Sloane House YMCA, Community center in Midtown Manhattan, US
Sloane House YMCA is a large residential building on West 34th Street designed with a figure-eight floor plan that creates an unusual layout across multiple levels. The structure contains numerous rooms arranged around central open spaces that descend through the building.
The building was founded in the 1930s as lodging for young Christian men based on ethical principles. During wartime it served as temporary housing for soldiers before later transforming into apartments.
During the late 1980s, the building attracted artists across different disciplines, bringing together painters, musicians, filmmakers, and writers who created here. This artistic community shaped the space and made it a place where creative collaboration happened naturally.
The building is no longer open to the public as it was converted to market-rate apartments after being sold in 1993. You can still appreciate its distinctive architecture from the street on West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
The building housed the Mood Room on the tenth floor where students conducted all-night radio sessions and explored experimental art projects. This space became a hub for creative activities that shaped the artistic life within the building.
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