LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the largest and most influential companies in Louisville announced Monday it will be vacating the building that has served as its headquarters for nearly four decades.
Over the next 18 to 24 months, employees at the Humana Tower in downtown Louisville will be moving from the iconic building on Main Street to the recently renovated Waterside Building on North Brook Street and neighboring Clocktower building.
Humana officials said over the past several years, the company has evolved to offer more flexible work styles, including remote work, and assessed whether or not Humana needs as much office space as it currently owns.
"After thoughtful review, we have decided to consolidate Humana's downtown Louisville campus footprint and improve on-site experience for our employees," a Humana spokesman said in a news release.
The Humana Tower has been the company's flagship location since it was built in 1985 and is an iconic part of Louisville's skyline. Humana is Kentucky's only Fortune 500 company.
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"Following the consolidation of our campus footprint, Humana will remain a strong anchor for the Downtown Louisville business community, with our company and our employees providing a positive economic impact for the city," the spokesman said.
Though Humana officials say the building is safe for associates and visitors, they did say that since 2020 there have been several structural issues with the building. Humana officials said they are working closely with Mayor Craig Greenberg's office and other city agencies to identify potential future uses for the property.
It comes as the healthcare insurance giant continues to make adjustments post-pandemic, with many employees now working remotely.
Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director with the Louisville Downtown Partnership, tells WHAS11 that the move presents opportunity, shedding light on potential future uses of the building.
"We know that we've got buildings that are no longer going to be used as offices. Could that be reused for residential development? We need residential units. We also need hotel developments," she said.
Fleischaker pushed back against any notion the move represents a bigger concern for the direction of downtown, pointing to the need to move away from an office-centric business model.
"We are not calling downtown a Central Business District anymore because it is not truly a central business district. It is so many more things," she said, mentioning the city's increasing tourism levels. "I think that we are going to be OK."
Daniel Passafiume, owner of In-Season restaurant just a couple blocks away from Humana Tower, says the news was brutal to hear -- adding "we miss their presence as it is, significantly."
In-Season opened up shop pre-COVID circled around the idea that Humana foot traffic would be a huge benefit to revenue.
"The landscape totally changed for what the workforce is down here," Passafiume said. "I think there will be opportunities. It's just going to be about who capitalizes on them and who can adapt."
The Humana news release noted the Waterside and Clocktower buildings offer "modern facilities and amenities that are well-suited" for employees.
Kevin Trager, Mayor Greenberg's press secretary, released the following statement Monday:
"Humana is a great partner and employer for Louisville and we appreciate their continued commitment to our city as they make this transition. The Humana Tower is an iconic downtown building – in the heart of our city – and we view this as an opportunity for future growth. The mayor’s office is looking forward to ongoing conversations with Humana and other partners about how this property’s next chapter will continue to be an asset to our beautiful, vibrant downtown."
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