Alabama’s built environment continues to evolve as aging facilities are modernized and new developments reshape communities. Even amid economic uncertainty in 2025, construction activity remained strong, with more than $1 billion in new commercial projects recorded in the Huntsville region alone.
Business Alabama is highlighting several of the most distinctive projects completed during the year in a four-part series. The first spotlight falls on Birmingham’s Coca-Cola Amphitheater, a venue that has quickly become a landmark for entertainment and urban redevelopment.
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The Coca-Cola Amphitheater opened in June 2025 and hosted more than 30 performances in its inaugural season. The 9,300-seat outdoor venue welcomed major acts such as Alabama Shakes, Luke Bryan, Def Leppard, Jason Isbell, Dave Matthews Band, Nelly and Rod Stewart, immediately elevating Birmingham’s concert profile.
Because operator Live Nation had scheduled shows well before construction was complete, contractor Stone Building Co. faced an intense timeline. The firm had just 11 months to deliver the project—and finished one day ahead of schedule, allowing the amphitheater to debut on June 22.
Architectural teams say the venue’s character is rooted in its location and design.
“One of the amphitheater’s most defining features is its setting. Built into the existing topography of the Druid Hills neighborhood, fans enjoy a sweeping hillside view overlooking downtown Birmingham’s iconic skyline, offering a one-of-a-kind concert experience,” says Greg Magley, AIA, Coca-Cola Amphitheater project manager at Goodwyn Mills Cawood. “Adding to its unique atmosphere, the amphitheater sits beneath the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport flight path, where planes often pass overhead during performances.”
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The amphitheater occupies the former Carraway Hospital property and forms part of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center campus alongside Protective Stadium and Legacy Arena. City leaders view the project as a catalyst for new dining, hospitality and residential investment on Birmingham’s north side.
The venue has already lined up an ambitious 2026 season running from April through October, featuring performers such as Widespread Panic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tyler Childers and Weird Al Yankovic. Local tourism officials say the steady calendar of events is expected to draw thousands of out-of-town visitors and generate significant economic impact.
The project team included Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Geneerator Studio, Studio 2H Designs and Stone Building Co. The amphitheater’s completion reflects a broader trend across Alabama, where communities continue to invest in cultural infrastructure despite fluctuating national economic signals.
Business Alabama will examine additional noteworthy 2025 projects in upcoming installments of this series.
Nancy Mann Jackson is a Madison-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama. This article appears in the February 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
Originally reported by Nancy Mann Jackson in Business Alabama.
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