The Steps of Providence

Machado Silvetti proposed an unrealized project, “Steps of Providence”, for the Rhode Island School of Design (R.I.S.D.). The project’s objective was to give structure and form to the school’s campus, which had expanded primarily through the acquisition of existing buildings. The design strategy was centered on the site’s natural features, specifically a steep incline that extends from downtown Providence River to a historic district where much of R.I.S.D. is situated. The design incorporated various architectural and landscape elements, with stairs as a recurring theme.

One of the key features was the Memorial Steps, a large staircase that linked the back of the student union (Memorial Hall) with a public plaza that offered views of the river. The intention was for the Memorial Steps and the plaza to serve as the campus’s focal point. The project also included plans to convert undefined or unused spaces into terraces, gardens, cloisters, and seating areas. It proposed remodeling some existing buildings along the route and constructing new ones, including a dormitory adjacent to a terraced garden and a courtyard building for graduate student studios.

In 1980, the project received the First Award in Architecture at the Progressive Architecture 27th Annual Awards. However, despite this recognition, the project has not been constructed.