Wikipedia

List of fake buildings

This is a list of fake buildings which are structures that use urban and suburban camouflage to disguise equipment and city infrastructure facilities that are aesthetically unpleasing in non-industrial neighborhoods. The list does not include utility sheds such as small pumphouses.

Communication edit

This lists fake buildings that are used for communication facilities such as telephone exchanges and data centers.

Name Image Address Town / City Country Coordinates Purpose Notes and references
West Hartford Data Center Upload image 130 South Main Street West Hartford, Connecticut United States 41°45′12″N 72°44′36″W / 41.75336°N 72.74336°W / 41.75336; -72.74336 Data center Built for telephone exchange, but later converted into a data center.[1][2]
636 Orange Center Road Upload image 636 Orange Center Road Orange, Connecticut United States 41°16′48″N 73°01′38″W / 41.27995°N 73.02723°W / 41.27995; -73.02723 Telecommunication equipment Frontier Communications[3]
335 Glen Road Upload image 335 Glen Road Rochester, New York United States 43°07′39″N 77°31′09″W / 43.12738°N 77.51907°W / 43.12738; -77.51907 Telecommunication equipment [4]
91 Pinegrove Avenue Upload image 91 Pinegrove Avenue Rochester, New York United States 43°13′33″N 77°35′49″W / 43.22593°N 77.59686°W / 43.22593; -77.59686 Telecommunication equipment [5]
Henson Upload image 13352 Blossomheath Lane Dallas, Texas United States 32°55′48″N 96°46′10″W / 32.93005°N 96.769412°W / 32.93005; -96.769412 Data center Owned by AT&T. Disguised as a large suburban house.[6][7]
Henson 2 Upload image 13229 Southview Lane Dallas, Texas United States 32°55′47″N 96°46′10″W / 32.92961°N 96.76949°W / 32.92961; -96.76949 Data center Previously owned by AT&T. Disguised as a large suburban house.[8][9]

Ventilation edit

This lists fake buildings that are used for ventilation of enclosed spaces such as tunnels.

Name Image Address Town / City Country Coordinates Purpose Notes and references
Thornton Tunnel Ventilation House Upload image 3911 Frances Street Burnaby, British Columbia Canada 49°16′46″N 123°01′06″W / 49.27954°N 123.01840°W / 49.27954; -123.01840 Ventilation shaft Part of Thornton Tunnel for Canadian National Railway[10]
Towers substation Upload image 1423 rue Towers Montreal, Quebec Canada 45°29′34″N 73°34′53″W / 45.49273°N 73.58139°W / 45.49273; -73.58139 Ventilation shaft Historical landmark rebuilt brick by brick as a ventilation station for the Montreal Metro[11]
23–24 Leinster Gardens   23–24 Leinster Gardens Bayswater, London England 51°30′45″N 0°11′01″W / 51.51261°N 0.18361°W / 51.51261; -0.18361 Ventilation shaft For the London Underground. Disguised with grayed out windows[12]
2 Old Eldon Square   2, Old Eldon Square Newcastle upon Tyne England 54°58′27″N 1°36′52″W / 54.97430°N 1.61445°W / 54.97430; -1.61445 Ventilation shaft For Tyne and Wear Metro, vents on the roof (seen on the right of the photo)[13]
145 rue La Fayette   145, rue La Fayette 10th arrondissement of Paris France 48°52′45″N 2°21′22″E / 48.87920°N 2.35614°E / 48.87920; 2.35614 Ventilation shaft For RATP Paris Métro[14]
29 rue Quincampoix   29 rue Quincampoix 4th arrondissement of Paris France 48°51′37″N 2°21′00″E / 48.86029°N 2.35008°E / 48.86029; 2.35008 Ventilation shaft For RATP. Trompe l'oeil paintings on windows.[15]
Ventilation shaft of the Magenta station Upload image 174 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 10th arrondissement of Paris France 48°52′48″N 2°21′27″E / 48.87998°N 2.35763°E / 48.87998; 2.35763 Ventilation shaft Part of EOLE project[16]
3 rue de l'Aqueduc Upload image 3 rue de l'Aqueduc 10th arrondissement of Paris France 48°52′47″N 2°21′29″E / 48.87978°N 2.35800°E / 48.87978; 2.35800 Technical shaft Part of EOLE project[17]
58 Joralemon Street   58 Joralemon Street Brooklyn, New York United States 40°41′36″N 73°59′51″W / 40.69345°N 73.99740°W / 40.69345; -73.99740 Ventilation shaft and emergency exit For the New York City Subway. Disguised with blacked out windows.[18]

Water and wastewater management edit

This list fake buildings that are used to house equipment for water distribution networks, sewage management, and stormwater management.

