In the midst of the Roaring 1920s and on the heels of the 1923 Providence Zoning Plan, the Industrial Trust Company forever changed the skyline of Providence. On October 1, 1928, the bank opened the doors to their new flagship in the heart of downtown. The style of the massive skyscraper—still the tallest building in Rhode Island—would become known as Art Deco, but at the time was touted as “American Perpendicular”.

Unfortunately, the bank and office building built “with Faith in the Progress and Prosperity of our People” [Industrial Trust Company promotional booklet] has stood vacant since 2013. Questions circulate about the building’s condition and future. In celebration of this architectural icon’s 92nd birthday, the Providence Preservation Society and Building Enclosure Science have collaborated to produce a white paper to address common misconceptions and to highlight the adaptive reuse potential of this local landmark.

Click here to read the full text of the paper.