The Building

The Providence Biltmore Hotel is located at 11 Dorrance Street on the triangular area bounded by Dorrance, Washington, and Eddy Streets facing Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. By looking at the photograph showing the hotel’s exterior, it is evident that the hotel is L-shaped. This allows all guests to have unobstructed views of Providence out of any window. Also shown in the photograph of the 19-story hotel is the large ballroom on the top floor that boasts double-story, round-arched windows. The architects designed the hotel using brick, stone, and steel. A steel frame structure covered with sheathed brick and stonewalls created this neo-Federal and Italian Renaissance hotel. The hotel was designed with a 3-story base beneath the 16 stories of hotel rooms. When it opened, the Biltmore housed a drugstore, printing shop, carpentry and upholstery shop, and photo lab. Customers could also choose from six different restaurants all located within the hotel. In the 1920’s, the Biltmore even had a rooftop garden where chicken coops could be found.