Exploring the Abandoned Allentown State Hospital – Amazing Asylum Architecture!
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In this episode we're exploring one of the most beautiful abandoned asylums we've ever set foot in- the Allentown State Hospital. Despite community outcry, the historic building is set for demolition. Join us as we get what could be the final look inside this century old complex.
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such a dope spot?
It seems criminal to demolish a building like this. Nothing is built like this anymore.
@Douglas Edward dude chill lol
absolutely, a crime to our history and culture.
@Oryx Land I agree with what you said, all of it. However, my thought, sort of a compromise, is to just save the main building on the complex. The one with the tower, ornate marble, and woodwork. Also the auditorium. Demolish the rest for development. That way a historical piece of it remains. They could use it as a museum, restaurants, shops, community center. Any or all of the above. Just a thought. I imagine its time is done though.
I know. Just want to tear places like this down to build houses. The amount of history contained in these wall is rarely found.
@Sinecode exactly. I work in the heritage industry developing strategies to keep using historic buildings like this, and it’s a long and difficult process. Everyone is pretty much on board with the idea of reusing historic buildings, but it’s rare that anyone has a good strategy for carrying it out. Probably the worst option is the museum idea, for one museums have less funding than almost any other option, so you end up condemning it to years of neglect from underfunding until it gets eventually sold and demolished anyway. Sustainability is the name of the game in heritage, you gotta have a way to keep it relevant for decades into the future.
Your ending statement about demolition leaving and empty plot of land perfect for a Walmart or Amazon Warehouse was so powerful and sad…. This explore was definitely one of my top 3 favorite of yours; I love exploring these old hospitals.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
@randomrazr I’ve seen some Urban Explore videos where you could tell that someone had tried to start renovations but then had to give up, probably due to financial issues/codes/insurance… These were large house or mansions but still nothing even close to the size of an old beautiful hospital-asylum. I sadly can’t imagine anyone today could or would be willing to take on such a renovation, but still I sure wish I could!
The problem is finding a way that the building can be used going forward that actually makes enough money to maintain the building. Just look at the size of that place, what do you do with so much space and so many rooms? You can of course imagine a hotel and restaurant using that amazing marble cladded lobby area with that staircase as a focal point and having shows in the theater but just how much that space do you really need? Is this property even in an area that usually draws visitors? I’d imagine most asylum’s weren’t built in the most amazing tourist spots because they didn’t need to be, it looks like it’s on the edge of a sleepy suburb. If you can’t close the ends on a business case that makes enough to maintain it governments aren’t left with that many options.
And then you have the issue of the cost of renovating that building and getting everything back up to code. A project where you can face a potential nightmare of hidden costs from crumbling foundations, masonry, framing and the removal of who knows how much lead, asbestos and so on all of which might be impossible to plan for until you actually start the work. Someone looking to set up a business looks at all that uncertainty and suddenly building what you need from scratch or just renting starts to sound pretty good. And then once again there is the scale of this place. Sure some people would love to renovate that place and set something up but it’s just so freaking big that you’re going to need to draw a ton of customers to whatever you put in it to make it worthwhile.
I love old buildings like this too but the government can’t just always be taking on the costs associated with carrying historical buildings no matter how beautiful they look. I’d wager whoever owns it has tried to find buyers that would want it and the numbers just don’t work out for what they would use it for, it’s a shame but there’s not much you can do unless you want taxpayer dollars to maintain abandoned buildings for who knows how long into the future.
More likely for houses. The market is insane right now. In some places you literally cannot buy a house for any amount of money, so building is going crazy.
@randomrazr It is actually in a very urban area it just has a ton of land surrounding it. Many residents would like it to become either a middle school which Allentown is lacking in the area or part of a college campus of which we have many.
America is the worst when it comes to preserving history. Just finished the episode and am absolutely disgusted they are demolishing this gem of a building. I’ve signed the petition, but I’m afraid it’s too late.
