♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HI AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

WELL, THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE KET'S NEW HOME IN LOUISVILLE.

OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO RECENTLY MOVED INTO THE HISTORIC AMERICAN LIFE BUILDING.

DESPITE ITS PROMINENT LOCATION, THIS HISTORIC PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE IS EASY TO MISS.

IT'S SET BACK FURTHER FROM MAIN STREET THAN ITS NEIGHBORS, THE TRUWEST BANK BUILDING TO THE EAST AND KENTUCKY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO THE WEST.

IT'S A PROMINENT PIECE OF ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY NOT JUST IN LOUISVILLE BUT THE WORLD.

IN THE LATE 1960s, THE AMERICAN LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE HIRED LUDWICK MEIS VAN DER ROHE TO DESIGN THE HEADQUARTER HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

LUDWIG MEIS VAN DE ROHE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MODERN ARCHITECTS OF THE 20th CENTURY.

A GERMAN IMMIGRANT, HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS LESS IS MORE APPROACH ABANDONING ORNATE DETAILS USING DESIGNS WITH A FOCUS ON CONNECTING THE OUTSIDE WITH MASSIVE WINDOWS AND OPEN SPACES.

HE PIONEERED THE GLASS AND STEEL HIGH RISE BUILDING DESIGN THAT DOMINATED NEW CONSTRUCTION IN CITIES AFTER WORLD WAR II.

THE AMERICAN LIFE BUILDING WAS ONE OF HIS FINAL DESIGNS.

HE DIED FROM CANCER IN 1969 AND NEVER SAW HIS DESIGN COME TO LIFE.

10 YEARS AGO KET PARTNERED WITH THE KENTUCKY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS TO HIGHLIGHT 10 BUILDINGS THAT CHANGED LOUISVILLE.

THE AMERICAN LIFE BUILDING WAS AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

♪ ♪ >> KET AND A.I.A.

KENTUCKY'S 10 BUILDINGS THAT CHANGED LOUISVILLE SERIES WAS INSPIRED BY THE NATIONAL PROGRAM WHICH AIRED ON PBS IN 2013.

OUR LIST AND THE AMERICAN ONE SHARE A LINK.

ARCHITECT LUDWIG MEIS VAN DE ROHE WHO DESIGNED THE NATIONALLY HONORED SEA GRAHAM BUILDING AND THE LOCALLY RECOGNIZED AMERICAN LIFE BUILDING.

>> THE TROLLEY ACROSS THE WAY, A BIG HOLE WHERE THE CENTER ARE FOR THE ARTS IS.

>> C.E.O.

NANA LAMPTON BROUGHT LUDWIG MEIS VAN DE ROHE TO THE ATTENTION OF HER FATHER.

>> I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS SIMPLICITY, THE CHARACTER OF HIS BUILDINGS SO I FOLLOWED HIM AND FATHER AND I HAD BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL ARCHITECTS AND THEY WEREN'T REALLY VERY PLEASING.

THEY WERE TOO PRO SE PROSAIC.

THEY DIDN'T MAKE ANY STATEMENTS.

SO WE CALLED MEIS VAN DER ROHE OVER THE PHONE.

OF COURSE HE IS A BUSINESSMAN IN HIS OFFICE IN CHICAGO, SO FATHER AND I DISCUSSED.

HE TOOK THE COMMISSION OVER THE PHONE AND ON WE WENT.

>> THE DESIGN, AMONG LUDWIG MEIS VAN DE ROHE FOLLOWED HIS LESS IS MORE CREDO.

>> IT'S MORE IN THE SCALE OF THE HISTORIC MAIN STREET FOUR AND FIVE AND SIX FLOORS, BUT ALSO IT PROVIDES THAT WIDE EXPANSE AND THAT ABILITY TO LOOK FROM MAIN STREET AND SEE A HORIZON OUT TOWARDS THE RIVER.

IT OPENS UP TO THE BELVEDERE AND WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, THE BELVEDERE WOULD HAVE THOSE BIG, BIG WEEKENDS, THOSE HERITAGE WEEKENDS, AND THE BLUEGRASS FESTIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HAS AN AWFUL LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE STARTING TO GO BACK DOWNTOWN.

