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听
- The project team marked a topping-out milestone for the Saban Center now rising in Tuscaloosa鈥檚 River District.听
- 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.听
- Campus partners named include the State of Alabama STEM Hub, the Tuscaloosa Children鈥檚 Theatre and IGNITE (formerly the Children鈥檚 Hands-On Museum).听
- Design/delivery partners cited include Steinberg Hart (with Davis Architects), Stone Building Company,听CambridgeSeven听and Theatre Projects.听
Learn More听
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. 鈥� The Saban Center reached a key construction benchmark March 30 as crews and project partners celebrated the building鈥檚 topping out at the future STEM-and-arts听learning campus in Tuscaloosa鈥檚 River District.听
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.听
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.听
鈥淪aban Center is deeply personal to us鈥攚e鈥檝e 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鈥檚 possible for their futures,鈥� according to听.听
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.听
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听reuse听and resilient construction.听
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.听
Led by Nick and Terry Saban and Nick鈥檚 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听establish听the State of Alabama STEM Hub on-site.听
Project leaders framed the building design as integral to the learning mission. 鈥淭he design of the Saban Center reflects a shared belief that architecture can actively support learning and discovery,鈥� according to听.听
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox also positioned the campus as a workforce-development asset, saying Saban Center 鈥渨ill be a catalyst for building Alabama鈥檚 future-ready workforce.”
This article is based on reporting originally published by Saban Center on March 30, 2026.听