Nestled near an industrial park in Birmingham, Alabama was a vacant, three-story building. This 1920’s, former family-owned car dealership with broken windows and a lifetime of memories from Birmingham’s hay days now stood broken down and forgotten. However, what some may have seen as an eye sore, Michael Mouron, a prominent developer in the area, saw as an opportunity to honor Birmingham’s rich history and give back to the community by bringing this building back to life.

Now known as the Nextec Building, this renovated building will now be the home for communal business space, offices, and training facilities. By also offering below market rent rates, flexible leasing and mentoring programs they will support up and coming start ups and small businesses, continuing to add to the economic growth in the area. Along with the office building, this revitalization will also offer an outdoor community space, including an urban/pocket park and a small amphitheater, all available for use by the surrounding low-income community.

To add the finishing touch for his gift to the city, Mouron wanted to commission a tribute to be placed in the outdoor area of the project that would honor the “Pittsburgh of the South’s” rich steel making heritage that built Birmingham’s Wealth while celebrating its two growing industries of medical technology and IT/High Tech.

Having worked with Michael before, Salem Barker of Salem Barker Fine Art Sculptures was commissioned to create this tribute. Drawing on his experience in industrial manufacturing, Salem got to work sketching, and “Alchemy” came to life.

This sculpture stands 25 feet tall and consists of a Bessimer furnace made of CorTen “weathering” steel with a flame made of two hot-dip galvanized bodies of steel emitting from the furnace, decorated with symbols from each of the growing industries of Birmingham. Topping off the sculpture are accents in stainless steel and metallic paint.

When asked about the meaning behind the use of hot-dip galvanizing in this project, Barker shared, "My choice to incorporate hot-dip galvanized steel in the making of this sculpture is both objective, for its utilitarian quality of longevity and ability to withstand the natural elements, and its sculptural aesthetic characteristics. The dull grey color and flaked appearance of galvanized steel serve as a transition from the rusty, antiquated look of old industry (the heavy footed Bessimer furnace) into the delicate, refined look offered by the well finished stainless steel accents in the upper portion of the sculpture.”

Salem’s design along with the use of materials such as hot-dip galvanized steel will allow Mike’s vision to honor the past and celebrate the future of Birmingham’s industries come to life and remain for the residents of Birmingham to enjoy for years to come.