☞ ARCHITECTURE: Grand Hospitals Over Harlem

The archival architectural sketch of the former Woman's Hospital at West 110th and Amsterdam probably represents one of the final times that a medical institution would create such an extravagant classical exterior.  As we have mentioned in a past post, the said building was demolished sometimes after the hospital moved in 1964 but another fine example of this type of architecture can be seen at old St. Luke's just a few blocks north at 113th Street (second photo). Both buildings were planned relatively at the same time and were the last of their kind since mansard roofs for the top of hospitals probably were too costly to build or maintain.  St. Luke's east side that faces Morningside Drive provides a dramatic horizon over South Harlem and is situated handsomely besides St. John the Divine.  Some of the new taller structure that have gone up in the past couple of decades (last photo) are decidedly more functional than noteworthy. Check out our past post on the Woman's Hospital for photos of the building before it was demolished: LINK