On this day in 1907, 11,747 immigrants passed through Ellis Island's Registry Room, setting a record for the most immigrants processed in a single day.
​
But this small 27-acre plot of land (originally less than four acres) in Upper New York Bay was a latecomer to its position as the main port of entry for newcomers.
​
Only in 1890 did the U.S. Federal Government attempt to control immigration and make this site the first federal immigration station.
​
​The original main structure was a two-story Georgia Pine structure, described in Harper's Weekly as "a latter-day watering place hotel." Within five years, it was destroyed by fire.
​
The design competition for a new "fireproof" Main Building was won by the Beaux-Arts-educated firm Boring & Tilton.
​
​Their project was justly huge. It was a long, massive building broken into smaller units to house a complex program skillfully organized according to the principles of Roman thermae, an excellent model that already ensured the ease of circulation for thousands of people through several complex functions.
​
After the roof of the building's Great Hall collapsed during the 1916 explosion on Black Tom (a neighboring island), the current Guastavino-tiled arched ceiling was installed, and the asphalt floor was replaced with red Ludowici tile.
​
Some critics felt that the ornament was over scaled. Others suggested that it was appropriate so that it would be legible from a distance (as in, on the water, approaching by boat).
​
Some critics like the symbolism of puffy and grandiose ornaments dolling up what is, in essence, a straightforward building that is all about business -- as America’s welcome mat.
​
After closing as an immigration facility in 1954 and opening as a national park in 1965, several grandiose proposals were made for purchasing and redeveloping the island.
​
One of the notable proposals was to be submitted by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright designed the $100 million "Key Project, " including housing, hotels, and large domes along the edges.
​
Like Walt Disney's dream for an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT), Wright planned to turn Ellis Island into a futuristic community that was part of Jetsons-style luxury and part live-work colony.

However, Wright died before presenting his project, and after Disney's death, the EPCOT we know today is only a glimmer of what Disney hoped it would be.
​
From this story's humble beginnings to a beacon of hope and new beginnings for millions, we're reminded that it's not just about buildings and structures. It's about creating spaces that resonate with humanity.
​
May this story serve as a reminder of your work's extraordinary influence on the world.
​
Each line you draw, every space you envision, carries the potential to shape lives, mold societies, and inspire future generations.
​
Whether you are drafting the blueprints of tomorrow’s landmarks or conserving the heritage of yesteryears, take heart in the knowledge that your path is laden with opportunities to make a difference.
​
Spaces are waiting to be reimagined, and stories are waiting to be told through the language of design.
​
Go forth and create,
The A-Team

P.S. - Here are some things that are happening in AIBD:

• ​Register for the Design & Build San Antonio Conference.
• ​Enter the American Residential Design Awards.
• ​Subscribe to our calendar for upcoming events.