The work includes renovations of existing restrooms and installation of additional restrooms; sound insulation improvement; upgrades to heating and cooling systems; and updates to two large kitchens. On the exterior, masonry restoration and limestone façade cleaning are planned.

Steve Genther, facilities general manager for the Masonic Temple Association, said insulation improvements will allow the association to host multiple events concurrently as sound from one event won't bleed into another.

About 30,000 square feet of space on the upper floors will also be marketed for lease, Genther said.

The association anticipates increased revenue from more events and leasing out space to cover the cost of its $3.7 million construction loan from Chemical Bank, Genther said. Approximately $2.5 million of the work is on the building's interior, he said.

It's the first substantial renovation to the building since 1990, when about $1 million was spent on renovations, Genther said.

"It was just before we had the first run of the 'Phantom of the Opera' in Detroit," Genther said.

"Not a whole lot has changed since 1926," said Ron Staley, senior vice president of Southeast Michigan operations in the Detroit office of Lansing-based The Christman Co., which is construction manager on the project. It was also its original builder.

Also working on the 550,000-square-foot building are Livonia-based RAM Construction Services and Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group.

The Masonic Temple is the second home of the Masonic Temple Association, which was founded in 1895. Originally it had a building on Lafayette at First Street near downtown, but as membership grew, the association purchased the land at Second Avenue and what was then known as Bagg Street (now Temple Street).

The temple fell on hard times several years ago. In 2013, Detroit-born rocker Jack White paid off $142,000 in back taxes it owed, saving the venue from auction. Reportedly, White's mother served as an usher at the theater, which takes up a full city block and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Genther said the association has an annual budget of approximately $1.4 million, with about 90 percent of that coming from event revenue. The Masonic hosts about 300 events a year. Half of those are lodge meetings and the rest are things like weddings, plays, corporate events and concerts.

Since 1939, it has been the largest Masonic temple in the world.