Traditional look favored for Carson office renovation

The former Citibank building in Carson City may soon get an old face lift.

The 22,000-square-foot building at the corner of Curry and Telegraph streets is being renovated by the Hop & Mae Adams Foundation, which bought the 50-year-old structure last year for $900,000.

The two-story building will likely be designed for a mixed use of Class A commercial space and retail. An additional 4,000 square feet of space may be turned into a health club or offices for startups, similar to the Adams Hub Business Incubator also owned by the foundation and slated to open next month, says Miya MacKenzie, owner of MacWest Marketing in Carson City.

The foundation first wanted input from the public on the Citibank building’s exterior design. It held an open house at the nearby Adams Hub, where about 175 participants voted on two renderings.

About 84 percent preferred a design by local architect Robert Darney, who also designed the Adams Hub, because the traditional look was a better fit for Carson City’s historic downtown, they said.

The other design was by Reno’s H+K Architects, who already designed the building’s plumbing, HVAC and other infrastructure. The interior demolition was done over the last few months by Carson City’s Shaheen Beauchamp Builders LLC. The builder for the renovations is to be selected after the design is finalized.

The attendees also overwhelming said they want more downtown shopping options so the plan may include about 9,000 square feet of retail space along the Curry Street side of the building, says MacKenzie.

The respondents said they would like to see a coffee house, clothing boutique, restaurant and grocery store and hoped the office space would attract technology businesses.

The building’s renovation is scheduled to start by the fall.

The Adams Hub, a block away at the corner of Carson and Proctor streets, was recently redone by Shaheen Beauchamp based on a design by Darney.

MacKenzie says several technology tenants are in talks now to fill the space. The hub is slated to open its doors in June.