The Star Store (UMass Dartmouth CVPA) 715 Purchase Street, 1913, Neoclassical

715 Purchase Street, The Star Store (UMass Dartmouth CVPA), 1913, Neoclassical Style

Designed by Architect Louis E. Destremps (1875-1919), this neoclassical building is detailed in Indiana limestone a popular decorative building material during this time. The Star Store was the anchor retail department store in the downtown for many years. The Star Store closed in 1985. The building remained vacant for some time until a long-term lease was secured by UMass Dartmouth. Local legislators took the initiative to secure public funding to rehabilitate the building exterior and interior. The Star Store was transformed into the urban satellite campus of the UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts opening in 2011. It had a profound impact on the revitalization of the downtown area by bringing a new creative class to the area.