>> IT HAS A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE OUTSIDE.

THERE IS SO MUCH LIGHT.

THE WINDOWS HERE ON THIS FLOOR ARE SEVEN FEET BY 14 FEET.

>> YOU DON'T APPRECIATE A MEIS VAN DER ROHE BUILDING UNTIL YOU ARE ON THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT.

HAVING BEEN IN THE BIDDING SEVERAL TIMES, IT IS A JOY.

NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION YOU LOOK AT, YOU SEE A LOT OF THE CITY.

>> NANA LAMPTON IS THE CHAIRMAN OF HARD SCUFFLE, INC., THE HOLDING COMPANY NOW FOR AMERICAN LIFE AND IRONWOOD.

AND STILL WORKS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY.

SO YOU HAVE THE SHORTEST COMMUTE EVER DOWN HERE.

>> WELL, THIS IS A COMMUTE TO KET THAT REALLY COUNTS.

THIS IS THE MAIN LIFE PULSE OF OUR WHOLE BUILDING NOW.

>> WELL, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

BUT IN THAT STORY WE JUST SAW, THE 10 BUILDINGS THAT CHANGED LOUISVILLE, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN BRINGING THIS HERE AND CALLING MEIS VAN DER ROHE ON THE PHONE.

>> FATHER WAS PUSHY AND HE DID CALL HIM RIGHT UP AND HE ANSWERED THE PHONE.

BUT THE WAY IT CAME ABOUT IS THAT WE HAD 10 ARCHITECTS LOOK AT THIS PROJECT AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING TO BE BUILT.

AND ALL OF THEM WERE VERY PROSAIC.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO OFFER ON THE RIVERFRONT.

AND WE HAD TO PROVE OURSELVES BECAUSE THERE WAS CRITICISM ABOUT DOWNTOWN MOVING TO THE RIVER.

IT WASN'T THERE YET.

SO IN COLLEGE, I HAD STUDIED MEIS VAN DER ROHE AS PART OF THE GROUP OF BOW HOUSE THAT CAME FROM GERMANY DURING NAZI OCCUPATION.

AND MEIS WAS BUILDING ALL ALONG THE CHICAGO LAKE FRONT.

SO HE WAS WELL KNOWN.

AND FATHER CALLED HIM UP AND SAID WOULD YOU TAKE THIS PROJECT.

HE SAID YES, I KNOW ABOUT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE DOXI IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND HE IS WORKING ON THE 12-ACRE PLAZA.

SO IT WAS HE, FRIEND OF MEIS TO WHO TOLD HIM ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HE TOOK IT OVER THE PHONE.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS BECAUSE AMERICAN LIFE WAS A COMPANY STARTED BY YOUR GRANDFATHER IN THE EARLY 1900s WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS COMPANY?

>> I KNOW THAT HE WAS THE SON OF A DOCTOR WHO TOOK HIS SURREY OUT IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER AND CHARGED $3 A CALL FOR HIS SERVICES.

HE WAS IN SPRINGFIELD, KENTUCKY.

AND MY GRANDFATHER MOVED FROM SPRINGFIELD TO LOUISVILLE TO BE A PRUDENTIAL AGENT.

AND HE HAD OTHER AGENTS AROUND.

AND HE SAID, BOYS, I'M GOING TO START AN INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH WAS SO LAUGHABLE.

THERE WASN'T A PENNY.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING.

SO IN THE VERY BEGINNING, THEY GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, HIS OTHER AGENTS WHO WEREN'T PRUDENTIAL AND SAID, WELL, IF SOMEONE DIES, WE'LL JUST ALL PITCH IN AND PAY THE DEATH BENEFIT.

AND THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE WAY YOU REGISTER AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

SO IN 1906, HE BEGAN THIS WORK.

IN 1924, IT WAS REGISTERED AS AMERICAN LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY OF KENTUCKY.

AND THE ACCIDENT WAS JUST NOT A GREAT BIG THING THAT YOU WOULD SEE IN PRUDENTIAL NOW, BUT IT WAS A COVERAGE FOR THINGS HAPPENING ESPECIALLY HEALTH.

