Planning Board OKs Plans for 3D Animation Firm in Rail District

At its Wednesday night meeting, the Birmingham planning board gave the go-ahead to the final site plans for Armstrong White, a 3D animation firm aiming to move its global headquarters into the empty building at 2125 E. Lincoln Ave.

Representatives of Armstrong White, which works primarily with the automotive industry, made additional changes to the designs to reduce development costs, planning intern Matt Baka told the board. New to the plans is a redesigned parking lot and a specially designed front door that opens on a pivot, lending the space a grand air.

The building would be located in the rail district, immediately adjacent to the city’s pocket park at the corner of Eton Road and Lincoln Avenue. Katherine Abboud, chief operating officer, said company officials are excited about the location, formerly the site of the Lincoln Street Alternative School.

“We love the idea of being in the rail district,” she said.

The firm first went before the planning board Dec. 8 for a final site plan review, but plans were postponed because of outstanding legal issues. The planning board then approved the plans at its Jan. 12 meeting.

Abboud said if plans are approved by the city commission, Armstrong White can be open by Sept. 1. The plans now go to the city commission for a final site plan review.