West Side Y.M.C.A

The West Side YMCA is a hostel located at 5 West 63rd Street in Manhattan, close to Central Park, in New York City. The headquarters of the YMCA of Greater New York is located at the 6th floor.

The New York YMCA was founded in 1852. The West Side YMCA opened in 1896, originally on West 57th Street at Eighth Avenue. The current building was constructed on a site purchased by Cornelius and William H. Vanderbilt.

The site of the current building extends all the way through to 64th Street. It is adjacent to the building that houses the Society for Ethical Culture School, erected in the early 20th century, on the northwest corner of Central Park West. Across the 63rd Street, there was the old Century Theatre (demolished in 1930), on the southwest corner of Central Park West.

Construction of the current 14-story structure, located at 5 West 63rd Street, began in 1928. It was designed by renowned architect Dwight James Baum (1886-1939). It is the largest YMCA structure in the world. The West Side YMCA was relocated to the current location, in 1930.

In the early years of the building, it was advertised as "one of the finest and most complete Association buildings in the world. Within a stone's throw of Central Park and transportation lines to all parts of the Metropolitan Area."