SO HE HAD 400 AGENTS IN INDIANA, OHIO AND KENTUCKY.

HE WENT THERE OFTEN.

HE MET WITH THEM EVERY FRIDAY.

MY FATHER CONTINUED THAT UNTIL THE 60s WHEN OUR KIND OF INSURANCE DOOR TO DOOR SALES AND SMALL AMOUNTS OF COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEEDED IT DURING THE DEPRESSION AND ALL THROUGH THE WAR, THAT WAS NOT THE WAY TO GO AND PRUDENTIAL METROPOLITAN WERE BUILDING UP HUGE COMPANIES AND SELLING THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES FOR VERY LITTLE.

SO MY GRANDFATHER WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE FUTURE.

HE CAME DOWN WITH HIS CANE AND TAPPED ON OUR STEEL AND SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE IN THE SLUMS?

BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING.

>> YEAH.

>> AND SO MY GRANDFATHER WAS WONDERFUL.

HE HIRED ME IN THE 60S AFTER GRADUATE SCHOOL, AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU THE REST.

>> SO, BUT IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW DOWNTOWN WAS.

FIRST OF ALL IN THE EARLY 1900s, YOU GET HOTELS AND BANKING CENTERS, STEAM BOATS AND IT SEEMS SO PROMISING AND THEN WITH THE DEPRESSION, THE FLOOD AND REALLY A GREAT ECONOMIC DEPRESSION FOR OUR DOWNTOWN CONTINUED THROUGH THE 60s.

AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE VISION TO BRING DOWNTOWN BACK.

BUT YOUR DAD DID.

>> I CREDIT MY GRANDFATHER, TOO, BECAUSE THE BANK OLD KENTUCKY THAT FAILED RIGHT DURING THE DEPRESSION, WAS IN OUR BUILDING.

IT WAS THE KELLER BUILDING.

AND MY GRANDFATHER TRADED SOME VERY LOWDOWN BONDS FOR SOME VERY WORTHLESS PROPERTY, WHICH WAS THE BANK OF KENTUCKY AND THAT WAS IN 1924.

THAT WAS RIGHT ON THIS LOCATION.

IT WAS THE FIRST SURVEYED LOT IN LOUISVILLE.

AND THE BOTTLES THAT WERE FOUND UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING, THE DIGGING OUT, WAS FROM THE FIRST POST POSTMASTER WHO WAS A FRENCHMAN WHO LIVED ON LOT NUMBER ONE AND COULD GO RIGHT DOWN THE COBBLESTONE ROAD TO THE BARGES AND TO THE STEAM BOATS.

AND SO IT WAS ALL RIVER ORIENTED AND HE BOUGHT THAT BUILDING, AND THAT WAS THE REASON WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THIS BUILDING BECAUSE WE OWNED IT.

>> BUT IT WAS A TIME OF URBAN RENEWAL, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE BACK AND FORTH AND WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THE RIVERFRONT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CHOSE NOT TO INVEST IN MAIN STREET BECAUSE IT WAS GOING DOWNHILL IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EYES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT TIME HERE AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER.

>> WELL, PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE EMERGENCE OF THE NATIONAL CITY TOWER OR HUMANA LATER ON OR THE AGON BUILDING, WHICH IS MAGNIFICENT, FROM PHILLIP JOHNSON, THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THESE WERE GOING TO HAPPEN.

ALL THEY COULD SEE IS HOLES IN THE GROUND.

WE HAD AN EARLY TIMES SIGN ON THE SIDE OF THE NEXT BUILDING A BLOCK AWAY.

WE HAD BIG HOLE BESIDE US, WE HAD ALLIE'S TROLLEY ON A VACANT LOT ACROSS THE WAY AND PEOPLE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING GOOD WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND SO I THINK MAYOR BURKE AND ALL KINDS OF HARVEY'S-- HARVEY SLOANE CAME ALONG AND THERE WAS A BUILDUP FOR TRYING TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT MIGHT BE.

I WOULD SAY WE ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION NOW AS PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO THE OUTSKIRTS.

