KITE helped the new owner of The Telephone Building reposition the ground floor commercial spaces and provide much needed restoration to this hidden gem in downtown Providence.
Originally designed by noted architects Stone Carpenter & Willson as the headquarters of the first telephone company in the city, the building’s ornate terra cotta and interior had suffered decades of neglect and insensitive alterations. This included low suspended ceilings that concealed magnificent double-height ceilings and original columns and skylights.
In order to make best use of the dramatic interiors, KITE planned mezzanines as ‘volumes’ within the restored spaces to provide private areas while maintaining the grandeur of the space. Leased as offices or live-work units, the spaces are now home to a variety of creative businesses.
Working within a preservation easement, KITE worked with the State Historic Preservation office to review mockups of exterior masonry and obtain approval of lobby renovations by Libby Slader Interior Design.
