Buildings we love: Odd Fellows Hall, NYC

The Odd Fellows Hall, designed by the firm Trench & Snook and completed in 1848, is a quintessential yet under-the-radar historic New York City building. Located between Grand and Centre streets at the intersection of SoHo and Chinatown, the building strikes us as remarkable because of its simple brownstone body topped by a luxurious Mansard roof (which was added a few years after the structure was originally built). 

The building was a hub for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows until the city begin expanding northward in the 1880s. It then transitioned into a mixed-use, commercial space and is now primarily residential with some office space. 

The current owner told the New York Times that he wants to lease the units at premium prices to the people who care about the building’s history and aesthetic. He told the Times, “”the most important thing is that I want to get the right people, people who appreciate the space — I prefer architects and designers.”

Changes in the building’s use and interior design are inevitable, but it will remain an impressive architectural landmark that catches our eye whenever we pass it.