Rendering courtesy of ArchitectureWorks.
This dock view shows the building’s north face with the new loading dock able to accommodate full-size tractor trailer and new retail/workspace. This dock view shows the building’s north face with the new loading dock able to accommodate full-size tractor trailer and new retail/workspace. Rendering courtesy of ArchitectureWorks
Bruce Lanier, the founder of the 1,700-square-foot MAKEbhm, is excited to bring an even bigger modern workplace area to downtown Birmingham this year: M2.
M2 will be located at what was previously known as Old Car Heaven, at 3501 First Ave. S., and will operate as a 70,000-square-foot workplace for modern product-design and light manufacturing. Lanier said they plan to have retail shops in the space, as well as shared amenities such as conference rooms, bathrooms, steam showers and a self-service café-type area.
“M2 is the next step in the progression of the workspace idea that we are evolving out of MAKEbhm,” Lanier said.
Lanier said the M2 development team — which includes Lanier, who is also an architect at ArchitectureWorks, Grant Brigham with ARC Realty and Tom Carruthers with Red Rock Realty Group — closed on the building in January, and construction will ideally start in May.
“Whereas MAKE is operationally intensive, [M2] will be about finding people who are operating those kinds of businesses already,” Lanier said.
M2 will be developed in two phases, Lanier said, with the first one getting the core amenities in place, developing the north side of the building, updating the loading dock and getting some cosmetic improvements done. This is the space where light production businesses will operate, he said.
The second phase will include making a 4,000-square-foot conference room and event space, as well as getting a food and beverage option and retail up and going.
M2 will have businesses ranging from 1,000-1,500 square feet all the way to 10,000-12,000 square feet, Lanier said.
“So it’s definitely about growing businesses, but still very targeted in small businesses,” Lanier said.
It’s also important to curate the M2 community, Lanier said, and develop a certain mix of people with the right disposition to thrive in the new environment.
“There’s a palpable environment when you walk in [MAKEbhm] and it’s a function of the people who work there. We want that to carry [into M2],” Lanier said.
Currently, Lanier said, they are looking for companies in building or product design, in addition to life scientists or educators who might have more of intellectual property.
Lanier said the next step from a startup environment is to go out and find a piece of commercial real estate to buy or lease, and M2 will be an option to grow without leaving the city center of Birmingham.
The M2 building is available for any locals, not just the residents of MAKEbhm, Lanier said, although several MAKEbhm residents will be moving there to continue growth.
Although M2 currently has some interested and recognizable companies that will likely be operating in the building, Lanier said they are not releasing names until the leases are signed. They plan to host some opening events as the space fills up.
To learn more, go to m2bhm.com.
