NYPD 20th Precinct Station House (New York City, New York)

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3-story modern-style police precinct building completed in 1972. Designed by Ifill & Johnson, it is clad in textured concrete above a ground floor of dark-grey brick. The entrance is near the east end, with recessed glass double-doors and a sidelight; to the right is a brown stone panel with an abstract design, and a black metal canopy covers both this panel and the entry. To the east along the ground floor are nine, high-set, square windows. The upper floors have 15 single-windows, set into recessed bays with angled edges (including the top and bottom), with grooves in the facade between each bay, and grooved spandrel panels between the two floors. A metal railing caps the roof line. At the far east end, separated by a gated drive, is a small, 1-story garage section with a blue garage door and white stone coping.

The east elevation of the main building has four more square windows at the north end of the ground floor, with three secondary entrances farther back, and vents at the rear. The upper floors have 11 more bays, but with windows in only the northern five and the southern two. The ground floor (the area with the vents) extends farther back into the lot than the upper floors. A beige brick elevator shaft bulkhead is visible on the east side of the roof.

The 20th Precinct serves the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The precinct contains the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Historical Society, the Beacon Theater, and the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan. There are numerous civic and social events throughout the year due to the close proximity of Central Park. The precinct becomes host to special events that are actually taking place in the park.

www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_020.shtml