Scottish Rite Dormitory
Why it's listed
Rising four and a half stories on a nearly seven-acre corner lot north of the University of Texas campus, this red brick dormitory opened in 1922 to house women students at a time when the university had far too few beds for them. Samuel P. Cochran proposed it in 1920, and Scottish Rite Masons from five Texas valleys funded it at a cost of $975,000. Dallas architect Herbert M. Greene gave it a modified H-plan with Georgian Revival features, including gabled pavilions, giant-order columns, and limestone and terra cotta detailing. It was designed for 306 women, and later renovations raised capacity to 367. Residents were daughters of Masons or women with a Masonic connection, and they lived under chaperoned rules. It was listed for its role in the social history of student housing and for its architecture. Original materials, plasterwork and the overall plan remain largely intact, and it still serves as a women's residence.
Significance in brief: It was built by Texas Scottish Rite Masons to ease a severe shortage of women's housing at the University of Texas, and it was the first such dormitory sponsored by that body. It is also considered an excellent example of Georgian Revival design applied to a large-scale contemporary building. It is significant at the local level for social history and architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000404, listed April 23, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 W. 27th St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | April 23, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000404 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Herbert M. Greene, architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a dormitory for women attending the University of Texas; the form reports a high degree of integrity with minor changes. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 30.29244, -97.73939 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000404.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7437958
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.