Boston City Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston City Hospital (1861-1864) was Boston’s earliest example of a pavilion style hospital, which placed hospital pavilions in a landscaped setting. The wards had narrow floor plates with extremely tall windows designed to take advantage of increased ventilation and natural sunlight to reduce congestion and contagion, while creating a sense of serenity. Designed in the Second Empire Style by Gridley J. F. Bryant (1816-1899), one of Boston’s most prominent architects, the hospital was an outstanding example of civic design. Boston City Hospital was built to serve the needs of the working class including the burgeoning immigrant population and exemplifies the city’s progressive social values and civic responsibility. Boston Medical Center rehabilitated two remaining pavilions from the original 1864 complex for use as office and laboratory space using state and federal tax credits.