List of fake buildings

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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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