Name Image Address Town / City Country Coordinates Purpose Notes and references
Duffus Street pumping station Upload image 5211 Duffus Street Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada 44°40′15″N 63°36′07″W / 44.67087°N 63.60195°W / 44.67087; -63.60195 Sewage pumping station Halifax Water underground station with an entrance disguised as a split-level home.[19]
WNY1 Solids & Floatables Facility   South of 6400 Anthony M. Defino Way West New York, New Jersey United States 40°47′11″N 74°00′12″W / 40.78640°N 74.00329°W / 40.78640; -74.00329 Combined sewer overflow screening facility A facility disguised as townhouses, built in 2009 by North Hudson Sewerage Authority[20]
H1 Screening and Wet Weather Pump Station   99 Observer Highway Hoboken, New Jersey United States 40°44′08″N 74°01′53″W / 40.73546°N 74.03131°W / 40.73546; -74.03131 Combined sewer overflow screening and flood pumping station Disguised as a modern building that has an architectural connection to the Hoboken Terminal[21][22]
Belindeer Pump Station Upload image 5700 Belinder Avenue Fairway, Kansas United States 39°01′33″N 94°37′01″W / 39.02586°N 94.61692°W / 39.02586; -94.61692 Sewage pumping station Johnson County Wastewater[23]
Nall Avenue Holding Station Upload image 7490 Nall Avenue Prairie Village, Kansas United States 38°59′36″N 94°38′58″W / 38.99347°N 94.64951°W / 38.99347; -94.64951 Sewage pumping station Johnson County Wastewater[23]
Wade Avenue Pump Station Upload image 3215 Wade Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina United States 35°48′03″N 78°40′43″W / 35.80076°N 78.67854°W / 35.80076; -78.67854 Water booster pumping station Raleigh Public Utilities Department[24]
Lake Gaston Pipeline Pump Station Upload image 207 Beddingfield Way Valentines, Virginia United States 36°32′48″N 77°51′46″W / 36.54661°N 77.86273°W / 36.54661; -77.86273 Water source pipeline pumping station Lake Gaston is a water source for Virginia Beach, Virginia. The station is disguised as a lake house.[25]
Alline Avenue Pump Station Upload image 2921 W Alline Avenue Tampa, Florida United States 27°53′54″N 82°29′32″W / 27.89821°N 82.49224°W / 27.89821; -82.49224 Stormwater pumping station Disguised as a bungalow[26]
Locust Valley Pump Station Upload image 20 Meleny Rd Locust Valley, New York United States 40°54′17″N 73°34′58″W / 40.90480°N 73.58274°W / 40.90480; -73.58274 Sewage pumping station Disguised as a small single family house[27][28]
Glannon Pump Station Upload image 3788 Mt Royal Boulevard Allison Park, Pennsylvania United States 40°33′15″N 79°58′16″W / 40.55423°N 79.97106°W / 40.55423; -79.97106 Sewage pumping station Disguised as a single family home with a front porch[29]
Highland Park Wastewater Treatment Facility Upload image 316 Highland Park Road Sellersville, Pennsylvania United States 40°20′42″N 75°18′06″W / 40.34509°N 75.30164°W / 40.34509; -75.30164 Wastewater treatment plant Hilltown Township Water & Sewer Authority. Plant disguised as a red barn.[30]
Wyndgate Subdivision Wastewater Treatment Plant Upload image 128 Wyndgate Valley Drive O'Fallon, Missouri United States 38°44′53″N 90°48′30″W / 38.74815°N 90.80847°W / 38.74815; -90.80847 Membrane bioreactors wastewater treatment plant A subdivision of Duckett Creek Sanitary District. Plant disguised as a two-story single family house to blend in with the neighbors.[31][32]
Riverdale Subdivision Wastewater Treatment Facility Upload image 1400 Riverdale Manor Drive O'Fallon, Missouri United States 38°53′01″N 90°44′38″W / 38.88364°N 90.74379°W / 38.88364; -90.74379 Membrane bioreactors wastewater treatment plant A subdivision of Duckett Creek Sanitary District. Plant disguised as a horse barn.[31][33]
Southport Unit 5 Vacuum Station Upload image 2281 SE Sidonia Street Port St. Lucie, Florida United States 27°16′22″N 80°18′14″W / 27.27287°N 80.30376°W / 27.27287; -80.30376 Sewage pumping station Disguised as a bunkalow.[34]
Kennedy Avenue Pump Station Upload image 6448 Kennedy Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio United States 39°11′16″N 84°24′49″W / 39.18771°N 84.41348°W / 39.18771; -84.41348 Water pumping station Disguised as an apartment building in the Kennedy Heights neighborhood.[35]

Heating and cooling edit

This lists fake buildings that are used for providing heating and cooling services such as district heating, district cooling and cold district heating.

