J. N. Adam Hospital

This hospital was opened in 1912 and named after Buffalo mayor J. N. Adam, who donated the land. It is Coxhead’s  second largest extant commission, both in terms of dollar value ($200,000) and number of buildings (six).

The tuberculosis hospital closed decades ago, but the original Coxhead-designed sections of the building are still in use by New York State.  Two non-Coxhead-designed wings added at each end of the original wings in the 1920s, however, are falling down.

Original east wing showing balconies.  2000 by author.  This hospital was touted as the first hospital designed specifically to enable use of the Rollier sun method of treating tuberculosis patients.  This method required that patients be rolled onto the balconies for sun treatment and fresh air.

From postcard in author’s collection.  Coxhead designed the administration building (center), original patient wings (left and right), as well as the dining hall, and power plant. 

Circa 1913 photo from Coxhead’s portfolio. Behind the administration building is the south-facing dining hall rotunda.  It had French doors opening to the outside,  and a stained glass window beneath the skylight in the dome.  The French doors have been replaced but the stained glass dome remains.