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| Huntington Invests $12 Million for Renovation of Downtown Landmark |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Huntington National Bank today
announced its renovation of the downtown Huntington Bank Building - a historic
landmark at the center of Columbus, on the corner of Broad and High Streets.
This $12 million renovation demonstrates Huntington's long-standing commitment
to the City of Columbus.
"I'm proud of this project and what it demonstrates. It's good for the
city. It's good for Huntington. Most of all, it really shows our commitment
to downtown Columbus," said Thomas E. Hoaglin, Huntington chairman, president
and chief executive officer. "From initial planning stages to its completion
expected in early 2004, eight years will have been invested in this major
landmark and in Columbus' hometown bank."
Since 1996, Huntington has worked with the City of Columbus to upgrade the
building's fire and life safety condition. Almost undetectable to passersby,
this facility has been undergoing the first of a two-phase renovation, which
includes replacing and updating mechanical, electrical, and architectural
structures. To date, Huntington has invested approximately $4.5 million in
this project.
"Columbus needs downtown office space that is technologically capable to
handle the needs of the emerging businesses that drive our economic future,"
said Columbus City Council President Matt Habash. "We applaud Huntington for
not only preserving this downtown landmark, but also making it a more
accessible and pleasant place to work."
The physical construction will commence in January, and a crane will be
stationed on Broad Street for approximately six months, blocking the parking
lane in front of the building. During this time, five parking meters will be
out of service, and Huntington will reimburse the City of Columbus for all
lost revenue. From 9 AM to 3 PM, one travel lane of eastbound Broad Street
will be blocked to accommodate the crane's outriggers. Huntington is complying
with the City's directions for temporary restriping and additional signage at
the intersection of Front and Broad streets to alleviate traffic problems
while maintaining two continuous lanes of traffic to High Street.
"We have worked very closely with the City's downtown development team,
Lupton-Rausch Architects, Ohio Equities Management, and Smoot Construction to
make the renovation as unobtrusive as possible while dedicating the time and
resources to provide safety upgrades and preserve the historical and
architectural integrity of the building," Hoaglin said.
For example, Huntington will replace the current windows, which were
installed in the late 1950's and early 1960's, with new windows that are
actually more historically accurate. Additionally, state-of the art infrared
technology was installed during the first phase to provide fire protection
instead of drilling hundreds of holes for sprinkler heads in the ornate
ceiling of the banking hall.
Huntington has maintained a bank office in downtown Columbus since 1866
and been located at the corner of Broad and High streets since 1878. The
original 17 South High Street building was constructed in 1903, and the main
structure, which is over 200,000 square feet and 13 stories, was completed in
1926. In addition to Huntington's main Columbus banking office, the building
has 33 tenants who will benefit from this renovation.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $27 billion
regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its
affiliated companies, Huntington has more than 136 years of serving the
financial needs of its customers. Huntington provides innovative retail and
commercial financial products and services through more than 300 regional
banking offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at
http://www.huntington.com ; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone
bank; and through its network of more than 900 ATMs. Selected financial
service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales
offices in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Arizona; Private
Financial Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Florida,
Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are made available
through the headquarters office in Columbus and additional offices located in
the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.
SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
back to topRelated links:
CONTACT:
Jeri Grier, +1-614-480-5413, or
jeri.grier@huntington.com, or Karen Del Toro, +1-614-480-3077,
karen.deltoro@huntington.com, both of Huntington Bancshares
Incorporated