Name Image Address Town / City Country Coordinates Purpose Notes and references
Metro Nashville District Energy System Upload image 90 Peabody Street Nashville, Tennessee United States 36°09′30″N 86°46′13″W / 36.15847°N 86.77039°W / 36.15847; -86.77039 District heating / District cooling Enclosure with facade that has fake windows[24][36]

Electric power distribution edit

This lists fake buildings that are used for electric power distribution, such as distribution substations and transformer houses.

Name Image Address Town / City Country Coordinates Purpose Notes and references
640 Millwood Road Upload image 640 Millwood Road Toronto, Ontario Canada 43°42′15″N 79°22′33″W / 43.70424°N 79.37574°W / 43.70424; -79.37574 Substation Toronto Hydro[14]
Duncan Station Upload image 29 Nelson Street Toronto, Ontario Canada 43°38′55″N 79°23′19″W / 43.64870°N 79.38864°W / 43.64870; -79.38864 Substation Toronto Hydro[14]
Strecker Memorial Laboratory   Southpoint Park, Roosevelt Island New York, New York United States 40°45′08″N 73°57′30″W / 40.75230°N 73.95822°W / 40.75230; -73.95822 Power conversion substation Converted from an infectious disease laboratory[14]
Mott Haven Substation   415 Bruckner Boulevard Bronx, New York United States 40°48′28″N 73°54′22″W / 40.80783°N 73.90622°W / 40.80783; -73.90622 Substation ConEdison substation made to look like townhouses in a gated community.[37][38]
51 W Ontario Street Upload image 51 W Ontario Street Chicago, Illinois United States 41°53′35″N 87°37′48″W / 41.89306°N 87.63000°W / 41.89306; -87.63000 Substation Georgian building with fake front doors, and windows that are used as vents.[14]
4227 40th St NW Upload image 4227 40th St NW Washington, DC United States 38°56′39″N 77°04′42″W / 38.94409°N 77.07843°W / 38.94409; -77.07843 Substation Pepco substation disguised as a two-story brick house. Side windows painted as blinds.[39]
4225 40th St NW Upload image 4225 40th St NW Washington, DC United States 38°56′39″N 77°04′42″W / 38.94414°N 77.07820°W / 38.94414; -77.07820 Substation Disguised as a shred behind 4227 40th St NW[39]
4000 Van Ness St NW Upload image 4000 Van Ness St NW Washington, DC United States 38°56′34″N 77°04′44″W / 38.94264°N 77.07900°W / 38.94264; -77.07900 Substation Pepco substation disguised as an office building with blacked out windows[40]
1001 Harvard St NW Upload image 1001 Harvard St NW Washington, DC United States 38°55′37″N 77°01′35″W / 38.92698°N 77.02645°W / 38.92698; -77.02645 Substation Pepco substation that imitates an old train station but with whited out windows[40]
Pepco Darnestown Substation Upload image 16010 Riffle Ford Road Gaithersburg, Maryland United States 39°07′04″N 77°15′46″W / 39.11778°N 77.26282°W / 39.11778; -77.26282 Substation Pepco substation that imitates a large barn with metal silo in a rural area[40]
2530 Norton Street Upload image 2530 Norton Street Rochester, New York United States 43°11′19″N 77°33′13″W / 43.18862°N 77.55358°W / 43.18862; -77.55358 Substation [41]
250 Seneca Park Avenue Upload image 250 Seneca Park Avenue Rochester, New York United States 43°13′32″N 77°36′28″W / 43.22552°N 77.60778°W / 43.22552; -77.60778 Substation [42]
Detroit Edison Lake Orion substation   215 E. Church Street Lake Orion, Michigan United States 42°47′15″N 83°14′13″W / 42.78745°N 83.23695°W / 42.78745; -83.23695 Substation Constructed in 1926 in Tudor Revival style to match the residential neighborhood.[43]
Peermont Substation Upload image 271 61st Street Avalon, New Jersey United States 39°04′37″N 74°44′27″W / 39.07707°N 74.74086°W / 39.07707; -74.74086 Substation Atlantic City Electric Company substation disguised as a shore house[44][45]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "130 South Main Street". West Hartford, CT. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ Monthly Permit Report: Report generated from 09/01/2020 To 09/30/2020 (PDF). Town of West Hartford, Connecticuit. 15 October 2020. pp. 111–112. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  3. ^ "636 Orange Center Road". Orange, Connecticut. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ^ "335 Glen Rd Rochester, NY 14610". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ "91 Pinegrove Ave Rochester, NY 14617". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. ^ Gault, Matthew (30 July 2021). "McMansion With Shocking Infrastructure Secret Can Be Yours for $989,000". Motherboard. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Commercial Account #007497002914A0000". Dallas Central Appraisal District. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Dallas data center disguised as McMansion lists for $1M". The Real Deal. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Commercial Account #007497002911B0000". Dallas Central Appraisal District. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  10. ^ Lawrence, Anne-Marie (24 November 2023). "Bridge over Burrard's Water". North Shore Heritage. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  11. ^ "This old Victorian home has a secret: it's part of the Montreal Metro system". Radio Canada International. