Generations of Region residents cashed paychecks, made deposits or conducted other transactions in the high-vaulted lobby of the Bank Calumet tower in downtown Hammond.

It's a dramatic space with classical pillars rising up toward a 38-foot-tall ceiling with ornate woodwork that was hand-carved by artisans in Germany. The windows stand three feet tall, bringing in natural light that highlights marble floors, limestone accents and other architectural features.

Now, after years of painstaking restoration, the towering grand hall has been transformed into the Region's newest special events venue. The developer NWI Development Group aimed to offer a Chicago-caliber wedding venue at the new The Reserve: A Grand Venue in downtown Hammond.

"We mainly see wedding receptions in this space," NWI

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