Mobile Spends $1.57M to Preserve Historic Civic Center Murals

City council questions costs as two Conrad Albrizio murals are relocated and restored for new arena

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:10pm

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A vibrant, silkscreen-style grid of a historic mural depicting a lively Mardi Gras scene, conceptually representing the preservation of Mobile's cultural heritage.A bold, colorful pop art interpretation of one of Mobile's most cherished public murals, soon to be restored and displayed in the city's new Civic Center.Mobile Today

The city of Mobile, Alabama is spending at least $1.57 million to preserve and reinstall two historic murals by artist Conrad Albrizio that previously hung in the old Mobile Civic Center. The 'Mardi Gras' and 'Circus' murals will be prominently displayed in the new $300 million Civic Center arena, but the relocation and restoration efforts have prompted concerns from city council members about the high costs involved.

Why it matters

The preservation of these murals, which have been local landmarks for decades, is seen as an important part of maintaining Mobile's cultural heritage. However, the significant price tag has led some officials to question whether future art preservation projects will be worthwhile investments for the city.

The details

The $1.57 million price tag includes $72,500 to rebuild and reinstall the murals in the new Civic Center, as well as an additional $1.5 million spent to relocate the murals to Expo Hall before the old Civic Center was demolished. The murals, created by the late artist Conrad Albrizio, are the only features remaining from the former venue that will be displayed in the new arena. Consultants say the murals require new structural frames and wall redesigns to ensure their public safety and integrity when hung in the Grand Hall of the new facility.

  • The old Mobile Civic Center was demolished in preparation for the new $300 million arena project.
  • The murals have been stored at Expo Hall, the only remaining building from the old Civic Center, since their relocation.
  • The new Civic Center arena is expected to be completed by January 2027.

The players

Conrad Albrizio

A prolific artist whose murals, including 'Mardi Gras' and 'Circus', were prominent fixtures in the old Mobile Civic Center for decades.

Ben Reynolds

A Mobile city councilman who has questioned the high costs associated with preserving the Albrizio murals for the new arena.

Sam Matheny

The project manager with Volkert overseeing the relocation and restoration of the Albrizio murals.

Spiro Cheriogotis

The mayor of Mobile who has expressed confidence in the consultants' ability to properly preserve the historic murals.

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What they’re saying

“It's a lot of money.”

— Ben Reynolds, City Councilman

“The mural team discovered that they are not structurally sound to hang as is. We'll have to construct new frames … and redesign the wall they hang on inside the Grand Hall. We have to do the extra work to ensure public safety and integrity of the artwork so it doesn't crumble once it goes up in the air.”

— Sam Matheny, Project Manager, Volkert

“It won't be cheap. It's not a free process. But when you have a work of art like we do, it deserves preservation. The city has (already) invested in removing and storing it properly. We'll make sure we do what it takes to get (the murals) in place and to be in a place where people can enjoy them.”

— Spiro Cheriogotis, Mayor of Mobile

What’s next

The murals will remain in storage at Expo Hall until the new Civic Center arena is ready for them to be relocated and installed in the Grand Hall, which is expected to be completed by January 2027. Once the murals are moved, Expo Hall will then be demolished.

The takeaway

The high costs associated with preserving Mobile's historic Civic Center murals have raised concerns about the city's future art preservation efforts, even as officials remain committed to ensuring these local cultural landmarks are properly restored and displayed in the new arena for the public to enjoy.