American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Designated: May 17, 1966

*When Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White, designed this handsome Federal Eclectic building in 1905, his client was the Colony Club, the first women’s organization in New York City to build itself a club house for social activities and an artistic center. The plan, accordingly, required spaces for assembly rooms, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, dining quarters and a roof garden, many of which were sure to be reflected on the exterior design.

The architects provided all of these facilities within six stories and a basement, on a narrow lot and in an individual manner. He chose a rather free version of the Federal Style. The grayish red brickwork with its admirable texture and color is very unusual in its pattern. A handsome white limestone is used for the window lintels, trim, cornice and stones at the comers. The second floor lounge is well expressed on the exterior by five arched window openings with French doors and sash above extending to a two-story height. The doors lead to a shallow balcony, which is supported by thin pilasters and extends the entire width of the building. This provides a very pleasant shadow to accent the entrance and ground floor windows. A beautiful stone cornice crowned by a perforated railing separates the lower four floors from the curb roof and its five dormers, which give light and air to the dining room. Glass enclosures on top of the roof declare the presence of a delightful roof garden.

*Excerpt form the Landmarks Preservation Commission

STATUS Designated Individual Landmark

Take Action

Add the next LPC meeting to your calendar.

Let your local representative know you care.
nyc.gov

Help preserve New York’s architectural history with a contribution to HDC

$10 $25 $50
Other >

The Neighborhood

Midtown

Midtown is home to some of the city's most iconic buildings, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the headquarters of the United Nations, as well as the Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square. Midtown is sometimes split into three sections including Midtown...

Aaron Dexter, Aaron Douglas, Abolitionist, Academic Classic, Adamesque, Addisleigh Park, Admiral's Row, African American, Al Smith, American Aesthetic, American Art ... VIEW ALL

Explore the Neighborhood >

Local Voices

“I don’t know what the City would be without HDC. [They] testified before LPC time after time and helped us focus on the right issues. We would not be an historic district without HDC! ”

Doreen Gallo: DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance

Local Voices

“Use HDC as a resource because they know what they are doing and can offer advice on how to go about creating a district from every front: architectural, political, LPC, and the media. I had floundered prior to my involvement with this invaluable organization.”

Fern Luskin: Lamartine Place Historic District; Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site

Local Voices

“HDC provided guidance and shared information during that process—we knew which Council members were going one way or another and we changed a few minds. I don’t think NoHo would have had as cohesive a district had it not been for HDC’s aid.”

Zella Jones: NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension

Local Voices

“I remember Richard saying at a meeting, we have someone here from HDC, Nadezhda Williams, Director of Preservation and Research, to help us. She said to us, ‘You are not the only ones going through this.’ HDC included us in an enormous community”

Erika Petersen: West End Preservation Society

Local Voices

"HDC has begun a series of projects to highlight the Bronx's architectural and cultural history. From booklet's and research highlighting specific sites and historic districts to the HDC's symposium in October 2018 to the latest community-based committee to look into further possible sites to qualify for landmarking, the HDC has established projects that will serve the Bronx community well."

Elena Martinez
City Lore, Folklorist
Bronx Music Heritage Center, Co-Artistic Director

Local Voices

"Welcome2TheBronx is grateful for the advocacy done by the Historic Districts Council on behalf of the people of The Bronx. Through their deep connections and understanding of the importance of preserving our local histories, The Bronx has been able to have several spotlights shown on endangered communities as gentrification creeps into the borough."

Ed García Conde,
founder and Executive Director,
Welcome2TheBronx