Iconic Humana Tower in downtown Louisville could transform into a 1,000-room hotel

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Downtown Louisville's iconic Humana Tower could become home to a new hotel.

According to our partners at Louisville Business First, local developer Poe Cos. is in the planning stages of converting the 27-story Humana building into a 1,000-room hotel.

The tower has a strategic location on West Main Street near the Belvedere, Museum Row and the KFC Yum! Center.

Business First reported in April that Poe Cos. had been planning to build an entirely new 1,000-room hotel at the former Museum Plaza site, which is on River Road just west of the Muhammad Ali Center at Seventh Street.

According to sources close to the project, the new vision for the Humana Tower would use the existing structure, but also construct an additional tower near where Vincenzo's Restaurant is located.

There is no word on when construction could begin or how much it would cost. And it's not clear who would own the building or what kind of state and local help would be needed to secure the deal. Business First asked for comment from Poe Cos. and Vincenzo's with no responses.

Humana did confirm in an email to Business First that it was working with Metro Government to find a new owner for the tower.

The proposal would create Louisville's second-largest hotel behind The Galt House, which has 1,310 rooms.

Issues facing redevelopment

Plans for Humana's Tower previously reported on by Louisville Business First featured “combination of upscale hospitality, residential, office and retail. Supported by a comprehensive market demand analysis and architectural review.”

Converting office space to residential or hospitality uses can be costly with big changes for plumbing and electrical systems. And the tower's structural integrity has been in question since 2023, when Business First reported on Humana's legal complaint against firms that designed and built it in the 1980s.

Humana's decision to sell

In February 2024, the state's only Fortune 500 company announced it would vacate the building in a cost-cutting move. Humana said at the time it no longer needed the building as it embraced hybrid and remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company announced plans to sell the tower a year later.

The pink granite tower at 500 West Main Street designed by the late, renowned architect Michael Graves, has been a symbol of Humana's homegrown roots since it was built about 40 years ago under the direction of the late Humana co-founder David A. Jones, a lifelong resident and champion of the city.

Humana for decades has been the largest office tenant in downtown Louisville, but it's vacated 800,000 square feet of leased office space in the Central Business District, commercial agents have estimated. In 2022, it donated an entire office building the University of Louisville.

Humana's early retirement offering to some employees raises concern for local economist

Humana executives say future vacant building 'not good' for downtown Louisville

Humana to list iconic downtown Louisville headquarters for sale

Sale of downtown Louisville's Humana Tower sale faces hurdles over building defects

Humana to vacate iconic headquarters building in downtown Louisville