Masonic Temple, Masonic temple in Richmond, Virginia
The Masonic Temple is a Richardsonian Romanesque building with three bays that combines wood and iron frames in its structure. The ground floor houses retail spaces while upper levels contain residential apartments, all clad with brown stone at the base and red stone higher up.
Jackson C. Gott's design was chosen in 1888 from 17 competition entries, with construction completed by 1893. This project represented an important moment in Richmond's architectural development during the late 1800s.
This building has long served as a gathering place for important meetings and social events in Richmond. Its role shaped the city's public life and community connections.
The building sits downtown on West Broad Street and is easy to reach on foot. Since it remains in active use, the ground floor retail spaces are accessible while the upper floors remain private residences.
The building includes a separate vertical staircase tower that stands apart from the main structure, a distinctive feature of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This separated arrangement was a bold design choice for its era.
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