AND OUR COMPANY RECEIVED FIRST PLACE OF THE FASTEST GROWING 50 IN THIS AREA TO TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

WELL, ALL THE OTHER COMPANIES ARE GREAT AND THEY'RE AT THE OUTSKIRTS.

THEY'RE NOT HOUSED DOWNTOWN.

BUT IT IS EXCITING TO SEE HOW MANY COMPANIES ARE BEING BUILT RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO IT'S AN EBB AND FLOW I THINK.

>> AND YOUR GRANDFATHER, FATHER AND NOW YOU, HAVE SEEN THAT EBB AND FLOW SO MUCH THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE VISION FOR DOWNTOWN NOW?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

I BET IF YOU ASK CRAIG, HE WOULD HESITATE.

BUT LET'S BEGIN WITH THE LITTLE THINGS.

BARRY ALBERTS WAS THE HEAD OF DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.

HE AND I KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO PLACE TO WALK UP AND SEE THE RIVER.

SO WE MADE THIS GREAT PROMENADE WITH A LITTLE FOUNTAIN DOWN BY MAIN STREET, AND WE SAID, WELL, WENDELL CHERRY AND DAVID JONES BUILDING, THE WONDERFUL ART CENTER, AND CATTLE ROLAND-- CALVIN ROLAND AND SCOTT BUILT THAT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WALK UP THERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE LIT.

WE CAN HAVE FESTIVALS OUT THERE AND IT COULD BE FUN.

SO THAT WAS BEFORE THE GREAT LAWN.

IT WAS BEFORE THE WATERFRONT WAS DEVELOPED AND MADE OPEN TO ALL PUBLIC FOR PICNICS AND MUSIC AND EVERYTHING.

BUT WE WENT DOWN MAIN STREET AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO DIVIDE THIS CITY INTO SEVEN BITS.

THIS IS THE ART STREET.

THIS IS THE STREET OF MUSIC AND PAINTINGS AND THIS IS THE STREET OF TURNING OLD BUILDINGS INTO USEABLE BUILDINGS.

AND SO WE WENT ABOUT MAKING A BRICK SIDEWALK AND WE MADE THE WALKING STICKS IN THE BRONZE TO GUARD THE TREES.

WE PUT LABELS IN STONE IN FRONT OF EACH BUILDING TO SHOW WHERE THE THEATER WAS, WHERE THE HAT MAKER WAS, WHERE THE HARNESS MAKER WAS.

AND THEN WE LIT IT WITH REALLY NICE LOOKING LANTERNS IN THE STREET.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT THE HEADQUARTERS OF OPERA AND ORCHESTRA MOVED IN AND IT HAD-- IT BEGAN TO GATHER AS AN ARTS DISTRICT.

WE HAD THE MEDICAL DISTRICT, THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT, THE GOVERNMENTAL DISTRICT, WE HAD THE LIVING TOWARD ORMSBY AND WE SORT OF BUILT THE CITY IN THOSE SEVEN AREAS AND TRIED TO LABEL THEM IN SOME WAY.

SO THAT WAS A BEGINNING.

AND I THINK IT'S ONGOING ALWAYS.

SO NOW PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE TOWERS BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEY GOT USED TO WORKING AT HOME.

AND NOW I FEEL THERE IS A DIFFERENT DESIRE.

I THINK WOMEN ARE TIRED OF BEING AT HOME AND BEING AVAILABLE FOR CHORES ALL DAY LONG.

AND REALLY DO WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN WHERE THE RESTAURANTS ARE REBUILDING.

THAT'S A SKETCH.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CITY IS ALIVE.

IT'S JUST AS JERRY ABRAMSON SAID LAST NIGHT.

YOU CAN'T BE A SUBURB OF NOWHERE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CENTER.

OUR CENTER IS NOT DEAD.

IT'S JUST IN A LITTLE LULL HERE.

SO I THINK TODAY WHEN CRAIG GREENBERG GIVES HIS OVERVIEW OF THE CITY, THERE WILL BE SOME IDEAS THAT ARE TOSSED OUT TO KEEP OUR DOWNTOWN REALLY ALIVE.

>> IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF WHERE IT WAS AND THAT YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT-- WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN DOWNTOWN.

>> YES, BECAUSE IT WAS BIG HOLES.