The problem is finding a way that the building can be used going forward that actually makes enough money to maintain the building. Just look at the size of that place, what do you do with so much space and so many rooms? You can of course imagine a hotel and restaurant using that amazing marble cladded lobby area with that staircase as a focal point and having shows in the theater but just how much that space do you really need? Is this property even in an area that usually draws visitors? I’d imagine most asylum’s weren’t built in the most amazing tourist spots because they didn’t need to be, it looks like it’s on the edge of a sleepy suburb. If you can’t close the ends on a business case that makes enough to maintain it governments aren’t left with that many options.
And then you have the issue of the cost of renovating that building and getting everything back up to code. A project where you can face a potential nightmare of hidden costs from crumbling foundations, masonry, framing and the removal of who knows how much lead, asbestos and so on all of which might be impossible to plan for until you actually start the work. Someone looking to set up a business looks at all that uncertainty and suddenly building what you need from scratch or just renting starts to sound pretty good. And then once again there is the scale of this place. Sure some people would love to renovate that place and set something up but it’s just so freaking big that you’re going to need to draw a ton of customers to whatever you put in it to make it worthwhile.
I love old buildings like this too but the government can’t just always be taking on the costs associated with carrying historical buildings no matter how beautiful they look. I’d wager whoever owns it has tried to find buyers that would want it and the numbers just don’t work out for what they would use it for, it’s a shame but there’s not much you can do unless you want taxpayer dollars to maintain abandoned buildings for who knows how long into the future.
Please look up the YouTube channel Jon Levi. You’ll see that pretty much everything we have been told is a lie.
@rock doctor yup. it’s a real shame, to tear down beautiful historical buildings to build yet another generic apartment complex or shopping center.
I’m afraid of the same thing, I have also signed the petition but you’re correct it might be too late
“America is the worst when it comes to preserving history.” That’s because the lizards like to erase history.
Seeing the possible demolition of this building really makes me disappointed in American historic preservation. Not only is this building considered historically significant because of it’s history as an asylum (medical history), but this building is one of the most incredibly detailed asylums I think I’ve ever seen on your channel yet. As someone currently studying historic preservation, I’m extraordinarily surprised that local preservation societies and groups haven’t gone AWOL with the announcement of demolition, or at least gone after the city for allowing this to happen. This building does not deserve to be demolished: it’s in amazing condition aesthetically and is considered historically significant. Sorry about the rant, but I’d thought I would get this out in the open.
I find that statement very true. Plenty of historical areas have been demolished completely in light of “progress”. What they’re truly destroying is the sense of community that these areas once held. What Pennsylvania did wrong was not consult the community of Allentown about the sanitarium.
Isn’t this what modern day America is all about? Let’s destroy and attempt to erase history?! These asylums, so many, are now torn down, soon there will be no legacy, of course much sadness attached, of such great buildings that are no longer made. I’m glad in some places, like CT where they are trying hard to turn 100 year old empty mills into shopping centers and stores. Reuse, repurpose! New isn’t necessarily better.
It seems to be the way of things these days – they tore down Martin Tower in next door Bethlehem, the headquarters of Bethlehem Steel. It was a great example of late Mid-Century Modern architecture inside and out. It’s so sad really. Then there is the Roxy Theater in Northampton, a one screen movie theater still running and VERY well taken care of – I wish that’s how all these old buildings could be (hopefully the pandemic doesn’t hurt The Roxy’s future!!)
@Robert Morgan Exactly!! The demolition is already causing an uproar among the community, so they should step in and prevent this from happening. It’s like what happened to Penn Station in 1963 all over again!
@Robert Morgan well, if its only profit that matters, and likely because the USA is more libertarian right to impose regulations, or have institutions protecting history…
…well, then you just make it into apartments, right?
