Mayor Sarno joins the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and McCaffery to announce the Completed Restoration of the Masonic Building Clock Tower

– Central fixture of Downtown Springfield now fully operational and illuminated after decades of private ownership neglect –

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan joined with Edward Woodbury of Chicago-based McCaffery Interests, Inc. and representatives of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA) on Friday evening to announce the completion of work to restore the historic turret clock on the Masonic Building at 113-115 State Street at the apex of State Street and Main Street.

For decades, the clock served as a central timepiece for residents of the city, and for over three decades the clock has been in disrepair, providing the correct time only twice a day.  In direct partnership with the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and the City of Springfield, McCaffery with the Consigli Construction Co., Inc., and About Time Restorations, LLC, teams collaborated to bring this historic and significant clock feature back to life.  The restoration of the clock and Masonic building is one important element of McCaffery’s work in Springfield’s State & Main District; McCaffery will also restore four historic buildings at the intersection of State and Main.

Tower clocks have long been an integral part of urban landscapes for centuries, serving as functional timekeepers, architectural landmarks, and cultural icons. However, with modern technology, many of these historic clocks have fallen into disrepair, their intricate mechanisms rusting, their beauty and significance slowly fading from urban skylines and memory. But the SRA and McCaffery recognized that this clock had to be repaired because of the identity value it holds for the past, present, and future residents and visitors to downtown Springfield.

Mayor Sarno said “The repair and illumination of the clock is a recognition by the SRA and McCaffery that the clock itself has historical significance as a symbol of innovation, precision, and as an iconic Springfield landmark.  Further, the clock has had a role in formulating the City’s cultural identity and its majestic return will serve a catalyst for public engagement around all the redevelopment activities that are advancing in the State & Main Historic District”.

“This is a terrific day for the City of Springfield, as we mark a significant step in the rehabilitation of a landmark in the downtown corridor. I take great satisfaction knowing that yet another project has benefited from historic tax credits, which I have championed throughout my time on the Ways and Means Committee,” said Congressman Richard Neal. “Built in 1893, the Masonic Building has spanned three centuries, serving our community in a variety of capacities. Much like the clock has marked the passage of time, this building has witnessed eras of growth, challenge, and progress. I look forward to the completion of this project and seeing this historic structure take on its next chapter, serving as both a reminder of our city’s past and a future hub for generations to come.”

Constructed in 1893 by F. R. Richmond as the Masonic Building in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style, the Clock Tower building is an icon of the Springfield skyline. The building was reclad in brick in the 1920s, though its arched stone doorways remain. Records do not indicate when the clock stopped working, but functional restoration of the clock has been central to McCaffery’s plans and those of the SRA.

“We’ve drawn upon our extensive experience redeveloping historic buildings and adapting them for modern use,” explains Ed Woodbury, President of McCaffery Interests, Inc. “This first milestone of restoring the clock to its original condition is key to our goal of bringing these buildings to life and renewing the vibrancy of Downtown Springfield.”  

Led by Consigli Construction Co., Inc., and About Time Restorations, LLC, each of the six-foot-wide glass pieces and hands from the clock’s four faces were removed on August 8, 2025. The clock faces were sealed to protect the pieces from the elements while the clock gears and hardware were restored. Restoration work continued October 10, 2025, when the clock faces and hands were placed.

“Consigli’s dedication to the communities where we build goes beyond just construction, and our team is proud to support the preservation of Springfield’s history through the restoration of its iconic Masonic Building, which has long served as local landmark,” said Josh Sylvester, Regional Director – Connecticut, at Consigli Construction Co., Inc. “As we continue our work with McCaffery to reinvigorate the City of Springfield’s State & Main District, we look forward to delivering a timeless new future for its residents, families and businesses.” 

Work to restore the remainder of the five-story Clock Tower building will commence in 2026. Through a public-private-partnership with the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and the City of Springfield, McCaffery is also redeveloping 1163 Main Street, the Colonial Block building located at 1139-1155 Main Street, and an adjacent building located at 11-21 Stockbridge Street. Initial plans, valued between $50 and $60 million, call for a combined 111 apartments and 15,000-square-feet of street-front retail knitted into the four buildings, with the Stockbridge building housing resident amenities, such as fitness and business centers.

ABOUT McCAFFERY INTERESTS, INC.

McCaffery is an award-winning, full-service commercial real estate development company that has been in the business of developing, leasing, investing, financing, and managing real estate for more than 30 years. The McCaffery portfolio of planned, completed and managed projects exceeds 30 million square feet and includes office, mixed-use, hotel, and residential properties, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. McCaffery specializes in providing a full range of real estate services to our clients including site acquisition, financing, commercial leasing, residential leasing, project and property marketing, project management, construction management, tenant coordination, accounting, asset management, property management, and asset disposition. With offices in Chicago, Greater Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, and Denver, and controlled assets and completed developments valued in excess of $3 billion, McCaffery is one of the most trusted real estate development companies in the nation. www.mccafferyinc.com

ABOUT CONSIGLI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

Consigli Construction Co., Inc. is a leading construction manager in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Consigli services clients across all markets, including academic, healthcare, life sciences, institutional, energy, corporate and federal. Founded in 1905, Consigli is now a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company, providing its people a direct benefit of its success and creating a culture of accountability. The company has offices in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, New Hampshire and the Caribbean. Consigli has received numerous awards for its craftsmanship and employment practices, including national recognition as a Forbes Best Employer. For more information, visit consigli.com and follow us on LinkedIn.