view from landing, looking down at the entryway door and lantern suspended overhead

Cantilevered Steps

The steps on either side of the center of the building are not supported from below like a traditional staircase. Instead, they get their stability from the way they are anchored in the wall. While the building has been modified many times over the years to suit the growing hospital’s needs, these steps are original. A similar set of cantilevered steps are a feature of University Hall at Harvard, which was also designed by Bulfinch.