For 161 years, St. Vincent’s Hospital was a major institution in lower Manhattan, known for its role in the city’s response to the AIDS epidemic and Sept. 11, as well as everyday neighborhood care. Founded in 1849 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the hospital moved from West 13th Street and Seventh Avenue to its longtime campus on Seventh Avenue between West 11th and West 12th Streets.
What stands out for the masonry industry is how much of the campus was built in brick and stone, and how intentionally those buildings were detailed to look at home in Greenwich Village. Village Preservation notes that hospital buildings used brick and individual window openings to harmonize with nearby apartment buildings, even as the campus expanded over decades.
That masonry history is also tied to a hard redevelopment story. The hospital declared bankruptcy in 2005, ceased operations in 2010, and its real estate portfolio eventually moved into a luxury condominium redevelopment that reshaped the site. Some masonry buildings were lost along the way, including the Leon Lowenstein Clinic, a six-story brick building with a stone base built in 1930-31, plus the earlier Elizabeth Seton Building, a seven-story stone-and-brick building built in 1897-99. Others were retained and incorporated into the 2013 redevelopment, including the Spellman Building (1940-41), the Jacob L. Reiss Memorial Building (1953-54), the Student Nurse’s Residence (1924), and the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Building (1946).
For mason contractors, the takeaway is straightforward. When owners and developers choose preservation and adaptive reuse, existing brick and stone facades become assets that need careful planning, clear documentation of existing details, and realistic scopes for masonry repair. In a historic district, exterior masonry decisions are not just about appearance. They help determine whether a project stays contextual with the neighborhood that grew up around it.
Read the full, original article from Village Preservation here.