By Barbara Osborn
In May 2017, Lenox Health Greenwich Village (LHGV), located at the corner of 12th Street and 7th Avenue, was recognized by the New York Landmarks Conservancy for excellence in the restoration and adaptive use of the historic New York City building, which it occupies. LHGV received the Lucy G. Moses Award, which is given to organizations for their outstanding commitment to preserving New York City’s neighborhoods and landmarks.
Specifically, LHGV was honored for its revitalization and sensitive restoration of the landmarked National Maritime Union Building. It was designed by New Orleans architect Albert C. Ledner and built in 1964. Once named the Joseph Curran Building in honor of the National Maritime Union’s founder, the six-story structure is an architectural fixture in Greenwich Village. The nautical-inspired building is widely recognized by its porthole-shaped windows and rooftop bulkhead resembling a steamship smokestack. Through careful restoration, LHGV developed a brand new medical building center while also preserving the structure’s original aesthetic.
The façade was returned to its original appearance and the interior was renovated with nautical-inspired decorative elements. The light fixtures are round, the roof resembles a boat’s sail, and the floors in the emergency room evoke a deep-sea bottom. The glass-block ground floor—a distinctive feature of the building’s original design—now encloses the waiting and patient rooms.
“When St. Vincent’s Hospital closed in 2010, this historic building was nearly lost,” said Alex Hellinger, Executive Director of LHGV. “It has now been reborn as a modern healthcare hub in the West Village while still retaining all the cultural value and its landmark status.”
Lenox Health Greenwich Village, which is part of Northwell Heath, is a state-of-the-art medical complex representing a new model of community-based care. It offers a full range of medical services and access to 24-hour emergency care.
Northwell Health invested over $150 million to renovate the landmark building, beginning with the opening of Manhattan’s first free-standing emergency center in 2014. The medical facility is now home to a state-of-the-art Imaging Center and later this summer will open an ambulatory surgery center, physician offices, and a new conference space for the community.
“As it begins its next half-century, this historic building is now providing a wide range of medical services as distinctive as its community and its architecture,” said Hellinger.
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals and over 550 outpatient facilities. For more information, visit Northwell.edu.
