PROVIDENCE – The owner of One Empire Plaza – the future home of 38 Studios – is preparing to undertake more than $1 million in renovation work to the building.
Boston-based Berkeley Investments Inc. plans upgrades to the lobby, elevator cabs, bathrooms and life-safety systems, said Vice President of Asset Management Steven Brooks. The company is aiming to start the work in January and finish by May.
The entire six-story, 104,000 square-foot building is slated to become the home of 38 Studios, a gaming company founded by former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. The space once housed offices for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
Brooks said the work on the building would have occurred regardless of the tenant.
“We would have done it either way,” he said. “It was already planned.”
Brooks said Berkeley Investments is reviewing bids by contractors interested in undertaking the work. The work, he said, will need to be coordinated with 38 Studios, which is planning upgrades itself to the building. Berkeley, which purchased the building in 2008, previously replaced the roof on the building.
Separately, Berkeley Investments is continuing work on the plaza outside the building, with hopes of finishing work in the spring.
The company also recently completed some renovations at 15 LaSalle Square, a vacant building that was also once offices for Blue Cross. Brooks said work there included upgrading an elevator, replacing the roof, sprucing up the lobby and creating a model space to show potential tenants.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on,” Brooks said.
