Earlier this week, news broke that Humana plans to vacate its award-winning 26-story tower on Main Street over the next 18 to 24 months, moving workers to its other office buildings in downtown Louisville.
Some quick facts to know about the building:
- Built: 1985
- Designed by: Michael Graves
- Size: ~650,000 sqft
- Time Magazine named it one of the 10 best buildings of the 1980s
- American Institute of Architects recognized it with its National Honor Award in 1987
The Humana building, seen on the far right, has been an iconic part of the Louisville skyline since 1985.
Photo by Louisville Tourism
Humana officials are reportedly working with Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office on future plans for the building. So, we asked our ~43,000 Instagram followers what they thought should happen. Here are some of the responses:
“Mixed income residential. It would be the smartest city intervention ever undertaken in Louisville. It would reinvigorate downtown and reclaim it as a living urban center. The location is perfect.” — @drewpluta
“I’d like to see someone attempt to build a mixed income, walkable community, but vertically... Have plenty of affordable housing, but offset the cost with some nicer apartments near the top. Incorporate a grocery store, some retail space, a primary care and mental health clinic, a library and a community center.” — @rahamilton
“Turn it into an apartment building over looking the city.” — @1stshft
“Reimagine the space as a state of the tech and arts public high school. It’s already hard wired for tech, has loads of common spaces for open learning, and is across the street from the Kentucky Center for the Arts, a potential collaborator.” — @markusnyc20
“Bring another big company in to buy it out.” — @rccoffey22
“Put back the Ollie’s Trolley that used to be there?” — @tonia_bee.329
What do you think should happen to the ~40-year-old tower?