“Centier chose to put a branch in one of Gary’s finest downtown landmarks, showing commitment to the revitalization of the historic city center and to the people of Gary,” says Brad Miller, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Northwest Field Office in Gary.

Completed in 1929 at the intersection of 5th & Broadway, the 10-story Gary State Bank Building exemplified the City’s booming prosperity in the 1920s. A towering Corinthian colonnade and a grand arched entry welcomes patrons inside.

Developer Vance Kenney and partners is renovating the historic building, but 8,000 square foot, former bank lobby was much too large for Centier, so it situated its new branch office in the storefront space.

“Centier’s design team used historic elements in the storefront space and took inspiration from other features in the building to create a modern bank with an atmosphere that honors the building’s age of prominence in the early 20th century,” Miller notes. The space uses salvaged doors and woodwork and vintage ceramic tile that matches the interior marble. “On the outside, Centier respected the grand bank building with placement of its signage and creation of a free standing drive-thru canopy,” he adds.

Indiana Landmarks’ nine regional offices recognize local preservation efforts across the state each year to highlight the work of organizations, businesses, and individuals who save and adapt historic places. Previously recognized preservation projects in northwest Indiana include Den and Mary Beth Mattocks’ restoration of a Craftsman bungalow in Rensselaer and the Porter County Museum for its education programs.

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Media contacts:
Brad Miller, Director of Indiana Landmarks’ Northwest Field office, 219-947-2657, bmiller@indianalandmarks.org
Tina Connor, Executive Vice President, Indiana Landmarks, 317-822-7903, tconnor@indianalandmarks.org

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, re-establishes connections to heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. The not-for-profit organization’s headquarters, Indiana Landmarks Center, is a repurposed nineteenth-century church at 1201 Central Avenue in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.