University of Alabama demolishes east wing of historic Bryce Hospital building

University of Alabama officials cited insurmountable structural problems as the reason for the demolition of the  east wing of the historic Bryce Hospital building.

The demolition is part of the plan to transform Bryce Hospital, formerly Alabama’s oldest and largest inpatient psychiatric facility, into a new 130,000-square-foot performing arts complex. 

BRYCE RENOVATION: University of Alabama's performing arts dream to become reality

Shane Dorrill, assistant director of communications and strategic communications at UA, said via email that the east wing was always going to be the most problematic portion of the renovation project. Ingle Demolition was awarded the contract to demolish the wing. Part of the contract involved salvaging the bricks for use in the reconstruction of the wing. 

"After careful review with engineers and safety experts, it was determined the most appropriate course of action would be to selectively remove and reconstruct the façade of the east wing. The university is dedicated to preserving as much as possible of the original building, and the east wing will be precisely replicated to match the previous façade. The university is also salvaging the brick and lumber for use in this project and others," Dorrill said via email. 

The restored section of the Bryce Hospital building will eventually house the welcome center for the university's Performing Arts Academic Center, which will be an entirely new structure adjacent to the existing building.

The new Performing Arts Academic Center will feature four performance venues for theater and dance.

The center  will include a black-box theater with flexible seating for audiences, from 175 to 275; a 350-seat proscenium theater; a 450-seat venue for dance; and a dance studio theater with flexible space, usable for recitals, rehearsals and other smaller performances. All shop and design spaces will be brought under the same roof.

In addition to housing the welcome center, the main Bryce building will also include a reception venue, faculty offices and rehearsal space, as well as museums dedicated to both UA history and the history of mental health in Alabama.

UA officials have said the project won't be completed until 2023 or 2024.