Alagasco Building rendering

The 1st Avenue former Alagasco building will get a whole new facade as it becomes a Fairfield Inn & Suites.

The old Alagasco building on 1st Avenue North is finally getting a makeover as it transforms into a Marriott-branded hotel as part of the $45 million Empire Building hotel project.

The Empire Building at 1928 1st Ave. is nearly ready to open as the Empire Hotel. Buford, Ga.'s Ascent Hospitality is leading the project, including renovating the adjoining buildings, the former Toby's building and the former Alagasco building.

The Birmingham Design Review Committee gave the group design approval Wednesday morning. The new facade will have matching materials and a similar aesthetic to the Empire building.

Bill Arant, a consultant on the project, said he expects the Alagasco Building - which will be a Fairfield Inn & Suites - to be finished in about 10 months. The Empire building will be an Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel. It'll be a limited service hotel with 120 rooms.

New Orleans-based John T. Campo & Associates is the architect on the project.

"This is an attempt to make it more in keeping with everything else in the on the streets, rather than shall we say, 60s ugly," Arant said.

The five-story building was originally built in 1914, the original facade was removed and replaced with the window facade.

"It's going to be a nice looking brick facade," Arant said.