One Empire Plaza in downtown Providence. Image from Google Maps.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The abandoned former home of 38 Studios is set to get a new lease on life.
Roger Williams University is expected to announce Friday that they will lease part of One Empire Plaza for their downtown classrooms, currently located at 150 Washington Street.
In August, the school announced it was looking at the building, situated across the street from Trinity Repertory Company and the Providence Public Library.
At the time, Roger Williams University’s Board of Trustees said negotiations could move forward with Berkeley Investments Inc., which acquired the building in 2008. The building has been empty since 38 Studios abruptly closed in 2012.
The University was considering leasing 76,000 square feet of space inside the six-story, 104,343 square foot building, though the exact terms of the lease are currently unknown.
The move would provide more space for the University’s School of Law, School of Continuing Studies and other programs like the Latino Policy Institute and HousingWorks RI.
The school had planned to open the building in the summer of 2016.
The University says they plan to “celebrate exciting news on the future of Roger Williams University in Providence” Friday at One Empire Plaza.