Security can be annoying but looks like they succeeded in keeping the place looking nice-ish and avoid vandalism.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
Here is the Original Semitic Text, You guys REALLY NEED to READ This
YaH The Heavenly FATHER was Who they Crucified for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF”
From the Ancient Semitic Scroll:
“Yad He Vav He” is what Moses wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3)
Ancient Semitic Direct Translation
Yad – “Behold The Hand”
He – “Behold the Breath”
Vav – “Behold The NAIL” <— YaH’s Crucifixion He - "Behold the Breath" “Behold the HAND that Beholds The NAIL” PROVES YAH THE HEAVENLY FATHER WAS WHO THEY CRUCIFIED That is EXACTLY what Moses Wrote Here is what they mean YaH's Name: (Ya)d + (H)e, as YaH is what Moses called Him and YaH Declared: "this is My Name, this is My Name for all generations" (Exodus 3) YaH is The Creator: Yad He, (HAND BREATH), as YaH's "Hand" Formed man from the dust of the Earth and His "Breath" made him a living being (Adam) YaH's Sacrifice of Crucifixion: Vav He (NAIL BREATH), the "Nail" through YaH’s "Hand", that whosoever shall call YaH Savior, His Breath brings forth life (Salvation) How YaH arrives: YaH arrives via the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 33:7:11), where a Tent is erected outside the city, a cloud descends upon the entrance of the Tent and YaH appears... Why they demanded YaH to be Crucified: YaH was Crucified according to Hebrew law (Deuteronomy 21), to be Hung on an Almond Tree for BLASPHEMY as it was for His NAME they demanded Him Crucified. The Messiah claimed He was YaH... HE WAS YaH!!! HalleluYAH “Praise ye YaH” From The Hebrew Book of Isaiah, The Dead Sea Scrolls Isaiah 42:8 "I am YaH; that is my Name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 43:11 I, I am YAH, and there is no other Savior but Me. Isaiah 45:5 I am YaH, and there is none else.
@Vista – Good point, plus back when this hospital was in operation, I don’t think ‘fake’ cameras were a typical thing.
@- WarHawk- ? As far as I’m aware Bosch don’t sell dummy cameras, it seems very wasteful to buy a fully functioning camera to just not plug it in.
Unbelievable how wasteful the USA is. Tear down this masterpiece only to put up a huge pile of garbage instead.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
I’d argue it’s less on the fact that people are wasteful, rather that people are greedy and too willing to abandon something to rot rather than take a loss or donate it. Had they taken this building, revamped it and used it for something useful (Homeless Shelter? Animal Shelter? Multiple things probably given the size) back when it was still a useable building, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But people left it to rot because they probably tried to sell it or didn’t care enough to do anything with it other than just walk away.
I’m also going to have to play Devil’s Advocate and say an Amazon Warehouse would do more for the people of that town than an abandoned blighted building.
@Robert Morgan Sorry, but you don’t get the point here. Its not a waste of land as there is plenty all around it. The only reason it is deemed condemned is because society says that you can’t fix it for less than the cost of a new simple building plus demolition. Society in the US has very little concept of craftsmanship and history. In the US first and foremost is how they can make money. Older countries have realized that sometimes its not about money and rather saving their history. Look at the UK, they developed something called the English Heritage charity, which preserves and manages many historical sites. If something is not done in the US most of this stuff will be lost forever. In its place will be just a bunch of garbage steel and drywall trash buildings that won’t survive longer than a few decades.
As it sits, it’s a waste of land, and a waste of building. If it were used and occupied and producing more than the cost of maintaining it, that would be different.
@Robert Morgan then needs long term investment… Still doesnt make it waste, and america not short on land is it?!
Hey even though this buildings getting torn down, there’s gonna be a digital memory of it thanks to The Proper People. Awesome explore fellas. ??
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
For car parks and dog parks.
It’s a shame the owners of these buildings don’t allow, or even hire the PP to document them before they are gone. Instead they are forced to sneak in and avoid security to record what should have been filmed with permission.
13:20 Just to give a little perspective on some of the stone work there. I work for a granite shop and last year we did some full marble slab shower walls in a few bathrooms, not unlike the one in that hospital. We charged $20k for just the slab walls in each bathroom which used seven 10’x6′ 700lb slabs of 2cm marble.
