Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham

The Boutwell Memorial Auditorium is a historic 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Birmingham. Originally built in 1924 as the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium, it stands near City Hall and faces Linn Park (formerly Capitol Park), forming a civic hub in the heart of the city.

The building was designed by renowned theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb in collaboration with a committee of local architects. While its original brick facade hinted at early 20th-century architectural sensibilities, a later renovation transformed its appearance. The addition of a modernist front-featuring marble, aluminum, and glass-gave the auditorium a sleek, updated street view and expanded its lobby and meeting spaces.

Renamed in honor of former Birmingham Mayor Albert Boutwell, the auditorium remains city-owned and has long served as a flexible venue for a wide range of community and sporting events. It was once home to the Birmingham Power basketball team and continues to be used for athletics, concerts, theatrical performances, and civic gatherings.

The auditorium features a horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement with a stage at one end and a balcony at the other, allowing it to adapt easily to different types of events. In 2022, it played host to several competitions-including muay thai, sumo wrestling, and kickboxing-during the World Games.

Adjacent to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Boutwell Auditorium may also become part of future cultural development in the city, with expansion plans for the museum potentially incorporating the auditorium’s site.