8. Buell Hall at Columbia University
Buell Hall Now
Before Columbia University was located in Morningside Heights, the property was home to the Bloomingdale Asylum. While most of the buildings gradually disappeared as Columbia expanded, one remained. Lovely Buell Hall, home to the Maison Française was moved there from a short distance away. Originally called Macy Villa, the brick building was designed in an architecturally distinctive style by architect Ralph Townsend to house wealthy gentlemen with mental afflictions–making them feel a little more at home. It was moved in 1905.
