5 West 63rd Street, YMCA building in Upper West Side, Manhattan, US
5 West 63rd Street is a 14-story structure featuring brick, limestone, and terra cotta with Neo-Romanesque design elements and varied window arrangements across its dark brown facade. Inside, the building contains swimming pools, gyms, group fitness studios, and residential rooms for guests.
The building was constructed between 1928 and 1930, replacing seven five-story brick rowhouses that previously occupied the site. Its completion marked a shift in the neighborhood from residential townhouses to modern public facilities.
The building has served as a gathering place where people from different backgrounds could come together for fitness and social connection. This role as a community hub remains visible in how the space is used by visitors and residents today.
The building sits just west of Central Park with convenient access to public transportation nearby. The layout is designed so visitors can easily navigate between the different facilities without confusion.
The building features a rarely noticed mix of window types, including four-over-four double-hung wooden windows and arched multi-pane designs. This craftsmanship in the fenestration is a subtle detail of the original steel frame that many visitors overlook.
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