Jeni’s Ice Cream Pavilion

This 640-sf jewel-box is the first new building in Pepper Place, Birmingham’s bustling retail and entertainment district. A small-but-mighty act of urbanism, this dynamic building activates the corner of 29th Street S and 3rd Avenue with sheltered seating, increased walkability, and an upgraded connection to a blossoming design area.

The pavilion—housing the popular ice cream shop’s first Alabama location—is served by an open-air patio shaded with a graphic weathering-steel roof. The building shields this public space from the adjacent busy road; traffic noise is further calmed by the addition of parallel parking. The pavilion draws foot traffic, and customers of the Pepper Place farmers’ market can gather on the bleacher-style seating to listen to live music, and in general the welcoming outdoor space has proved to be a popular, safe hangout spot throughout the pandemic.