Seaside Institute
The Seaside Institute is a building constructed in 1887 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, designed to serve factory workers. Built by the Warner brothers, the structure features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture with rounded arches and materials including granite, brick, and brownstone.
Designed by architect Warren R. Briggs and built in 1887 by brothers I. D. and Lucien C. Warner, the building originally served workers from their corset factory. Its function shifted after 1929, and it became home to Bridgeport International Academy in 1994.
The name reflects its location near Seaside Park in Bridgeport, where it was built as a gathering place for factory workers. Today visitors can sense how this building embodied the idea of providing workers with spaces for rest, learning, and community connection.
The building sits at the corner of Lafayette and Atlantic avenues near Seaside Park and is easy to spot thanks to its heavy stone and brick exterior. The location is best explored on foot to appreciate the architectural details of the facade up close.
President Grover Cleveland's wife, Frances Folsom Cleveland, attended the dedication ceremony, giving the opening significant recognition. This prominent endorsement reflected how progressive the idea of supporting women workers was considered at the time.
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