including New Orleans-based Wisznia Architecture and Development, which led the architectural design.

“Prior to the commencement of reconstruction, we studied the building and were in awe of its natural charm,” said Jules Lagarde, architect with Wisznia Architecture and Development. “The sheer enormity and scale of the project’s façade warranted a unique redesign strategy. This project provided a great challenge for our team and this prestigious award exemplifies our dedication to honor the building’s past.”Since federal, state and historic tax credits were used to fund the revitalization, the project team was tasked with finding replacement windows for the building that would match the originals and were approved by the National Park Service, as well as the State Historic Preservation Office. Marvin Windows and Doors met those standards and worked with the team to restore more than 300 windows.

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