Columbus Regional Hospital hopes to announce plans in the next few days on who will be taking over the former Republic office building on Second Street in downtown Columbus.

The now empty building is centrally located in downtown, across the streets from both the Bartholomew County Courthouse and Columbus city Hall.

Designed by the same firm that created the former Sears Tower (now Willis Tower), in Chicago, the building is a National Historic Landmark and is on the Columbus architectural tour. It was sold in 2106 by the former owners, Home News Enterprises, after the newspaper itself was sold. The newspaper has since moved to National Road.

Kelsey DeClue, spokeswoman for the hospital, says that they will soon announce plans on selling the building.

DeClue says that the hospital’s original plans were to move hospital support services such as billing to the former newspaper offices.

The announcement of the new owners should come before the end of the month, DeClue said.

Ultimately, the hospital’s goal was to be a good steward of the architectural landmark, DeClue said.