| Some of the 19th century's most imposing, majestic | | | | Another common feature of the Second Empire |
| homes and public buildings were built in the Second | | | | architecture was a tower, or tower-like element, |
| Empire style. Based on French design elements | | | | usually at the front and center of a building. This |
| popular during the Second French Empire, this building | | | | feature is instantly recognizable in many Second |
| form was popular throughout the European sphere of | | | | Empire city hall and parliament buildings, and often |
| influence and the United States during the mid to late | | | | resembles a bell tower. With a large tower to offset |
| 19th century, and is often considered the first | | | | the profile of buildings, the Second Empire style could |
| prominent Victorian building style. Unlike other popular | | | | often be employed to produce much larger structures |
| 19th century architectural forms, Second Empire was | | | | - this meant the style was doubly useful in sizing |
| largely the product of new and emerging styles, rather | | | | applications, as it allowed small footprints to be used to |
| than classic styles like Gothic and Regency. Second | | | | their maximum potential, and large footprints to |
| Empire architecture is also closely related to the | | | | become more stylish and less monolithic. Prior to the |
| Italianate building style, which also came into | | | | construction of the Pentagon in the 1940s some of the |
| prominence during the mid-19th century. | | | | world's largest roofs were built in the Second Empire |
| Several design elements set the Second Empire style | | | | style, including that of the Greystone Park Psychiatric |
| apart from other building forms. Most notably, the style | | | | Hospital, and the Ohio State Asylum for the Insane. |
| is known for its widespread use of Mansard roofing, | | | | Both of these institutions were built according to the |
| which produced the style's famously imposing stature. | | | | Kirkbride Plan for mental asylums, which helped shape |
| Mansard roofs are hipped and double sloped, with a | | | | the Second Empire style in dozens of imposing, steep |
| nearly vertical lower slope, and a much flatter upper | | | | roofed health care facilities built throughout the late 19th |
| slope that isn't usually visible from ground level. The | | | | century. |
| four-sided, double sloped approach made these roofs | | | | The practicality of Second Empire architecture was |
| extremely functional as well as attractive, and allowed | | | | often overshadowed by its abundant ornamentation. |
| for large three story floor plans. Often a house with a | | | | Extensive custom molding on the exterior of these |
| small ground floor footprint could have the same | | | | buildings was often matched by intricate detailing on |
| volume as a tall apartment building or row house using | | | | the interior walls, often accented by high sculpted pillars |
| a Mansard roof. The stylish look of these roofs was | | | | and wide winding staircases. Beautiful ornamentation |
| often enhanced with molded cornices aligned with | | | | helped make the Second Empire style popular, but also |
| windows and doors on lower floors. Many Mansard | | | | may have helped push it into obscurity, as plainer |
| roofs also included a third slope along the bottom edge | | | | building styles became more popular during the early |
| acting as an overhang, and a rounded main slope to | | | | 20th century. |
| give the roof a domed look. | | | | |