St. Paul’s most prominent sign — the giant “1st” atop the First National Bank building — is ready for a comeback.

Building co-owner Jim Cockarell said this past week that the sign will be repaired in the next few months. About half its red neon lighting was knocked out in a January storm, and the sign has been dark ever since.

Cockarell is upgrading the 50-foot, three-sided sign with LED technology. The LED lighting will not look any different than the neon, he said.

The upgrade is part of a $6 million energy-related makeover of the building, Cockarell said.

The LED lighting will last longer and conserve energy, he said, and also “should be able to withstand higher winds,” he said.

The sign is the crown of the 32-story building at 332 Minnesota St., which was built in 1931.

Cockarell expects to schedule some kind of ribbon-cutting ceremony for the sign when work is completed this fall.