Facadism - St. Elizabeths Hospital, Southeast, Washington DC

A Completely Hollowed Out 19th Century Building from Above


Photograph by Pablo Maurer on Twitter (@mlsist)

Seen here is the completely hollowed out St. Elizabeths Hospital (Center Building) from above. First opened in 1855, JMA Preservation is working with Shalom Baranes Associates (SBA) on the restoration of the National Historic Landmark Center Building at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast, Washington, DC. For those interested, this type of historic restoration is known as facadism.

According to MTFA Architecture:

The building was the first Federal psychiatric hospital in the country, with patients arriving beginning in 1855. At its inception, the complex was known as the Government Hospital for the insane. It was constructed in multiple phases following an echelon plan designed by Thomas Story Kirkbride with the ardent support of mental health advocate Dorothea Dix and architect Thomas Ustick Walter, concurrently the Architect of the Capitol. The exterior of the Center Building is firmly set in the Gothic Revival style and is owned by the General Services Administration (GSA).

The building is to become the new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security. While the exterior core will be restored, the interior is being reconfigured and the historic cruciform section of the building is to be reconstructed. JMA Preservation is responsible for the restoration of the remaining historic materials including the brick, sandstone, and cast iron on the exterior walls. JMA Preservation conducted a thorough paint analysis of the windows, wood trim, and plaster in the cruciform section prior to demolition to inform GSA and SBA with guidelines for reconstructing the interior finishes. JMA Preservation has contributed to final construction documents, specifications, and construction administration for this complex restoration project.

primary source: twistedsifter.com

pretty cool views available on GE imagery between imagery dates: 4/2016 - 1/2017
example screenshot as placemark set:


Restoration of St. Elizabeths Hospital.kmz (945 B)

That is an impressively rambling building! It's hard to imagine the enormous number of mentally ill in that one facility. The facade of the original, central building has the ominous look of a prison (as seen in your Wikipedia link). That section was built before the Civil War and there might have been hundreds of men passing through for grim treatments of a malady without a name at the time. Now, it's called PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder).

Facadism looks like a risky method to me, but the exterior bracing that connects the windows looks sturdy. I had never heard of this method, so thanks for the informative post, syzygy.

Wow, unbelievable! However, in my view protection of historical monuments and buildings could be important for succeeding generations. Thanks for the information. I like it.
So long!
Pitter

Feb 28, 2018 10:54:10 GMT pitter said:

... in my view protection of historical monuments and buildings could be important for succeeding generations. Thanks for the information. I like it. ...

Hi Pitter!
Agree with you by the addition of that in my view, most important things, that would be essential for succeeding generations are love and care that parents should to give.
Sad, "because of lack of time", exactly these two are often missing from the life of todays youth.

Hi Syzygy,
thanks for your announcement. You are right. Parents are responsible for transmission of intangible assets, good morals, behaviour, right slant regarding old traditions or inherited old constructions etc. By the way, except ruins a lot of old houses operate comfortable and romantic. -- We should discuss the statement "because of lack of time". Smart phone, TV and PC appear more interesting or more important for both sides, parents and children. My generation played outdoors in all weathers. We understood many things in effect. In large part our youth play mostly indoors and they understand really more than we in the past however, preponderant in the abstract. The theoretically offer in the internet is simply bigger. May be that I am wrong. Our task should be to inspire the youth for our environment and our real life. Due to ill-breeding it's a priority assignment. We all should tackle the problems together and I am cocksure we are able to cope with the problems.
So long,
Pitter