At the center of the complex, a 70-foot glass tower is expected to house an 18-foot illuminated globe described in project materials as a beacon for the evolving River District and a symbol of discovery and innovation. | Photo Credit: Saban Center
What You Need to Know
- The project team marked a topping-out milestone for the Saban Center now rising in Tuscaloosa’s River District.
- Plans call for a 118,000-square-foot complex on a 7.71-acre site along the Black Warrior River, with a 70-foot glass tower as a centerpiece.
- Campus partners named include the State of Alabama STEM Hub, the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and IGNITE (formerly the Children’s Hands-On Museum).
- Design/delivery partners cited include Steinberg Hart (with Davis Architects), Stone Building Company, CambridgeSeven and Theatre Projects.
Learn More
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Saban Center reached a key construction benchmark March 30 as crews and project partners celebrated the building’s topping out at the future STEM-and-arts learning campus in Tuscaloosa’s River District.
The facility, described as a first-of-its-kind campus combining science, technology, engineering and math with arts programming, is expected to open in 2027.
The marble-clad complex is being designed by Steinberg Hart in collaboration with Birmingham-based Davis Architects, with Stone Building Company serving as general contractor. Newly released renderings depict a series of curved pavilions connected to a transparent central tower.
“Saban Center is deeply personal to us—we’ve been involved every step of the way, working closely with the design team to shape a place where children of all ages can explore their curiosity and imagine what’s possible for their futures,” according to an article from the Saban Center.
Renderings also show the building set into a natural slope on the 7.71-acre site, intended to reduce the perceived height at street level while creating a prominent landmark from the north. Project materials describe multiple outdoor approaches meant to position the campus as a public, inclusive destination for families and school groups.
The exterior facade is planned to use locally sourced recycled marble from the Alabama Marble Mineral & Mining Company. Inside, the design team selected regionally sourced woods and metals as part of a sustainability approach that emphasizes local sourcing, material reuse and resilient construction.
At the center of the complex, a 70-foot glass tower is expected to house an 18-foot illuminated globe described in project materials as a beacon for the evolving River District and a symbol of discovery and innovation.
Led by Nick and Terry Saban and Nick’s Kids Foundation in partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa, the campus is being delivered through a public-private collaboration that also includes the State of Alabama, which plans to establish the State of Alabama STEM Hub on-site.
Project leaders framed the building design as integral to the learning mission. “The design of the Saban Center reflects a shared belief that architecture can actively support learning and discovery,” according to an article from the Saban Center.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox also positioned the campus as a workforce-development asset, saying Saban Center “will be a catalyst for building Alabama’s future-ready workforce.”
This article is based on reporting originally published by Saban Center on March 30, 2026.