AND THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, INSTEAD OF THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WAS GOING TO BE APARTMENTS WITH SINGLE AIR CONDITIONERS OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE STREET.

AND IT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY UGLY.

SO WE SAID WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS HERE, NOT AT 4th AND BROADWAY.

AND THAT RAN INTO A BRICK WALL.

THE POWERS THAT BE WANTED IT AT 4S AND BROADWAY.

THAT'S WHERE OUR CITY IS.

SO IT WAS THE COURAGE OF WENDELL CHERRY AND DAVID JONES AND OTHERS WHO MADE THAT HAPPEN.

AND IT'S JUST A BRIGHT LIGHT.

>> IT'S A LOT OF LITTLE DECISIONS, A LOT OF CREATIVE MINDS TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A VISION REALITY.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CREDIT YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER.

>> BE WISE, BE INSURED.

>> THAT WAS THEIR MOTTO.

>> HE INVENTED THAT.

FATHER DID.

>> YES!

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE CREDIT THEM WITH BEING ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO DID BRING BACK MAIN STREET.

DO YOU THINK SO?

>> THAT'S A VERY NICE COMPLIMENT.

WE WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR COMPANY, AND WE HAD SOME GOOD TENANTS.

THAT WASN'T THE KEY THING.

WE WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE ON THE RIVER WHERE OUR OWN PROPERTY WAS.

BUT THE OTHER NIGHT, U OF L WAS PLAYING NIGHT BEFORE LAST, AND THERE WAS NOT A PARKING PLACE IN THE WHOLE OF DOWNTOWN.

I GUESS CHESTNUT WAS THE OUTER RIM.

EVERYBODY WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET EXCITED.

THEY WERE GOING TO RESTAURANTS.

THEY WERE-- THEY WERE OUT LATE.

IT WAS REALLY A GOOD FEEL AND THAT'S ANOTHER ENERGY SOURCE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WOULD THINK OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE RIGHT NOW TODAY?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY WOULD USE THE CATTLE PROD ON ME ME AND SAY GET TO WORK.

WE'VE GOT TO FILL UP THESE BUILDINGS OR HAVE SOME USE FOR THEM.

AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LYING ABOUT?

SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YES, ALWAYS SOMETHING EXTRA TO DO.

>> LOOK AT ST. LOUIS, KIND OF OUR SISTER CITY.

AND CINCINNATI, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF CITY.

PROCTOR AND GAMBLE PRETTY WELL RULES IT AND ALL THE SIDE BUSINESSES CENTER AROUND IT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT CULTURE, BUT WE DO NEED TO STEP ON THE GAS A LITTLE BIT AND WE NEED INVESTORS AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO BUY BUILDINGS.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT OUR EITs, YOU KNOW, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS OWN THE MAJORITY OF OUR TALL BUILDINGS.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EMOTIONAL CONTACT WITH THESE BUILDINGS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, WHO REALLY TOOK A CHANCE AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO WE NEED TO GET THEM BOUGHT BACK.

FOR INSTANCE, I'VE PUT TWO LAYERS OF NATIVE PLANTS ON OUR BUILDING ON THE ROOFS BECAUSE IT DISBURSES THE WATER, THE RAIN WATER.

THERE IS NO GIANT FLOOD GOING INTO THE OLD CAST IERP SEWERS.

>> YES.

>> AND BREAKING THEM UP.

SO THIS IS A DISBURSEAL OF WATER.

IT'S A WAY OF CLEANING THE AIR BECAUSE ALL THOSE PLANTS EVEN CARBON, YOU KNOW, EAT THE GASES IN THE AIR.

AND THE BIG PLANES FLY BY EVERY DAY SO WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO EAT.

IT WOULD BE SO EASY FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GREEN ROOF UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET AND WE WOULD HAVE CLEAN AIR.

>> YES.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT ABOUT THIS BUILDING THAT IT'S... >> WE ARE JUST ALONE THOUGH.

WE SHOULD HAVE EVERYBODY.

AND BECAUSE THEY'RE COSTLY, THE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON TOP OF A GARAGE OR ON TOP OF THE BUILDING.

