Racquet and Tennis Club

The Racquet and Tennis Club, referred to as the R&T, is a private social and athletic club located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City at 370 Park Avenue between East 52nd and East 53rd Streets. It first opened in 1876 at 55 West 26th Street as the Racquet Court Club and only had two racquets courts, an indoor running track, and two bowling alleys. In 1890, it became the Racquet and Tennis Club, which planned to build a tennis court and thus, the following year, it moved to a larger club house at 27 West 53rd Street. This second club house held two racquets courts, one fives court, and one court tennis court. In 1918, the club moved to its third, and current, location which has been designed by William Symmes Richardson, a partner of McKim, Mead and White. The parcel for the building had been offered for lease by a club member, Robert Goelet. Richardson presented a integrated Italian Renaissance style to the membership for approval in April 1916 which was then realized. By moving to this location, the club offered its members more spacious amenities and a more desirable location with more consistent natural light for the skylit playing courts.

Location: Manhattan

Architect: William S. Richardson

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

Source: Wikimedia