| Wunsch Building; the former Bridge Street Methodist Church, the former First Free Congregational Church | |
|---|---|
Wunsch Building, Polytechnic Institute of New York |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Town or city | Brooklyn, New York |
| Country | United States of America |
| Construction started | 1844 |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Masonry |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States |
The Wunsch Building of Polytechnic Institute of New York is the present name of the former Bridge Street Methodist Church, a former Methodist church located at 311 Bridge Street, on the east side between Johnson Street and Myrtle Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York City. The Greek Revival temple was erected 1844. It is also recorded as the First Congregational Church.
The building dates back to 1847 and was the first independent black church in Brooklyn. It was also a stop on the Underground Railroad and has been designated a historic landmark since November 24, 1981.[1]
The former church was recorded in the AIA Guide to NYC (1977) as the Polytechnic Institute of New York annex. “A Greek Revival temple in brick with wood columns and entablature: chaste, excepting the later Victorian stained glass, which is exuberant even from the outside.”[2][3]
The church building is now called the Wunsch Building and houses the school's Undergraduate Admissions offices. It is used to host many social, cultural, and academic events for the school and community.[4]