The hospital you are at has marble slab all over the lobby area and around the blue / yellow staircases, floor baseboard, full slabs on the hallway walls, marble window sills and marble columns. This is not something you really see anymore in America because the price would be astronomical and there are too many cheaper alternatives. I am guessing there is close to $1 million in slab fabrication and installation from a modern point of view in my area (just as a comparison, our customers total bill was $150,000 and was not nearly the amount of stone work this asylum has). Slab work is very expensive because you are dealing with extremely large, heavy and fragile pieces… the marble slabs themselves can range from around $800 and up depending on how exotic / rare a marble you pick. It also depends on how easily accessible the material is. Being near a marble quarry greatly reduces the price, like in Italy or India ($50-$100 per marble slab)…..as well as the cost of labor. I bet if you were to build this all in India it would be like $100k.
The level of craftsmanship of these old buildings is always astonishing. To think of all the work is just mind boggling because even today it would be extremely difficult with all our modern tools. Laser templating, CNC cutting, crane lifting… I have no idea how they did it 100 years ago by hand when they were basically running everything off of steam haha.
this place reminds me of a level in Resident Evil
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
Also keep in mind this was all built LOOOONG ago, when prices were lower and labor costs were way less. AND, remember, STATE hospital, so this was all that free limitless unaccountable taxpayer money. Go wild.
@NGC1433 this is facts
Thank you for your comment.
@Robert Morgan I think this is away better use of taxpayer money than paying welfare to millions of cretins who will later try to destroy capitalism.
God I hate to hear the word “demolition”. Jewels like this, especially in the U.S., will never be built again. Such a waste.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
@MaGarthur cheaper to clean it out and clear it out of asbestos then demolish it, reuse the building for a community center or something a lot more useful than whatever garish thing they have planned for there. But I guess destroying classic American culture is a new sport now, let’s waste more money :D.
@MaGarthur So much mold? I’ve only seen a couple places. There were lost of plaster and paint peeling. Which is easy to fix.
@Dragon_Ninja_218 You do know that Reaverdead probably didn’t work at the hospital right? I mean you have a point that this place shouldn’t have been allowed to grow mold all over (I mean mold can be a hard thing to get rid of for good, but still), but you don’t have to put your comment in such an angry tone dude.
Its all part of the climate change agenda these buildings can’t be made to meet heating and cooling energy standards and believe it or not alot goes into upkeep on this massive structure
In every room I could see an apartment, a bedroom, bathroom, communal living space, etc. This building could house hundreds of people in wonderful apartments and provide a forever-home. This would be perfect for an amazing building. Unfortunately, the cost of renovation is just beyond the cost of demolition 🙁
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
Not to mention that the building was not made for that purpose, a lot goes into adaptive re-use. Plus you have the added issues of lead paint and asbestos, which has condemned smaller buildings than this complex.
I wash think that too ..it could be used for alternative living. But like you said , renovation and repurposing..so expensive.. If they do demolish it. I hope they salvage the marble and such..even those stair railings. This place was impressive.
So sad, we have a mental health crises while places like this have been left to rot away. All while municipalities misuse and embezzle the costs saved from the closures. Beautiful building as well, excellent work as usual.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
I totally agree! Especially here in the Lehigh valley area with hardly any drs that take welfare insurance and people cant afford drs even with good insurance. I really wish they would fix it up and re open.
And they release all the lunatics into society to create havoc!
The shame is demolition only adds to the landfills. Reuse as low income housing or mixed used housing options would be a far better solution to societies housing needs. Nothing is insurmountable. We have urban planners who could design this massive complex into something that could a model for other large complexes rejuvenation.
It would be really difficult to turn this into a living space. Asbestos, led paint, other toxic materials would all have to come out. Literally would be cheaper to start from the ground up.
Grant Bos/// ever get the feeling the system wants the poor to remain poor? The poor are the slaves, and
what would happen if the ones running the show lost their servants? This is why dichotomy is so wide,
at times even across your own street…downtown Vancouver BC is a good example.
It is a misconception about affordable housing, you need affordable housing where the jobs are in large cities not out in to sticks in Allentown PA.
Why not turn this into something else instead of demolishing it? Seems like such a shame.
@Alex McBroom Thing is, we have a lot of these places here. Pa as a state actually has a good number of abandoned hospitals like this. As well as some older upper class mansions that are crumbling down.
