Bancroft Hotel, Worcester

The Bancroft Hotel is a historic building known for its exceptional Beaux-Arts architecture. The hotel originally opened in 1913 and underwent an expansion in 1929, which solidified its status as the city's most opulent accommodation for many years. The Bancroft Hotel's grandeur and architectural significance were recognized with its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, the building has been transformed into luxury residences known as Bancroft on the Grid, preserving its historical essence while providing modern living spaces.

Architecturally, the Bancroft Hotel is a ten-story structure with a steel frame clad in brick, terracotta, and stone. The building's ground floor features an impressive arcade of arches facing both Franklin and Portland Streets, finished in marble, which adds a touch of classical elegance. The second floor showcases a band of sash windows adorned with elaborate terra cotta surrounds, enhancing the building's decorative appeal. The next five floors maintain a uniform appearance with sash windows set in rectangular openings, creating a harmonious and balanced facade.

Distinctive architectural features of the Bancroft Hotel include the light-colored stone used on the corner bays, which contrasts beautifully with the darker brick of the central bays. The eighth floor stands out with its more intricate window treatments, adding visual interest and breaking the uniformity of the floors below. A detailed cornice separates the eighth floor from the ninth, which is further crowned by a projecting cornice, highlighting the building's classical Beaux-Arts design elements.