Bank Calumet, a nine-story tower with an impressive limestone façade, has stood tall in downtown Hammond for a century. It served as a hub for business in the city, a cornerstone for its economy as much as its skyline. Then, in 2015, First Midwest Bank vacated the building, where it sat empty for nearly a decade.
Now, following three years of construction, Bank Calumet is set to become The Banc – a mixed-use building with event space and 100 modern apartments. Among the contractors working on the building is Korellis, a company with deep roots in Hammond, brought its team of expert tradespeople ready to tackle the unique challenges of rehabilitating a historic, century-old building.
“The first time I visited the site, we had to walk the stairs all the way to the 10th floor because the building had no power,” said Tony Sagrati, Commercial Estimator for Korellis. “The interior details of the lobby, as well as the main areas of the bank, transported you to the distant past, in stark contrast to modern bank lobbies. It’s been great to see it come back to life.”
Korellis is well-known in the Region for its roofing expertise but has expanded its portfolio to include a wide array of services, including masonry. So much of the Bank’s iconic look is tied to its limestone façade, requiring the masons to approach the restoration with meticulous care.
“Our masons are trained to work on these kinds of historical buildings,” Sagrati said. “We wanted to ensure the work was safe and preserved the building’s appearance. The areas that needed to be removed were large and had to be supported until final framing could be installed. We used a large platform mobile scaffold system to accomplish that portion of the work.”
The team also took care to ensure that the materials it used in the restoration matched both the existing structure as well as the surrounding area. Korellis did it all while helping the project come in under the initial budget.
“It’s been very satisfying to play a small role in this,” Sagrati said. “When you see a beautiful building on the brink of crumbling turn into a pillar of this community, it really does feel like you are part of something special. This project has been a long journey, but everyone involved will always take pride in the work we've done here.”
Beyond the masonry work, Korellis also tore off the existing roof systems and installed new roofing on the entire building. They also installed metal panel siding on several floors and added skylights.
“I love history, and I’m so happy that someone chose to invest the time and resources to restore this building instead of demolishing it,” said Jessica Arens, director of project management for Korellis. “There’s no greater sense of accomplishment than finishing up this work so it can be used for its new purpose. To me, even more than the housing it’ll offer, I hope this project will bring an influx of people and opportunities to Hammond.”
To learn more about Korellis and its services, visit korellis.com.
For more information on The Banc, check out thebanchammond.com.