Buyer emerges for ‘iconic’ Scottish Rite Center in downtown Oakland

OAKLAND — A performing arts religious group is close to acquiring the historic Scottish Rite Center in downtown Oakland in a deal that could breathe new life into the nearly century-old building.

Currently in escrow, according to Colliers commercial real estate executive Sid Ewing, the Oakland Scottish Rite Center at 1547 Lakeside Dr. has been on the market since 2025. The terms of the purchase, including the name of the buyer, weren’t disclosed.

Near the Lake Merritt shoreline, the four-story building totals 85,000 square feet on a 1.5-acre parcel.

When first built in 1927, it featured a Greek neoclassical facade. Around 1936, the building was redesigned in a Greek-influenced Art Deco style, according to the Oakland Scottish Rite Historical Foundation. A $1.2 million renovation was completed in 2014.

“It’s a jewel box of a building,” said Ewing, a senior vice president for Colliers. “It’s an iconic property.”

Once finalized, the purchase would include the building and a large surface parking lot behind it that could be redeveloped, Ewing said.

The building features a ground-floor grand ballroom and an auditorium on the fourth floor. The ballroom seats 800 and includes a small stage.

“The auditorium was designed for presenting the ceremonies of the Scottish Rite in grand form,” according to the Oakland Wiki website. “It has a full-sized stage with hundreds of backdrops and a pipe organ.”

The third floor includes a banquet hall, billiards room, library and lounge. The building also contains a second-level mezzanine.

“It’s more of a meeting and a performance arts center,” Ewing said.

An array of organizations emerged as potential buyers since the Scottish Rite Center went up for sale.

“We have talked to everyone,” Ewing said. “Symphony organizations, religious groups, performing arts groups. This building is a generational opportunity for an investor.”