The New York herald., 1922-08-13
MEDICAL BUILDING
GROWTH CONSTANT
Movement Result of Efforts to
Rent Profitably First Floor I
Apartments. I
LIKE SMALL HOSPITALS
Architect Predicts Profession
Generally Will Have Special
Structures for Work. I

There are 200 hospitals in this cityh
In addition to them are scores OF cllnics
and sanitariums. The latest step in tho
movement for better medical facilities 10
the construction OF buildings especially
designed for occupancy by the medical
profession. That movement, which made
Its appearance about ten years ago. camo
as result Of efforts by builders of fine
apartment houses TO solve the problem
Of utilizing the street floor space in
their buildings. Such space could not be
rented easily for living purposes and
should not be allowed 10 be financially
unproductive.
The plan of preparing the first or
street floors OF apartment buildings as
offices for physicians was evolved. IL
was an extension OF an old idea as doc
tors had been in the habit OF establish-
ing consultation rooms on lower floors
OF apartment buildings. but until then no
special effort had been made to prepare
such space for physicians.
The building at northwest corner of
Madison avenue and Thirty-eighth street
was really the first building specially
constructed for the medical profession
In this city. The improvement was not
premeditated, being nothing more than
the solution of an exigency. Murray
Hill residents had bought Its site to pre-
vent the completion OF high office build
Ing. To utilize the steel frame, it was
decided to inclose it in ma onar hat
would not detract from the residential
atmosphere OF the section ans rent II
only TO physicians and dentist Thus.
one OF the most interesting, IL not most
important Developments, in meoical N<sy
York started. Ne
Real Steps Taken But Reesntlw.
Following the Murray Hill Improves
ment came the Physicians FeNdifsg,
| E.cknamed the House OF Pain IN 8aBf
/ Forty-first street, ten story atruetlsrc.
The old Sydenham apartment tha
northwest corner OF Madison avenue 8nI
Fifty-eighth street was the mex auildiuE
| u be taken by physicians. Its Hre1asS
Influenced the passage OF several other
structures Of moro or less Importance
into the hands Of administrators to sick
| humanity. Among them were the apart
ments 10 East Forty eighth street and
the light brown colored stucco faced
building at the southwest corner Of Madi-
son avenue and Forty-eighth street.
| 1t is only recently, however, that reil
steps have been taken in building espe-
cially for doctors. Shortage Of accom-
modation favorable for use by medical
men and the height that rentals had
reached developed the idea that 1t would
4 be cheaper to buy or rent property and
develop e. Several leading physicians
have formed syndicates and bought build
ings which they have altered or rebuilt.
4 According to Robert j. Kelley. architect,
| ATT Fifth avenue. who has designed
many hospitals In this section of the
country. there is no difference, except In
magnitude. between the great hospitals
of the city and the special medical CEN
ters which are being designed. Every
one of the latter is a small hospital, COM
plete in every detail. In time OF stress
they could be called on to augment the
city's hospital service.
Several months ago the alteration OF
the Ladew house, northeast corner OF
/ Madison avenue and Sixty eighth street.
was completed for specialists on the staff
OF ST. Lukes Hospital. The alteration.
planned by Mr.. Kelley, has preserved the
beauty OF the old architecture. but has
practically rebuilt the interior.
A similar building alteration Is being
carried on at 40 East Eightieth street,
except that in it's case the building has
been purchased outright. and when alter
/ ations to Il arc completed II will be ono
Of the most modern miniature hospitals
in the city. On the top floor will be
4 living apartment, with a roof gardsn
overlooking the lower portion or the
building The entrance hall and nurses
/ quarters viii be in what was the base
ment. The second floor will be recep-
ton room and coat room for patients.
| The decorative theme OF that floor has
been given particular study by Mr..
Kelley. the aim being TO create feeling
/ Of repose and cheer. The third and
fourth floors VIII be devoted to operating
4 rooms and lavatories. There will be also
X-rayinr rooms. dark rooms and hy-
/ gienic rooms on these floors. Electric
outlets will be provided in the ceilings.
floors and walls OF every room. They
will be placed to meet almost every need.
A special system OF ventilation has been
worked 50 that every room VIII be heated
and ventilated separately and the inflow
and exhaust win be such as not TO be
felt by the most delicate person.
Several other smaller buildings are
being planned In similar manner. and,
I -. -. lAf@k