RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE

Birmingham, AL

Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus
Adaptive Reuse | Historic Warehouse to Vibrant Performance Hub

The transformation of a 100-year-old mechanical supply warehouse into the Red Mountain Theatre Arts & Education Campus tells the story of community, resilience, and creativity. Over a decade in the making, with more than 21 potential sites considered, the project overcame countless obstacles, including a global pandemic. The end result—a sprawling, 53,000 sq. ft. performing arts campus—unites all disciplines and departments under one roof for the first time in the theatre’s history, providing a new home for a regional theatre company committed to social storytelling and diverse perspectives.

Composed of five adjoining warehouse buildings, the campus includes a 455-seat Mainstage Theatre with cabaret seating, a black box Discovery Theatre, rehearsal rooms, a scene shop, costume shop, administrative offices, and an education wing with a recording studio. The Grand Lobby offers a VIP cocktail lounge featuring sliding privacy panels crafted from repurposed fire doors. The design also pays homage to the building's history, incorporating elements like railroad ties, cypress wood, and hand-pressed brick to preserve its industrial authenticity.

The adaptive reuse project embraces Red Mountain Theatre's storytelling mission by integrating the past into the present. Iron girders, exposed perimeter columns, and reclaimed materials weave a narrative that frames the stage and connects Birmingham’s industrial roots with its vibrant cultural future.

The campus serves as an economic driver for the community, hosting 100 events annually and providing arts education to over 16,000 children from 72 zip codes. Generously funded by patrons and donors, the campus stands as a symbol of Birmingham’s commitment to the arts and the power of shared stories.

Executive Director Keith Cromwell described the overall aesthetic as “funky and cool, like you’re in the ‘it’ place,” with design details such as exposed beams and iron pillars. “We’re dedicated to that sort of warehouse industrial feel,” he said.