Raymond F. Almirall
Encyclopedia
Raymond F. Almirall was an American architect of the Beaux-Arts period, at the beginning of the 20th century, who’s innovative architectural style won him many varied clients in New York and elsewhere. Among his noted designs was Brooklyn's own "Sacré-Cœur", St. Michael's Church
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In 1909, Almirall designed what might have been his masterpiece, the Beaux-Arts classical style Brooklyn Central Library which was expected to be a major example of the City Beautiful architectural style in that city. But shortly after construction began funding dried up and only the West Wing Wall was actually built. In 1937 the project was renewed and the firm of Githens & Keally was hired to redesign the building in the Modern Classical style. Almirall’s original scheme was abandoned in favor of the new one and the redesigned library was completed in 1941.
Almirall did design three other branch libraries for Brooklyn all of which were funded by Andrew Carnegie
.
In Manhattan, he is best known for his Emigrant Savings Bank
building, now offices, and the Boss Tweed Courthouse
, both magnificent examples of Beaux-Arts, City Beautiful architecture. At one time the Emigrant Savings Bank was the largest bank in the country.
Almirall also designed several large churches for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. One of these, the Mortuary Chapel at Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, New York was described at the time of its construction as ‘’the Most Remarkable Mortuary Chapel in America’’.
He was one of the very few American architects of his day to design a Cathedral in a foreign country. His byzantine styled Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, Jamaica
which contains a broad, clearly articulated facade' and a large concrete dome. In his book ‘’Hagia Sophia, 1850-1950: holy wisdom modern monument’’ author Robert S. Nelson compares the Cathedral to the Hagia Sophia.
Almirall also designed most of the buildings for the Seaview Hospital in Staten Island, New York which at the time of its construction was the largest tuberculosis hospital in the World where many of the successful treatments for this disease were to be created. Today this hospital is a spectacular ruin.
St. Michael's Church (Brooklyn, New York)
The Church of St. Michael is a Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, located in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.-Buildings:...
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Early life and architectural education
Almirall was born in NewYork in 1869. He studied at Cornell University and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris for three years. Thereafter he established his architectural firm in Brooklyn.Architectural practice
He was a very creative architect for his time and his work incorporated the latest architectural techniques including structural steel, reinforced cement and reinforced concreteIn 1909, Almirall designed what might have been his masterpiece, the Beaux-Arts classical style Brooklyn Central Library which was expected to be a major example of the City Beautiful architectural style in that city. But shortly after construction began funding dried up and only the West Wing Wall was actually built. In 1937 the project was renewed and the firm of Githens & Keally was hired to redesign the building in the Modern Classical style. Almirall’s original scheme was abandoned in favor of the new one and the redesigned library was completed in 1941.
Almirall did design three other branch libraries for Brooklyn all of which were funded by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
.
In Manhattan, he is best known for his Emigrant Savings Bank
Former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank
The Former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank is a historic building located at 51 Chambers Street in New York, NY. It was built 1912 to designs by architect Raymond F. Almirall as the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, then the largest bank building in the States.The building was added to the...
building, now offices, and the Boss Tweed Courthouse
Tweed Courthouse
The building is composed of a central section with two projecting wings, with an addition in the center on the south facade. The entry portico on the main Chambers Street facade rises three and a half stories from a low granite curb, supported by four Corinthian columns...
, both magnificent examples of Beaux-Arts, City Beautiful architecture. At one time the Emigrant Savings Bank was the largest bank in the country.
Almirall also designed several large churches for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. One of these, the Mortuary Chapel at Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, New York was described at the time of its construction as ‘’the Most Remarkable Mortuary Chapel in America’’.
He was one of the very few American architects of his day to design a Cathedral in a foreign country. His byzantine styled Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
which contains a broad, clearly articulated facade' and a large concrete dome. In his book ‘’Hagia Sophia, 1850-1950: holy wisdom modern monument’’ author Robert S. Nelson compares the Cathedral to the Hagia Sophia.
Almirall also designed most of the buildings for the Seaview Hospital in Staten Island, New York which at the time of its construction was the largest tuberculosis hospital in the World where many of the successful treatments for this disease were to be created. Today this hospital is a spectacular ruin.
Works Include
- The Nativity of Our Blessed Lord Church, Brooklyn, New York
- St. Michael ChurchSt. Michael's Church (Brooklyn, New York)The Church of St. Michael is a Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, located in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.-Buildings:...
, Brooklyn, NY - St. Benedict Joseph Labre Church, Queens, New York
- Former Emigrant Industrial Savings BankFormer Emigrant Industrial Savings BankThe Former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank is a historic building located at 51 Chambers Street in New York, NY. It was built 1912 to designs by architect Raymond F. Almirall as the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, then the largest bank building in the States.The building was added to the...
, Civic Center, ManhattanCivic Center, ManhattanCivic Center is a neighborhood in downtown Manhattan covering the area around New York City Hall. It is bounded on the west by Broadway, on the north by Chinatown, on the east by the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge, and on the south by the Financial District.As in other civic centers, it is the...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... - Boss Tweed CourthouseTweed CourthouseThe building is composed of a central section with two projecting wings, with an addition in the center on the south facade. The entry portico on the main Chambers Street facade rises three and a half stories from a low granite curb, supported by four Corinthian columns...
, Civic Center, ManhattanCivic Center, ManhattanCivic Center is a neighborhood in downtown Manhattan covering the area around New York City Hall. It is bounded on the west by Broadway, on the north by Chinatown, on the east by the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge, and on the south by the Financial District.As in other civic centers, it is the...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... - Public Bath Number 7 (now the Brooklyn Lyceum), Brooklyn, New York
- Brooklyn Public Library, Pacific Branch, Brooklyn, New York
- Brooklyn Public Library, Brunswick Branch, Brooklyn, New York
- Brooklyn Public Library, Eastern Parkway Branch, Brooklyn, New York
- Seaview HospitalSeaview HospitalSeaview Hospital was a historic tuberculosis sanatorium, now a national historic district located at Willowbrook on Staten Island, New York. The complex was planned and built between 1905 and 1938 and was the largest and most costly municipal facility for the treatment of tuberculosis of its date...
, Staten Island, New York - Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, JamaicaKingston, JamaicaKingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
- Chi Psi Lodge, Wesleyan University, Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, ConnecticutMiddletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
- Chapel, Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, New York
- Binghamton City Hall, Binghamton, New YorkBinghamton, New YorkBinghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
- St. Patrick Church, Glen Cove, New YorkGlen Cove, New YorkGlen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
- St. Dominic Church, Oyster Bay, New YorkOyster Bay, New YorkOyster Bay is the name of a hamlet and census-designated place on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County in the state of New York, United States...