Recent History

Over last seventy five years, the building has survived changing conditions and economic climates. In 1950 the great eagles' heads and wings were removed and replaced by additional lightening rods. An entire bird had fallen from the building in 1930 as the result of a severe thunder storm. In the following years bits of carved feathers had fallen on the building itself causing considerable roof damage. In 1973, during the energy crisis the signature green lantern, which had been turned on every night since 1928, was shut off to conserve fuel.

More recently the Industrial Trust Building influenced the design of the post-modern Providence Place Mall. The two turrets on the mall's structure which resemble scaled down versions of the Industrial Trust's tower.