Great news! The Masonic is getting some work done to improve the grand facility! Our pal Steve Genther gave a interview the other day with Crain's in Detroit. Congratulations Steve!!
The historic Masonic Temple in downtown Detroit has started a $3.7 million renovation expected to be complete by the end of the year.
In addition to the improvements to the 96-year-old building on Temple Street, the Masonic Temple Association, which owns the property, wants to reposition or find new uses for the 55,000-square-foot East Tower. Those uses could range from office space to a boutique hotel or residential if redeveloped.
The work includes renovations of existing restrooms and installation of additional restrooms; sound insulation improvement; upgrades to heating and cooling systems; and updates to two large kitchens. On the exterior, masonry restoration and limestone façade cleaning are planned.
Steve Genther, facilities general manager for the Masonic Temple Association, said insulation improvements will allow the association to host multiple events concurrently as sound from one event won't bleed into another.
About 30,000 square feet of space on the upper floors will also be marketed for lease, Genther said.
The association anticipates increased revenue from more events and leasing out space to cover the cost of its $3.7 million construction loan from Chemical Bank, Genther said. Approximately $2.5 million of the work is on the building's interior, he said.
It's the first substantial renovation to the building since 1990, when about $1 million was spent on renovations, Genther said.
"It was just before we had the first run of the 'Phantom of the Opera' in Detroit," Genther said.
"Not a whole lot has changed since 1926," said Ron Staley, senior vice president of Southeast Michigan operations in the Detroit office of Lansing-based The Christman Co., which is construction manager on the project. It was also its original builder. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
