The Waverly Hills Sanatorium at 100 – A Virtual Reconstruction

One hundred years ago on October 20, 1926, a massive Tudor Gothic Revival building with 400 beds was dedicated at Waverly Hills Sanatorium outside of Louisville, Kentucky. Waverly Hills had opened in 1910 as a public institution for the treatment of tuberculosis, and its patient population had quickly outgrown its early buildings. The new structure, designed by architect Arthur Loomis and the D.X. Murphy architectural firm, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

This presentation is a virtual exploration of the history and architecture of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, reconstructed in 3D using the original architectural blueprints and historical photographs. This project features both interiors and exteriors of the buildings on the grounds as they may have looked during its peak years, including many structures long since demolished. The reconstruction process has also revealed long-forgotten architectural details and design features, offering new insight into one of America’s most recognizable tuberculosis hospitals.

Andrew Mateja is an Architectural Associate from Chicago, IL, with a strong interest in historical preservation and adaptive reuse. He attended The Ohio State University and The University of Illinois-Chicago for graduate studies. In addition to architectural interests, he is an avid photographer, urban explorer, and hobbyist.