About

The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship marks the return of Rochester Institute of Technology to the city after leaving office space on West Main Street in the mid-1990s. The original campus was also downtown, but RIT began building its current campus, located in Henrietta, in the 1960s, and initially opening in 1968.

The 47,000-square-foot building, located at 40 Franklin Street, was received by a donation to RIT from Rochester Historic Ventures. Rochester Historic Ventures is comprised of members of the Leenhouts, Tait and Tones families along with members of the Broadstone management team. The building was built in 1927 by the Rochester Savings Bank. In 1972 the building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic places and has historic significance in art, architecture, and commerce.