This now abandoned psychiatric hospital known as Terrence Tower at the Rochester Psychiatric Hospital was built in the late 1950s, finally opening its doors in 1959. The facility housed over 1,000 beds, and patients of varying mental disabilities. People with anything from mild to extreme issues were admitted and locked away somewhere within its 16 stories.

This is probably the most intimidating building in all of Rochester. The 16-story Terrence Building was once heralded as a “tower of hope” for the mentally ill (see this blog post ). Today the vacant structure looms over Elmwood Avenue and the Rochester Psychiatric Center campus like a nightmare. The Elmwood psych center campus was originally constructed as the Rochester State Hospital. This state-run mental hospital took over responsibilities from the Monroe County Insane Asylum in 1891. The Terrence Building was opened in 1959 and housed over 1,000 beds until 1995 when the last patients were moved to newer facilities elsewhere on the campus.