Portal:Featured Image Of The Week
From Asylum Projects
Featured Image Of The Week
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The original Second Empire Victorian style building was 62,589 m² (673,706 total square feet). At the base of this massive building was the alleged largest continuous foundation in the United States from the time it was built until it was surpassed by the Pentagon in 1943. The building has a characteristic linear arrangement, which was designed according to the specifications of the Kirkbride Plan. The main building has a central section used for administrative purposes, with three wings radiating from it, each about 42.7 meters (140 ft) long. They were set back from the previous one so that patients could enjoy the beauty of the outside surroundings. This was a central concept, along with moral treatment, that marked the Kirkbride Plan for treating the mentally ill. The building form itself was meant to promote treatment and have a curative effect.