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  12. ^ Slocombe, Mike (January 2007). "Dummy houses in the heart of London". London Landmarks. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  13. ^ Brownson, Sophie (4 June 2022). "The secret hidden inside stunning building in Newcastle's Old Eldon Square". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e Nguyen, Clinton. "8 fake buildings that are actually secret portals". Business Insider. Insider Inc. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  15. ^ "20 unusual places to see in Paris". Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  16. ^ "174 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 75010" (in French). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  17. ^ "3 rue de l'Aqueduc 75010 Paris" (in French). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  18. ^ Carlson, Jen (8 Feb 2022). "It's a historic townhouse, but 58 Joralemon is also a secret subway exit and shaft house owned by the MTA". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ Ruskin, Brett (3 August 2022). "Inside the underground pumping station blamed for Halifax Water warnings". CBC News. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  20. ^ Combined Sewer System Characterization Report for the River Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (PDF). North Hudson Sewerage Authority. 1 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  21. ^ Hortillosa, Summer Dawn (17 October 2011). "Wet weather pump station in Hoboken now ready to alleviate city's flooding woes". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  22. ^ Colaneri, Katie (23 August 2010). "Hoboken reveals new wet weather pump station design". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  23. ^ a b Living the Pipe Dream (PDF). Johnson County Wastewater. p. 13.
  24. ^ a b Mennel, Eric (15 January 2014). "VIDEO: What's Inside This House On Wade Avenue?". WUNC. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  25. ^ Christie, Jordan (15 June 2021). "Tapping Gaston: A Water Pipeline "Breathes New Life" Into Virginia Beach". WHRO. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Pump station disguised as a bungalow will keep South Tampa neighborhood dry". Tampa Bay Times. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Pump Stations Go Undercover (And Viral)". Water Online. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  28. ^ Nardiello, Carolyn (6 January 2008). "Plan for Sewage Plant Splits Neighborhood". New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  29. ^ Panizzi, Tawnya (12 August 2021). "New pump station in Hampton strategically disguised to look like a home". Trib Total Media. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  30. ^ Smith, Jeff (February 2018). "A Pennsylvania Clean-Water Plant Masquerades as a Red Barn to Blend in With Its Scenic Surroundings". Treatment Plant Operator. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Facilities". Duckett Creek Sanitary District. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  32. ^ Missouri State Operating Permit: MO-0131300 (PDF). Missouri Clean Water Commission. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  33. ^ Missouri State Operating Permit: MO-0132152 (PDF). Missouri Clean Water Commission. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  34. ^ Fontenay, Blake (29 September 2021). "Port St. Lucie officials experiment with 'stealth' sewage pumping station". Treasure Coast Newspapers. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  35. ^ Weingartner, Tana (22 August 2014). "Hidden Works: What's really inside that house?". WVXU. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Metro Nashville District Energy System" (PDF). No. Winter 2003. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  37. ^ Inoa, Christopher (23 June 2014). "Daily What?! These Picture Perfect Townhouses in the Bronx Are Not What They Seem". Untapped New York. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  38. ^ "Mott Haven Substation". Thrillist. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  39. ^ a b Basch, Michelle (14 December 2017). "This DC 'home' has been fooling people since the '50s". WTOP News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  40. ^ a b c Basch, Michelle (13 December 2017). "Is it a house? Is it a barn? What Pepco's hiding in plain sight in your neighborhood". WTOP News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  41. ^ "2530 Norton St Rochester, NY 14609". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  42. ^ "250 Seneca Park Ave Rochester, NY 14617". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  43. ^ National Register of Historic Places Form: Lake Orion Historic District (PDF). National Park Service. 6 July 2006. p. 7-6. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  44. ^ "Peermont Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Atlantic City Electric. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  45. ^ "In Focus: Peermont Substation - "Camo-tecture" Down the Shore" (PDF). PS&S. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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