Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank's Northeast Washington regional headquarters, located in the U.S. Bank Building at 428 W. Riverside in downtown Spokane, are in the midst of an extensive $750,000 remodel, says Linda Elkin, its regional president.

Elkin says U.S. Bank's downtown offices and main banking branch haven't been updated for more than 20 years, and the upgrades are overdue. She says Old National Bank, the institution here that U.S. Bank acquired in 1987, had been based in the 101-year-old, 16-story building since that structure was erected.

Elkin says the remodel involves a total of 30,000 square feet on the building's first, second, and 12th floors, which U.S. Bank recently renewed a lease to occupy after its former 20-year contract recently ended. The remodel project also includes U.S. Bank's vault in the building's basement, she says.

Elkin says that because the bank's operations are now more efficient and technology based than two decades ago, its new 15-year lease agreement is for 20,000 square feet less than what it formerly had occupied.

"We will have much better floor space from an operations perspective in terms of how we run the business and a contemporary office space that is functional for today's business environment," Elkin says.

Baker Construction & Development Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor for the remodel, and Portland, Ore.-based Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects designed it, she says.

Elkin says work has been ongoing in phases since early January to allow for the bank's operations to continue while construction is under way.

The anticipated completion of the project is in April, she adds. Remodeling of the bank's main-floor branch, which is its flagship branch here, was expected to be completed late last month.

"It's been fun and motivating to our employees to see the investment we're making into the workspace and for our clients," Elkin says. "It will be great to have a new branch and a new professional space for our clients."

U.S. Bank's downtown offices employ 90 people, she says.

Elkin says the building's owners also are funding some other upgrades to the historic building, including renovations to its public restrooms and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

A fitness center also recently was completed on the building's ninth floor for use by its tenants, she says.