>> BUT THE ROOF TOP HERE HAS PROVED VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>> WE HAVE BEES, PEREGRINE FALCONS, WE HAVE DOVES, ALL KINDS OF INSECTS.

WE HAVE POLLINATORS.

IT'S A HAPPY PLACE UP THERE.

>> AND THAT'S ANOTHER VISION THAT YOU HAD THAT NOBODY ELSE WAS DOING.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DOING IT IN CHICAGO.

>> NOT HERE.

>> BUT I THINK IT WILL COME.

IT'S WHAT-- WHAT DOES THE INVESTMENT PAY BACK?

IT'S NOT JUST MONEY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BUT HAVING AIR TO BREATHE NEXT TO THE RIVER, WHICH HARBORS GASES AND THE WET ATMOSPHERE, THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK AT IT.

>> YOU ARE A HUGE ADVOCATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVATION AND SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR FOUNDATION NOW, THE SNOWY OWL FOUNDATION.

>> THAT'S SO NICE.

I WENT ON A GREAT TRIP TO ALASKA.

EVERYBODY WHO HAS TAKEN A TRIP THERE LOVES IT.

>> YES.

>> SO I WAS SLEEPING ON A SPIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TURNER RIVER AND THERE WAS A SHE GRIZZLY AND HER BABIES AND THERE WERE TUNDRA SWANS AND IT WAS SO WONDERFUL.

A WOLVERINE WAS HAVING A BATH NEXT TO MY TENT.

AND IT WAS SEEING THE LAND THE WAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

AND WHEN WE TOOK OFF, THE BUSH PILOT SAID LOOK, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THERE WERE TWO ROWS OF SNOWY OWLS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PLANE.

HE SAID WE ONLY SEE ONE OR TWO.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

SO IT GAVE ME AN INTEREST IN THE SNOWY OWL AND THE FEMALE MAKES A CIRCLE OF LEMMINGS.

SHE IS CAUGHT, HUNTED AND PUTS THAT IN THE CIRCLE.

PUTS THE CHICK IN THE MIDDLE.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER AND SHE DIES OR SHE IS HUNTING OR NOT ABLE TO PROTECT THEM, THEY HAVE FOOD.

AND THAT'S WHY I NAMED IT THE SNOWY OWL FOUNDATION BECAUSE IT'S FOR LAND, ART, EDUCATION AND HUMAN NEED AND THERE ARE FOUR WONDERFUL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL OUTLAST ME, THANK GOODNESS.

AND THEY WILL TAKE IT ON.

AND SAY WE REALLY NEED THE KENTUCKY NARL LAND TRUST.

WE REALLY NEED THE HUMAN NEED LIST THAT AARON YARMOUTH HAS IS ENDLESS.

SO IT'S A LITTLE STEP.

IT'S NOT-- THE FOUNDATION IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB AND THE J. GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION IS DOWN STAIRS FROM US, SO IT MAY BE, IF WE HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING SPENDING CUT AS MUCH AS WE DO, IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE PRIVATE FUNDS, YOU KNOW, TO GO OUT.

>> AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE IN KEEPING THIS AREA ALIVE IS BRINGING ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES TOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE A MARVELOUS IDEA OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS.

I REALLY AM EXCITED ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

I KNOW THAT YPO, THE YOUNG PRESIDENTS ORGANIZATION, HAS A GROUP OF 25 YEARS AND UNDER.

THESE 25 YEAR OLDS ARE HEAD OF BIG TECH COMPANIES AND CAN I TELL YOU ABOUT ONE COMPANY HERE?

>> YES.

>> THIS COUPLE MOVED HERE.

ONE WAS WITH THE BANK AND ONE WITH G.E.

23 YEARS AGO THEY STARTED A COMPANY THEY CALLED GLOW TOUCH.

IT STARTED WITH ONE-- THEY WERE THE EMPLOYEES.

AND IT WAS A SUPPORT GROUP BY PHONE, BY ONLINE STUFF AND THEY THEN HAD 2,000 EMPLOYEES WHEN I MET VIDEA AND NOW SHE HAS ABOUT 8,000.

AND IT WAS WRITTEN UP THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME.

SHE HAS BUILT THAT RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

THERE IS ONLY ONE HOME OFFICE.

