The Octagon (Roosevelt Island) facts for kids

The Octagon
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Aerial view
Location	888 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, Manhattan, NY, 10044 United States
Built	1835
Architect	Alexander Jackson Davis
Architectural style	Octagon Mode
NRHP reference No.	72000880
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 16, 1972

The Octagon is a special building on Roosevelt Island in New York City. It was built in 1834 and has eight sides, which is why it's called an "octagon." Today, it's part of a large apartment complex.

This building was once the main entrance to the New York City Mental Health Hospital. This hospital opened in 1841. The Octagon's round main part was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis. It was made from blue-gray stone found right on the island.

The Octagon is the only part left of the old hospital. After many years of not being used and even having two fires, it was almost completely ruined. But it was saved and fixed up! Now, it's a cool entrance for new apartment buildings.

A famous reporter named Nellie Bly wrote a book in 1887 called Ten Days in a Mad-House. In her book, she wrote about the problems and unfair treatment she saw at the hospital.

History of The Octagon

The Octagon was built as part of the New York City Mental Health Hospital. It opened in 1841. Later, in 1894, it became part of the Metropolitan Hospital.

The Octagon building closed in 1955 and was left empty for a long time. Even though it was in bad shape, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1972. This means it's an important historic place.

As the last part of the old hospital, the Octagon was falling apart. It had been damaged by time and two fires. But in April 2006, after a big restoration project, the building reopened. It now serves as the main lobby for two new apartment buildings. These buildings have 500 homes in total.

How The Octagon Stays Green

The new apartment complex is very modern and uses special technology to save energy. It has both solar panels and fuel cells. Solar panels use sunlight to make electricity. Fuel cells create electricity and heat from natural gas without burning it.

A large number of solar panels and a powerful fuel cell help the building make more than half of its own power. This system is very efficient. It uses less energy than getting power from the regular electricity grid.

The heat made by the fuel cell is also used to warm the building and its water. Because of these green systems, the Octagon is expected to reduce its carbon emissions by a lot each year. Carbon emissions are gases that can warm up our planet.

The Octagon received a special award from New York State for being a "Green Building." It also won the "Green Apple Award" for its smart, eco-friendly design. In 2006, a new residential building was built next to it, designed to look like the original Octagon. This new building earned a "LEED Silver status" in 2008. LEED is a rating system for green buildings.

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  The main building in 1893

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  The round part in 1970

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  An old stairway inside

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  As shown in Ten Days in a Mad-House

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  How it looked in 2017

See also

In Spanish: The Octagon (Isla Roosevelt) para niños

• List of octagonal buildings and structures
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan on Islands
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan on islands