National Bank of Ukraine building
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The building of the National Bank of Ukraine (then called: Office of the (Russian) State Commerce Bank) opened in Kiev, Ukraine in 1839. The building where the NBU is located to this day was purchased several years later. In 1860, the State Bank of Russia liquidated the Posikov (Credit) and Commerce banks.
The bank's daily operations steadily increased over the coming years, and a new building for the bank was needed. At this time, an argument arose over relocating the bank closer to Khreschatyk and the city center. After several years of searching for a better location, in 1902 the Petersburg State Bank (which controlled the Kiev branch) and Mr. Sergei Witte (the Minister of Finance at the time) agreed to constructing a new building instead of the old one. Architect O. Kobolyev won the competition for the design of the new structure, and work began several years later. The main facade was designed by O. Verbitskyi, who joined the project shortly after construction started.
On August 1, 1905, the building was completed and the day-to-day business was transferred to it. The new building featured electrical lighting and ventilation and a central heating system. In 1933, when the capital of Ukraine was transferred from Kharkiv to Kiev, two more stories were added to the building to handle the growth. The Italian sculptor Emilio Sala was invited to create the decorations for the new building.
