from the Beacon Journal, Jan. 29, 2011
KeyBank's new downtown branch opened Monday as the first office building constructed in downtown Akron in 11 years.
The Cleveland-based bank started construction on the branch and regional headquarters for what it calls its Eastern Ohio Division in 2009.
The branch, at South Main Street and University Avenue across from Lock 3 park, was built on a small piece of land that has been vacant since at least 1988.
''This is the culmination of several years of planning and we looked at many options. We decided on this lot,'' said Tom Tulodzieski, who was recently promoted to executive vice president and Great Lakes Regional president, but has served as the Eastern Ohio District president working out of Akron for the last 11 years.
The 21,000-square-foot, three-story glass and metal building was constructed into a hill at the site.
The new location will feature 7,000 square feet instead of 3,000 at the former branch. There will be 49 people in the building — seven in the branch and 18 Key Private Bank employees on the second floor and 24 in retail administration, commercial and business banking on the third floor.
Tulodzieski said private bankers who work with high-wealth clients and now work in the nearby former O'Neil's building and in offices in Hudson will be able to work at the downtown headquarters.
''We've been separated since 2002,'' he said. ''We're excited to have everyone under one roof.''
The bank is moving from its existing leased space one block away at Bowery and South Main. That branch closed early Friday afternoon and will reopen Monday at 9 a.m. The downtown branch is not normally open on Saturdays and its regular hours will be Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The new branch has an ATM outside the building and a night depository box, both of which are functional this weekend, officials said.
The branch will open first on Monday; the office workers will move on Feb. 14 to the other floors, officials said.
The branch is spacious and allows for officers to have private conversations with clients in offices — a departure from the former, smaller branch, said Russ Holmes, senior vice president and district retail leader, who will also be based out of the Akron offices.
The bank hired an additional person as an assistant branch manager in anticipation of the move, he said.
Inside, the bank also wanted to give a nod to the local history of Akron — a wall shows historical photos from the block, which is designated as an Ohio historic site. The original building was a Zimmerly Bros. retail operation.
But the bank also has a lot of modern technologies and conveniences — a ticker-tape display in the front of the bank will be used for promotions and there is also a time and temperature clock. There's also a wall of eight televisions behind the teller stations and a customer ID module at each teller station to allow customers to swipe debit or ATM cards for easy identification, said Holmes.
Customers will be able to enter from two locations — either the entrance off Main Street and with metered parking or through the fourth floor of the Summit County parking deck. There will be four parking spaces designated for KeyBank customers who may get parking stubs validated for free.
From the upstairs offices, there are views of the ice skating rink at Lock 3 and summer concerts, said Tulodzieski.
KeyBank is renting the facility from developer Terra Group of Brecksville in a 20-year lease. Officials declined to say how much the project cost, but city records have said it was a $3 million project. The building was built by Summit Construction of Akron and the interior work was done by Turner Construction of Cleveland.
In a statement, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said ''downtown remains the center of greater Akron's financial and legal community, and we appreciate the expression of confidence that the new headquarters represents. KeyBank's addition to downtown is an important sign of confidence for all of our citizens.''
Plusquellic said many of the 31,000 people who come to work downtown will use the new branch.
Bowery Management, which operates the space KeyBank is vacating, could not be reached to discuss what might replace the bank.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.