People don’t want to pay taxes to cover the upkeep for these types of places. Nor can a small town afford it anymore as well. We don’t have a lot of state run groups/funds that can take care of all of these. So the best one can hope is private interest and investors. Even then, the cost is out of this world. There is a mansion called Lynnwood Hall in PA and its so much smaller than this place, and yet the owners can’t find a buyer for it to cover the cost to keep it and restore it. Its falling down as we speak. So a place like THIS is crazy.
Shame it can’t do like Waverly Hills in KY. But again.. PA is just loaded with these places. And clearly they can’t save them all. The state isn’t rich. And I am sure people don’t want to pay a lot of taxes to keep these places a float enough to renovate and bring up to code for whatever they can do with them. Some say colleges and its probably the best option.. but who has money for that?
It breaks my heart seeing these beautiful old buildings go. All the stuff inside…its all treasures and a part of our history. I wish we could save it all.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
They are going to put up low income housing there. It’s bad enough here on the East side of Allentown that’s all we need.
If you think the hospital is a waste…look up Martin Tower. 600k sq ft of space going 21 floors up…now gone for a gas station, some homes, and more medical offices.
Probably because of asbestos and the ungodly amount of labor and time itd take to bring everything up to code. That place is massive and very old also could have lead paint.
drop ceiling: *exists*
proper people: ??
??
what is a drop ceiling
Imagine how many homeless this place could shelter…
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share
@cash hughes you can blame the ACLU for all the homeless issues. they’re the ones that let all these mentally unstable people out of these asylums. They let them all out shut these places down and had no action plan to help them. basically it’s their legal right to wander aimlessly around the cities throughout the United States. if you want to say that nobody cares, it’s the attorneys that got these people released instead of ensuring that they had a place to go. Stop saying my country’s bad because it’s not…. you’re just a fool.
@Rob Cook wtf are you talking about? the us doesn’t care about homeless people that’s a fact genius
@Dana Ruth It might just give them some pride to live in something other than cheap, cracker box section 8 housing that’s built fall apart in 10 years.
@cash hughes go move to another country and then say that again.
If you enjoy old asylums like this you should check out traverse city state hospital, in traverse city Michigan, now called the village at grand traverse commons. They repurposed the main building and turned it into shops and apartments. There are still old buildings on the campus that haven’t been restored yet that you can tour. Lots of history and well worth trip.
To be truthfully honest. This looks like one of the most beautiful asylums I’ve ever seen
22:06 The Terminator 2 hallway.
5 years living in that area in the late 80s and I can’t believe (I’m happy) I was never in that place.
I knew it looked familiar! I could not put my finger on it.
first thing i said when i saw it. T2 hallway. 🙂
I was thinking the same thing! Terminator 2 hallway
Omg It does look slightly similar! Great reference. Lol.
This thought instantly crossed my mind as well. ?
I worked at A.S.H. for over a decade. Those long halls were patient areas. They were all cubicles, which have now been dismantled. The ‘pink’ ward was originally an all female dorm. At one point ,there was a farm attached to the hospital, and many of the patients loved to work on it. And most of the patients liked the food. It was all you could eat. A.S.H. was like a city, at one point, it had a bank. And yeah, it was really easy to get lost in that building. For the first month of working there, I needed a patient guide to find my way around. The guys tapped into something abut the building. It was well built and well designed,. considering it was over a 100 years old. There is something about the construction that said they weren’t cheap, or that they scrimped on the building. The building gives you a feeling of being solidly hugged, and protected. The guys picked up that there’s not a pall that hangs over the building, like most old psych institutions. It was cool seeing my old ward office, elevator, and dining hall, and auditorium..Seeing those things brought back fond memories of former staff and patients.Unfortunately, it was a hospital, and hospitals don’t always bring back happy memories.
BTW, that long mural was painted by a patient.
I’m not sure about the integrity of the building, now; but that place is built like a brick >>>>>>>>>>. It’s a shame they can’t re purpose it. One thing though. It was 24/7 hospital. Patients lived there, staff spent three shifts a day there. It’s so strange to see the halls devoid of human activity.
https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-preserve-allentown-state-hospital/psf/promote_or_share