New-York Historical Society STATUS Designated Individual Landmark ARCHITECT: York & Sawyer DATE: 1903-08

The facade is divided into very severe end pavilions bounding and containing a colonnaded central section which, though treated with great discipline, is nobly ornamental. At the second floor level, a wide horizontal band course runs around the entire building, creating a ledge in the slightly recessed central portion of the structure. Resting on this ledge, and of great compositional importance, are the eight three-quarter engaged Ionic columns of the colonnade. These support a cornice which, apart from the handsome bronze grille-work of the large side windows, is the only element of the building which may be said to be richly ornamented. The pedimented heroic size main portal on Central Park West makes a very grand entrance to the building.