Universal Life Insurance Building Restoration

480 Dr. M. L. King Jr, Ave, Memphis, TN 38126 United States

Building Area (sf): 33,000

Completion: January 2019

Architect of Record:

Self + Tucker Architects

Juan R. Self, AIA
Jimmie E. Tucker, FAIA
Robert Fountain
Mario Walker, AIA

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Montgomery Martin
• Electrical: Allen & Hoshall, Innovative Engineering Services
• Engineering:
  Allen & Hoshall
  Innovative Engineering Services
• Other:
  N/A
• Photography:
  Eric Criswell
  Juan R. Self, AIA
  Mario Walker, AIA
  Mathieu White
  Trey Clark
  

The Universal Life Insurance Building Restoration included the historic preservation and revitalization of a 1949 Mckissack & Mckissack designed Egyptian Revival style office building. The building was previously owned by the Universal Life Insurance Company, once the 3rd largest black- owned insurance firm in the United States. Today the Building is a hub for creatives and entrepreneurs and home to Self + Tucker Architects as well as the City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center.

The Universal Life Insurance Building has always been a business, civic and cultural center of the Memphis African American Community. Originally designed in the Egyptian Revival style by the renowned architects McKissack & McKissack in 1947, the ULIB was the home of the 4th largest black-owned insurance Firm in the nation
that employed over 850 employees in 10 states and Washington, D.C.

The Building originally opened in 1949 and served the Universal Life Insurance Company until its unfortunate closure in 2001. Re-Opening in 2018, the developers aspired to make this building renovation a healthy, responsible and environmentally sensitive development incorporating energy efficient systems, recycled products and waste reduction practices. The building has been designed to achieve LEED Certification and will feature a 50 kw solar parking canopy.

As part of the Memphis Heritage Trail, the Universal Life Insurance Building also features a public historic gallery space highlighting the rich history of the building and the impact the founders made nationally.