IT'S IN LOUISVILLE AND IT'S ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> WOW.

>> AND SHE HAS DONE THAT.

SHE IS IN INDIA, FROM SOUTHERN INDIA.

HER FATHER WAS A PROFESSOR OF SCIENTIFIC GENIUS AND THEY OWNED LAND AND I JUST THINK THAT WHAT IS IS HAPPENING HERE.

BUT YOU DON'T COUNT IT MUCH.

>> THE MORAL OF THE STORY TO ME IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH SO MANY FANTASTIC IDEAS.

AND EVERYBODY DOES JUST A LITTLE BIT TO PITCH IN OR GIVE BACK AND CHANGE THINGS, THAT'S WHEN CHANGE HAPPENS.

>> IT'S JUST AMAZING.

AND NOW THE BATTERY FACTORY IN ELIZABETHTOWN IS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS THERE.

IT WILL BE A LOT CLOSER TO US BECAUSE OF SO MUCH INTERCHANGE WITH THE FORD FACTORIES.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT GOING ON THAT WE JUST DON'T EAT FOR BREAKFAST EVERY DAY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA, THIS BUILDING, MAIN STREET, DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE YOUR VISION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

>> THAT IS A BIG QUESTION, BUT OUR COMPANY THAT WE HAVE STARTED FROM SCRATCH HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR ANOTHER BIG COMPANY.

THEY'RE BUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH.

AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WE ARE BUILDING THE IRONWOOD WARRANTY, IT'S SO EXCITING.

WE JUST CAN'T CALM DOWN.

IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE THIS NEW THING ON TOP OF AMERICAN LIFE THAT HAD THE OUTSKIRTS NOW WE HAVE A NEW THING BUILT IN 50 STATES.

MY EXCITEMENT WOULD BE MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING COMPANIES IN OUR AREA.

BUT IT IS THE AREA.

JERRY SAW THAT, JERRY ABRAMSON SAW THAT WHEN HE PUT THE CITY INTO SEVEN COUNTIES AROUND.

IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST DOWNTOWN NOW.

SO I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I KNOW THAT FINANCIAL CENTERS REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE FACE TO FACE PLACES AND SO DO THE LAWYERS.

SO DO THE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE JAILS.

THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE FOR THEM WHERE THERE'S INTERCHANGE ABOUT APPEALS AND FILING SUITS AND MAKING DEPOSITS.

SO I THINK THERE IS HOPE FOR ACTIVITY.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THE REST.

I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BRING BACK THESE WONDERFULLY BUILT BUILDINGS AND HAVE THEM OCCUPIED.

AND THIS BUILDING IS SO WELL BUILT, THAT AS WE DISCOVERED, AS WE WERE TRYING TO DRILL THROUGH THE CONCRETE,.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S SO WELL BUILT, IT'S SO SET FOR BEING HERE AND KEEPING UP ITS LOOKS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST GO DOWN.

SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOOD ARCHITECTURE CAN HELP BUILD A DOWNTOWN.

I'M GOING TO PUBLISH A BOOK-- IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE FIVE YEARS TO PUT ESSAYS TOGETHER ON WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE TO HAVE GOOD ARCHITECTURE AFFECT DOWNTOWN?

AND YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT AFFECT... >> VERY INTERESTING.

>> NOW THE OLD WAY OF THE TALL TOWERS SEEMS TO BE DISCREDITED.

PEOPLE DON'T GET SO EXCITED ABOUT GOING THERE.

>> WELL, GOING BACK TO THE EBB AND FLOW, AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT'S JUST A CONSTANT.

AND KEEPING UP WITH THAT.

>> I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO HOLD TIGHT TO THIS CITY'S CORE.

KET IS PROUD TO HAVE A SPOT IN THIS HISTORIC BUILDING.

YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME ON KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE" AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN SEE A BEFORE AND AFTER OF THE SPACE WE BUILT INTO A TELEVISION STUDIO WITHIN THIS OFFICE BUILDING.

YOU CAN SEE THE TIME LAPSE VIDEO ON OUR INSTAGRAM AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME TOTING GO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT ENTITLEMENT.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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