Greenleaf Trust building rising in downtown Birmingham

The Greenleaf Trust Building is taking shape in downtown Birmingham. Construction workers are finishing off the foundation and basement walls this spring. By early June, all of the footings are expected to be in and then the 5-story building’s steel skeleton should begin rising. The construction can be monitored here.The mixed-use structure will stand on the footprint of an old, abandoned gas station at the corner of Woodward and Maple. Designed by Kalamazoo-based Eckert Wordell Architecture, it will feature retail, commercial, and residential space. Five rental apartments will go on the fourth and fifth floors. The second and third floors of the 50,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to office space. Kalamazoo-based Greenleaf Trust will move its Metro Detroit offices to the third floor. The first floor will be occupied by Zazios, a modern Italian restaurant based in Kalamazoo.Greenleaf Trust is going for silver LEED certification for the building. Its environmentally friendly features include a 1,500-square-foot green roof, natural lighting, and numerous water- and energy-efficiency fixtures.The 10-year-old bank manages $7 billion in assets for individuals, foundations, endowments, and corporations and specializes in personal trust, wealth management and employee benefits.Source: Patti Owens, vice president and managing director of Catalyst DevelopmentWriter: Jon Zemke