Masonic Temple

Constructed: 1926 ff
PPS Ten Most: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Building Type: Institutional/Civic
Trend: White Elephant

Construction on the Masonic Temple began in 1926 to provide an office and meeting space for the Rhode Island Freemasons. The architecture firm of Osgood & Osgood designed the building in the then predominant neo-classical style. The seven-story, steel frame structure totals 155,200 square feet. Limestone and brick clad the building’s monumental façade whose eastern face features a colossal ionic colonnade. Financial constraints amplified by the 1928 stock market crash halted construction, and the building has since sat uncompleted.

Since its abandonment in 1928, the Masonic Temple has continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate despite its high profile history. Both the Temple’s exterior and interior spaces have suffered from severe neglect. Since the theft of the copper roof by scavengers, the building has leaked uncontrollably thus exposing the interior to rain and snow. Miraculously, however, the hefty steel and stone frame remains structurally sound and ready for adaptive use. With its proximity to the State House, Providence Place, Kennedy Plaza, the train station and major highways, it would seem almost impossible for someone not to develop the Masonic Temple, particularly considering the City’s recent renaissance. Indeed, the Masonic Temple has never suffered from a lack of attention. Still with each passing year the building has deteriorated further with no definite plans for repair.

There have been many failed proposals to market and redevelop the Masonic Temple. In 1945, the state acquired both the Masonic Temple and the Veterans Memorial building which they then renovated as an auditorium. Although the state announced plans to complete the Masonic Temple as office space, the project never got off the ground. Subsequent plans over the next half of the twentieth century likewise proved unsuccessful.

PPS has worked to draw further attention to the building by including it its Ten Most Endangered List since the list’s creation in 1994. That year, the Society worked with the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Association, the Rhode Island Foundation, and a diverse group of individuals from State government, educational groups, and other non-profit organizations to identify a new use for the building.

In April 1996, PPS continued its commitment to the building by hosting a design charrette. Other sponsors included the State, the City, the RI Foundation, the Providence Foundation, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Scenic Rhode Island Foundation, and the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium Preservation Association. The charette examined nine reuse concepts for this landmark building and was attended by over 130 participants who concluded that the Temple could be saved and successfully reused.

In 1997, PPS worked with then Governor Lincoln Almond and the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Administration to market the Masonic Temple to news users. Innovative tactics included advertisements in local real estate journals, the cultivation of media coverage, as well as a direct mailing to over 4,000 interested parties such as developers, brokers, preservationists and architects throughout the U.S. and Canada. As a result of this combined effort, eight redevelopment proposals were presented to the State

In 1999 PPS participated in the State’s selection process for a project developer. Algen Construction of New York was chosen to create a Marriott Renaissance Hotel in the Temple. PPS worked in reviewing and commenting on the then-proposed design for the building through its Planning & Architectural Review (PAR) Committee. Plans for the redevelopment of the building fell through in 2002 and the state, frustrated, began to entertain demolition proposals. At this same time, the idea for the building’s use a legislative office space surfaced and was considered as an alternative to demolition.

It is no understatement that the Masonic Temple has been in danger ever since it was first built. In 2003 Sage Hospitality, a Colorado-based hotel operator, came forward with plans to renovate the building as a luxury hotel. The Society supported the enthusiasm of the developer to preserve the Temple’s original character, and provided testimony at various hearings in support of the project. In July 2003, Sage Hospitality went before the City Council to work out a tax stabilization agreement. After three years of extensive reconstruction work, the Renaissance Providence Hotel opened in May 2007. The project received $31 million in tax breaks, both State and Federal, and also property tax stabilization.

SAVED: Stimulate your senses at a dramatic Providence, RI hotel boasting a fully orchestrated experience that celebrates the visual arts, music, drama, and dance at the Renaissance Providence Hotel. Originally built in 1929 as a Masonic temple, the remarkable neoclassical architecture has been meticulously restored to its natural beauty, while the interior has been transformed into an elegant reflection of modern day sophistication, creating a unique Providence, Rhode Island hotel. Beyond the iconic columns and grand entrance, visitors are welcomed by a theatrical backdrop that sets the stage for in an inspiring experience. Stylish downtown Providence hotel rooms offer timeless luxury, stunning detail, and refined comforts, as well as innovative technology. A central location in the Capitol District allows guests to visit the area's timeless sites, such as the Rhode Island Statehouse. Reacquaint yourself with creativity and explore an expression of the arts at the glorious Renaissance Hotel in Providence, RI.

This Providence Journal video essay "Big Dreams" profiles the rehabilitation of the Masonic Temple Building. http://www.projo.com/extra/2005/masonic_temple/flash/

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