UA celebrates 'topping out,' as extensive University Club renovations continue

Though five months' worth of work remains until completion, the University Club celebrated its ongoing $17,430,000 face-lift with a topping-out ceremony Friday, led by University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell, greeting board of trustees members, Pinehurst neighbors and leaders from Invited, which will run the venue on its planned re-opening in May 2024.

Topping out ceremonies date to pre-Christian Scandanavia. Believing spirits existed in sprawling forests, early inhabitants of what are now Norway, Denmark and Sweden would place the topmost branch of a tree cut for construction atop new buildings, expressing reverence for the spirits' benevolence. Immigrants brought the custom to the United States, where topping out became part of barn-raisings and housewarmings, then extended to major projects.

More: University Club undergoing $17.4 million in renovations, restoration

UA civil engineering student Samantha Lockett conducted walk-throughs of the site. With about six months of work undertaken, the University Club does have its topmost beams in place, and its shapes of expansion, especially for new elevators and bathrooms. In other spots, changes still have to be imagined.

"The front upstairs balcony will be walkable, with a replica of the original wrought-iron railings," Lockett said, with currently only holes in columns showing where steel reinforcements will be run.

In addition to needed repairs, and bringing architectural coherence over the nearly 200-year-old building and its numerous updates and adaptions, renovations will add about 3,000 gross square feet (GSF) to the previous 12,840 GSF.

Some space comes from elevators added to the side away from University Boulevard, and an expanded vernada on the boulevard-facing side. Added footage upstairs will enhance the ballroom for private event space, and offices and administration.

"It's not one of our biggest projects, but it's still a $17 million project," said Matt Fajack, UA vice president for finance and operations. "There's a lot of stuff that was falling apart on the inside. So (we needed) complete renovation of ceilings, walls, and windows. We have tried to keep as much of the old style, the original style, as possible, while also bringing it up to modern standards."

The club was closed for years, beginning in March 2020, due to explosion of the COVID-19 pandemic. When UA began thinking about re-opening, they took in concerns that quality had diminished, that hours hadn't been sufficient.

"And you know we never had made money when we ran it," Fajack said, thus the partnership with Invited, specialists in club management. To raise service quality and functionality, renovations were needed. The old elevator opened in the center of the building, and had to be shared by service workers and guests alike. As with many historic buildings, there had been deferred maintenance.

"We decided if we're going to bring it back, we're going to bring it back right," Fajack said.

Coming back right

Much original brick is exposed inside the two-story Greek Revival style home, whose outer stucco veneer over solid masonry walls, topped by a slate roof, were paid for by steamboat Capt. James H. Dearing, who used it as his private residence for a few years before building another home further south, away from student life distractions.

It became the Alabama governor's mansion for Arthur Bagby from 1837-1841; Tuscaloosa was state capital from 1828-1848. It passed through several owners until H. David and MIldred Westervelt Warner donated funds to buy, renovate and furnish the mansion, then donated it to UA, where it opened in 1946 as the University Club.

In fall 2022, UA announced the renovation plan, approving Cole and Cole Architects in November, with the construction contract awarded in spring to J.T. Harrison Co., Inc. Funding for the $17,430,000 project comes from University Central Reserves.

Work began with interior demolition to open up spaces; replacement of 15 original windows, five transom windows and four sidelights; and a sitework package, over the winter break, on stormwater, domestic water and fire water lines.

The renovations are to include:

• Repurposing the south parlor as a bar/lounge and casual-dining area.

• Repurposing the north parlor as a hotel lobby-like workspace.

• Adding dining and event space, restrooms, a boardroom, a stairwell, elevators, and a second-floor veranda and balcony overlooking the south garden.

• Architecturally accurate massing, exterior details and materials.

Inviting Invited

"Many of you here today have a memory of the University Club," UA President Bell said at the topping out ceremony. "And maybe that memory was a wedding. Maybe it was a business meeting. Maybe it was just a gathering of a number of people during the holidays.

"And more memories will be made," he added "... to help us make sure we do that, the University of Alabama has partnered with Invited," the leading owner and operator of private clubs in North America.

Bob Morse, Invited's president and CEO, spoke about how his company, founded in 1957 as Club Corp to create private clubs where everyone was welcome, regardless of age, race, religion or background, had collaborated on ideas. Invited was originally interested in creating a stadium club, before hearing about this project.

"When you decide to take on a historic renovation like this, it requires a lot of people who understand how a building like this needs to be saved, and nurtured, and be brought back to life," Morse said.

"Our job will be to create those memories all over again, in a new and a contemporary way."

Invited's work will also benefit UA's hospitality management program, offering internships and employment opportunities for students, experiences that could lead to employment within the company's wide network.

"Community is really what we do," said Brandon Millares, Invited’s senior vice president of operations. "Building relationships, enriching lives and building a community, where faculty and staff, the business community, the Tuscaloosa community, the alumni of the university can all have a place that they call home when they're on campus."

In addition to traditional wine dinners and the like, Invited plans to program speakers' series, music and others celebrations. The University Club hopes to eventually number 1,500 members.

Morse said they've already signed up 236 memberships, about half and half between UA faculty and staff, and locals. Invited will also offer XLife memberships, with expanded benefits, including access to the company's other clubs.

Even with artists' renderings depicting the eventual completed University Club product, "They're signing up for basically a building that requires a lot of vision right now," he said.

Some of the historic interior artwork will return, as will, very likely, the kitchen's beloved spoon bread, one of original director Alline P. Van Duzor's recipes. She ran the University Club from 1946 to 1961. In 2010, the University of Alabama Press reprinted her cookbook "Fascinating Foods from the Deep South." Spoon bread is essentially a buttery-sweet cornbread, but in a pudding-like consistency.

"We had a dinner the other night for some influential people in the community," Fajack said. "And they told the Invited people about spoon bread ... so I think they are bringing it back."

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama marks milestone in renovation of University Club