Design Tour: How the Main Building Works

The Main Building blends beauty and pragmatism. Its Beaux‑Arts language and tiled vaults weren’t just aesthetics; they enabled airflow, durability, and crowd movement.

Design Highlights

• Guastavino Tiles — fireproof elegance with acoustic character.
• Axial Flow — baggage → medical/legal → outcomes: intuitive navigation.
• Light & Air — arched windows reduce glare and fatigue.

Reading the Plan as You Walk

Stand in the Baggage Room and look up the axis toward the Great Hall. The building teaches you the process: gather, examine, decide, depart.

Restoration Notes

The 1980s restoration revived original finishes and stabilized structure, balancing authenticity with safety and access. Notice where new interventions are honest (railings, lighting) and where historic fabric remains intact.