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Coordinates: 41°49′48″N 71°25′00″W / 41.83000°N 71.41667°W / 41.83000; -71.41667
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The '''Renaissance Providence Hotel''' — known locally as the '''Mason Building''' — is one of two monumental buildings in central [[Providence, Rhode Island]], USA, that remained unfinished and were then abandoned for decades. Originally intended as a meeting hall for the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]], construction work was halted in 1929 as a result of [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|the financial crisis of that year]]. With the outbreak of [[World War II]], construction was halted permanently. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1993.
The '''Masonic Temple Providence, Rhode Island''' — known, since 2007, as the '''Renaissance Providence Hotel''' — is one of two monumental buildings in central [[Providence, Rhode Island]], USA, that remained unfinished and were then abandoned for decades. Originally intended as a meeting hall for the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]], construction work was halted in 1929 as a result of [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|the financial crisis of that year]]. With the outbreak of [[World War II]], construction was halted permanently. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1993.


==Description==
==Description==
The building, constructed in the [[Greek Revival]] style, is located prominently on Francis Street opposite the [[Rhode Island State House]]. The opening of the [[Providence Place]] Mall next door across Hayes Street has made the site prime [[real estate]]. In 2004, the building was purchased by Sage Hospitality Resources, which converted it into a luxury [[hotel]] — the Renaissance Providence Hotel — which opened in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web
The Temple, constructed in the [[Greek Revival]] style, is located prominently on Francis Street opposite the [[Rhode Island State House]]. The opening of the [[Providence Place]] Mall next door across Hayes Street has made the site prime [[real estate]]. In 2004, the building was purchased by Sage Hospitality Resources, which converted it into a luxury [[hotel]] — the Renaissance Providence Hotel — which opened in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web
| url= http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdbr-renaissance-providence-hotel/
| url= http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdbr-renaissance-providence-hotel/
| title= Renaissance Hotel, Providence
| title= Renaissance Hotel, Providence
Line 27: Line 27:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


The adjoining building known as the [[Veterans Memorial Auditorium (Providence)|Veterans Memorial Auditorium]] (VMA), located between the Mason Building and [[Interstate 95 in Rhode Island|Interstate 95]], was originally part of the same complex, and was connected to the Temple by a small structure at ground level. While construction halted at the same time as the Temple building, it was completed in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news
The adjoining building known as the [[Veterans Memorial Auditorium (Providence)|Veterans Memorial Auditorium]] (VMA), located between the Temple and [[Interstate 95 in Rhode Island|Interstate 95]], was originally part of the same complex, and was connected to the Temple by a small structure at ground level. While construction halted at the same time as that at the Temple building, it was completed in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/1275278621.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+20%2C+2007&author=Daniel+Barbarisi%3BJournal+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Providence+Journal&edition=&startpage=D.1&desc=Temple+digs+-+80+years+and+%24100+million+later%2C+the+Masons%27+white+elephant+is+transformed+into+a+luxury+hotel
| url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/1275278621.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+20%2C+2007&author=Daniel+Barbarisi%3BJournal+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Providence+Journal&edition=&startpage=D.1&desc=Temple+digs+-+80+years+and+%24100+million+later%2C+the+Masons%27+white+elephant+is+transformed+into+a+luxury+hotel
| title = Temple digs - 80 years and $100 million later, the Masons' white elephant is transformed into a luxury hotel
| title = Temple digs - 80 years and $100 million later, the Masons' white elephant is transformed into a luxury hotel

Revision as of 17:41, 19 October 2016

Renaissance Providence Hotel—Masonic Temple
Renaissance Providence Hotel
Renaissance Providence Hotel is located in Rhode Island
Renaissance Providence Hotel
Renaissance Providence Hotel is located in the United States
Renaissance Providence Hotel
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°49′48″N 71°25′00″W / 41.83000°N 71.41667°W / 41.83000; -71.41667
Built1927
ArchitectMultiple
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.93001181 [1]
Added to NRHPNovember 16, 1993

The Masonic Temple Providence, Rhode Island — known, since 2007, as the Renaissance Providence Hotel — is one of two monumental buildings in central Providence, Rhode Island, USA, that remained unfinished and were then abandoned for decades. Originally intended as a meeting hall for the Freemasons, construction work was halted in 1929 as a result of the financial crisis of that year. With the outbreak of World War II, construction was halted permanently. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Description

The Temple, constructed in the Greek Revival style, is located prominently on Francis Street opposite the Rhode Island State House. The opening of the Providence Place Mall next door across Hayes Street has made the site prime real estate. In 2004, the building was purchased by Sage Hospitality Resources, which converted it into a luxury hotel — the Renaissance Providence Hotel — which opened in June 2007.[2]

The adjoining building known as the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (VMA), located between the Temple and Interstate 95, was originally part of the same complex, and was connected to the Temple by a small structure at ground level. While construction halted at the same time as that at the Temple building, it was completed in the 1950s.[3]

Controversy

In 2011, the Renaissance Providence Hotel received widespread attention for its working conditions following worker attempts at unionizing and a viral YouTube video[4] of a worker quitting in protest with a marching band.[5][6] Workers at the hotel — a large number of whom are of Dominican origin — called for a boycott of the hotel.[7] The Procaccianti Group of Cranston, Rhode Island, which bought the hotel in late 2012, denied any wrongdoing and called the boycott "misguided".[8] The labor dispute continued after Omni Hotels, of Dallas, Texas, bought the property in 2015.

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 15, 2006.
  2. ^ "Renaissance Hotel, Providence". Marriott Hotels. Retrieved 11 Mar 2013.
  3. ^ Barbarisi, Daniel (20 May 2007). "Temple digs - 80 years and $100 million later, the Masons' white elephant is transformed into a luxury hotel" (abstract). Providence Journal. Providence RI: The Providence Journal Co. p. D1. Retrieved 11 Mar 2013. {{cite news}}: |section= ignored (help)
  4. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A4UGtM4hDQ, retrieved 2015-10-13 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Hotel Worker Tells Story Behind Viral Resignation Video". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  6. ^ "Providence hotel workers protest conditions". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  7. ^ "Brown Students and Workers Unite to Convince the University to Boycott an Exploitative Hotel". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  8. ^ "Unitarian group boycotts Renaissance Providence Hotel - Providence Business News". Providence Business News. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
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