BOWLING GREEN, O. — A building given to Bowling Green State University by Huntington Bank will have an impact on the campus, students and programs for decades to come.

Huntington Bank recently donated to the University a building located within the BGSU Research Enterprise Park east of campus and Interstate 75.

“We are on the cusp of what will be a plan for 15 to 20 years of physical improvements on campus,” said Steven Krakoff, associate vice president for capital planning and design. “The Huntington building will help the University provide high-quality space that supports the academic vision of the institution.”

The building, valued at $1.5 million, is located at 1851 N. Research Drive. Previously it housed the operations center for the former Sky Bank, which was part of Huntington Bank’s acquisition when it purchased Sky in 2007. The University will assess the best use for the building as part of its ongoing expansion and development plans.

“With real estate at a premium, the 35,000-square-foot facility will be put to good use,” said J. Douglas Smith, vice president for University advancement. For the University to build a facility of this size would cost approximately $7 million.

Bowling Green State University will act quickly to determine the best use for the donated building as part of its ongoing expansion and development plans.

“Huntington continues to be a strong community partner,” said BGSU President Carol A. Cartwright. “We appreciate Huntington’s commitment to BGSU; for several decades the bank has been a good partner with the University. This most recent gift demonstrates the bank’s support of BGSU and higher education.”

The building will give BGSU a presence in the research park, a growing trend for some of the best research parks in the nation, said Jim Smith, vice president for regional growth and economic growth and development at BGSU. “This is a wonderful gift, a beautiful building and a nice addition to the research park and BGSU.”

“At Huntington, we ‘invest forward’ to support the communities in which we live and work. Our success as a business depends upon the success of our communities, and we are proud to partner with BGSU to help strengthen programs and services," said Sharon Speyer, regional president for Huntington's Northwest Ohio Region.

"As the ‘Local Bank with National Resources,’ this gift represents our ability to make decisions that impact the overall good of a community in northwest Ohio," Speyer said. "Huntington believes that by giving back, we are investing in our business, and the business of Bowling Green and Bowling Green State University."


About Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University was established in 1910 and is dedicated to providing quality academic programs in a learning environment that promotes academic and personal excellence in students. A state-assisted, mid-size residential university, BGSU has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students and offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs. At the center of the University's academic community are nearly 900 full-time faculty members who are engaged in teaching, research and scholarship activities. The University is situated on a 1,338-acre campus, which includes 116 buildings. It is located 23 miles south of Toledo, Ohio.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Inc. is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 143 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Through our subsidiaries, including our banking subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, we provide full-service commercial and consumer banking services, mortgage banking services, equipment leasing, investment management, trust services, brokerage services, customized insurance service program, and other financial products and services. Our over 600 banking offices are located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of almost 1,400 ATMs. The Auto Finance and Dealer Services group offers automobile loans to consumers and commercial loans to automobile dealers within our six-state banking franchise area. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Private Financial Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are available through the headquarters office in Columbus and a limited purpose office located in both the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

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