National Bible Institute School and Dormitory, Religious education building in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, United States.
The National Bible Institute School and Dormitory is a five-story building at 340 West 55th Street, built in 1925 with Venetian-Gothic architectural details. Its brick walls and ornamental stonework create an ornate facade that remains recognizable in Hell's Kitchen despite later conversion to residential apartments.
The building was constructed in 1925 as a school and dormitory for the National Bible Institute, serving that organization until 1950. Following that period, Shelton College occupied the space before it was converted into residential apartments in 1982.
The building once served as a center for religious study and worship, with successive communities reshaping its purpose over time. Visitors can sense in the spaces and details how different spiritual groups left their mark on this place.
The building is now divided into private residential units and not open to the public, but the exterior facade can be viewed from the street. Walking around the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood offers chances to see the 1920s architectural style in context.
After its years as a religious school, the building temporarily housed the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This unexpected connection reveals how diverse spiritual communities have shaped the space over time.
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