UAB is one of the largest employers in Alabama and its medical complex is one of the top-ranked research hospitals in the country. The campus sits immediately south of Five Points South and has an expansive if somewhat utilitarian feel. The on-campus Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the best mid-sized concert venues in Birmingham, hosting touring orchestras, dance companies, and visiting performers.
For visitors, UAB is mainly of interest as the backdrop to Five Points South and as the context for understanding modern Birmingham. The hospital complex is enormous and somewhat bewildering to navigate; most visitors will have no reason to enter it. The Alys Stephens Center schedule is worth checking if you'll be in Birmingham for more than a day.