308-312 W 30th St
1924-25, Sugarman & Berger

This 11-story building was originally the Hotel Irvin for Women, a residence for working single women. Named after Mary M. Irvin, president of the organization responsible for its construction, it provided independent units at a time when such living quarters were rare and/or chaperoned. The design was initially commissioned to Jackson, Rosencrans & Waterbury in 1914, but the advent of World War I delayed construction until 1924. At this time, Sugarman & Berger were listed as architects. The hotel opened in 1925 with 56 apartment units, a laundry and a restaurant. The facade features a carved entablature with Classical Revival influences and stone fluted pilasters framing the first two floors. The two entrances are marked by bracketed stone lintels, while windows are capped by friezes and stone panels with swag reliefs. Carved stone panels also appear on the windows of the third and ninth floors.