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A historic Northeast Portland building that once housed the Friendship Masonic Lodge is due to receive a $2 million renovation, but the structure is not expected to change much.

That鈥檚 because the 99-year-old building鈥檚 new owner, the , wants to preserve its original essence 鈥� both in appearance and purpose.

鈥淲e want to renovate it to its past,鈥� said Hella Betts, vice president of the society. 鈥淚t gives us an opportunity to contribute to Portland.鈥�

The building, on Northeast Alameda Street, was built in 1913 as a community center for the surrounding neighborhood, Rose City Park. At the time, a streetcar track had recently been installed on Northeast Sandy Boulevard, and a large number of people moved to the area as a result. Residents wanted to build a center to accommodate this influx, according to Michael Roth, chairman of the .

When it was built, it bore little resemblance to today鈥檚 community centers. The building held bowling alleys, meeting parlors and a large banquet room, Roth said. It even had telephones and electric lights, which were rare in that time period.

Some of the building鈥檚 lavish interior finishes from that time 鈥� including original wood ceilings 鈥� will be restored as part of the renovation, said Nancy Merryman, principal of , the firm that designed the project.

Several bathrooms will be added 鈥� eight is not nearly enough, according to Merryman 鈥� and a new elevator will be installed. The building鈥檚 banquet and meeting rooms will be restored and equipped with new lighting, and asbestos and lead problems will be addressed.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing the building back to its original charm,鈥� Merryman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about just trying to bring back the flavor, but make it a little more modern.鈥�

After the renovation, the building鈥檚 purpose will be similar to when it served as the Friendship Masonic Lodge from 1913 to 2011. During that time, Freemasons, who were members of the religious fraternal order Freemasonry, often let neighborhood and community groups use the building for free. In recent years, attempts were made to transition the building back into a community center.

Under the German American Society, the building will serve as a gathering place for community events, concerts and neighborhood meetings, Betts said. School classes also will be held there every weekend for young children.

Additionally, one of the building鈥檚 large meeting rooms will be converted into multiple smaller ones to potentially be rented out by nonprofit organizations, according to Betts.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e very interested in becoming a good citizen,鈥� Roth said of the society. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 seem like they are trying to be exclusive.鈥�

The society has been in Portland even longer than the building. It was formed in Portland in 1871 by German residents, including Henry Saxer, the society鈥檚 first president and Portland鈥檚 first prominent brewer.

After it was created, the society served a number of purposes, including provision of affordable retirement housing. Most recently, the society operated a Southeast Division Street retirement facility that doubled as its headquarters. However, because of increased medical supply costs, it had to exit the business and shut the building down in 2010.

eventually purchased that building, which gave the society money to buy the building on Alberta Street and conduct the renovation. In a way, the renovation will be a rebirth for both the building and the society, Betts said.

鈥�(The society) has been a mainstay in Portland since before World War I, and this will give us a presence again,鈥� she said. 鈥淧ortland is blessed with diverse, cultural people, and we want to contribute in that sense.鈥�

The project is in the permitting stage. Construction may begin in August.