City on the Hill

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Administration Building

Architect: Addison Hutton

Appropriation Year: 1893

Construction Started: November 1893

Construction Finished: May 2, 1895

Building Opened: May 10, 1895

Demolished: No

Current Building Number: 11

Building Type: Administration

SEE IT ON A MAP: Map 1 (Building is highlighted in yellow)

Completed on May 2, 1895, the Administration Building is the work of the Philadelphia architect Addison Hutton. Constructed of red brick, the building is three stories, plus a basement and attic. The first floor contained offices, the second floor contained apartment for the medical staff, and the third floor was the home of the superintendent and his family. Upon entering Hutton's Italianate doorway you are greeted by a spacious lobby that opens up to an intricately detailed staircase. On either side of the staircase are hallways lined with tall wooden doorways that open into offices. The floors of the lobby and hallways are covered in tile work and large wooden pillars stand in the intersection in front of the staircase. On the third floor, many of the rooms feature elaborate fireplaces with extensive detail work, each one being different from the next. Wood work highlights almost every room and the small kitchen features a large marble sink. A small playground was once located behind the building, it was a common play area for children of the superintendent and other staff members. An informal ball field was located to the right of the building, behind the Dix Museum. After the hospital closed in 2006 The Administration Building continued to be used by the Department of Public Health as office space. The third floor was refurnished with period furniture and used for meetings. Around 2021 the Department of Public Health moved out and the building sat vacant. As of this writing in 2024 there are plans to refurbish and save this building as part of a large construction project that is slated to start in 2025.

Interesting Facts About the Admissions Building

The Administration signs that hang in the car port were actually created by set makers for the movie Girl, Interrupted. The hospital staff decided to leave them up once filming was complete. All scenes filmed in the Administration building were done on the third floor.