Straight Times - Singapore
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/freemason-headquarters-here-gets-75-million-revamp-20121207
Freemason headquarters here gets $7.5 million revamp
Published on Dec 07, 2012
By Natasha Ann Zachariah
The stairway from ground floor to Main Masonic Temple on second floor. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING 
The seat for the "Worshipful Master", the senior officer of a Masonic Lodge, in the Main Masonic Temple. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING 
Exterior of Freemasons' Hall at Coleman Street. A new glass annex (right) was constructed beside the original building. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING 
A smaller temple in the section of the original heritage building. There will be altogether three temples, including one in the new glass annex. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING 
Freemasons participate in a re-dedication ceremony to mark the completion of renovation works for the Freemasons' Hall at Coleman Street. The 133-year-old heritage building is the headquaters of the Freemasons in the district. The facelift is the most major one since World War 2 and costs $7.5 million, raised by donations from the 500 Freemasons here in Singapore. Renovation work, which started in 2009, was done for the main building and a new modern glass annex has been added. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING 
A store room where flags bearing the coat of arms of the lodges are kept. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING |
The 133-year-old heritage building underwent a $7.5 million refurbishment that took four years. New electrical wiring has been installed, along with a proper lighting system for the exterior facade.
With more than 500 members using the premises, a new annex with three storeys and a basement was created at the back for more space. It houses a masonic library, a third smaller masonic temple and a museum.
The headquarters also has a new restaurant on the first floor which will be open to the general public in March.
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