WARREN - Northwest is expanding to the east.
In order to accommodate growth at its corporate office, Northwest Savings Bank has purchased the former Knights of Columbus Building on Second Avenue and the Diamond Block/Sal Dicembre Building on Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to a Tuesday press release, plans are in progress for the construction of a building that will provide about 50,000 square feet for offices and meeting space over four stories, including a basement.
As proposed, the job is estimated to take about two years to complete.
Northwest is working with architect R.W. Larson and Associates of Warren on the design of the new building.
"Northwest will take pains to insure that the design of its new building preserves the scale of the downtown and fits well into the fabric of its home city," Steve Bell, vice president of properties and facilities, said.
As many as 280 people could work in the new building, according to Bell. There are no immediate plans for hiring at the corporate office.
"We're crowded where we are," communications vice president Jim Holding said. "We do not have any major hiring plans for the next two years."
The existing corporate and administrative offices in the corporate headquarters and the 301 Second Ave. bank building encompass about 100,000 square feet, according to Holding.
"As planned, this new facility will give Northwest Savings Bank's corporate operations the capacity to handle bank growth," Bell said. "Our bank sees this project as our chance to reinvest in our hometown and to do our part in continuing to revitalize the downtown area.''
A public meeting has been set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Conewango Club to "discuss the results of its planning to date and to solicit opinions," he said.
There are 169 Northwest Savings Bank offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland, including branches in North Warren, Sheffield, Tidioute, Youngsville, and two in Warren.
The company holds $8 billion in assets and has been ranked first in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the JD Power and Associates Bank Customer Satisfaction Survey for the past two years.