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  |  | 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  |  | 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 building disguised as a single family home with blackout windows[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]
Yarmouth Street Ventilation Shaft  |  | Yarmouth Street  | Boston, Massachusetts  | United States  | 42°20′46″N 71°04′38″W﻿ / ﻿42.346207°N 71.077265°W﻿ / 42.346207; -71.077265 | Ventilation shaft  | The ventilation shaft (the rightmost portion) was wrapped by a brick facade to create an appearance of a bow-front townhouse[18]
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.[19]

## 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.[20]
North Oakville East Wastewater Pumping Station  | Upload image | 345 Dundas Street West  | Oakville, Ontario | Canada  | 43°28′12″N 79°44′24″W﻿ / ﻿43.470066°N 79.739913°W﻿ / 43.470066; -79.739913 | Sewage pumping station  | Disguised as an early 20th century fire station.[21]
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[22]
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[23][24]
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[25]
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[25]
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[26]
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.[27]
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[28]
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[29][30]
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[31]
Highland Park Wastewater Treatment Facility  |  | 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.[32]
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.[33][34]
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.[33][35]
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.[36]
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.[37]

## 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[26][38]

## Electric power distribution

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2024)

|

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.[39][40]
51 W Ontario Street  |  | 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.[41]
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[41]
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[42]
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[42]
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[42]
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  | [43]
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  | [44]
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.[45]
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[46][47]

## See also

[edit]

* Fake building
* Public utility building

## 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. ^ "Yarmouth Street Vent Shaft, Boston, Massachusetts" (PDF). Stull and Lee Incorporated. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
19. ^ 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.
20. ^ Ruskin, Brett (3 August 2022). "Inside the underground pumping station blamed for Halifax Water warnings". CBC News. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
21. ^ "North Oakville East Wastewater Pumping Station". Town of Oakville. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
22. ^ 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.
23. ^ 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.
24. ^ Colaneri, Katie (23 August 2010). "Hoboken reveals new wet weather pump station design". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
25. ^ a b Living the Pipe Dream (PDF). Johnson County Wastewater. p. 13.
26. ^ a b Mennel, Eric (15 January 2014). "VIDEO: What's Inside This House On Wade Avenue?". WUNC. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
27. ^ Christie, Jordan (15 June 2021). "Tapping Gaston: A Water Pipeline "Breathes New Life" Into Virginia Beach". WHRO. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
28. ^ "Pump station disguised as a bungalow will keep South Tampa neighborhood dry". Tampa Bay Times. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
29. ^ "Pump Stations Go Undercover (And Viral)". Water Online. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
30. ^ Nardiello, Carolyn (6 January 2008). "Plan for Sewage Plant Splits Neighborhood". New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
31. ^ Panizzi, Tawnya (12 August 2021). "New pump station in Hampton strategically disguised to look like a home". Trib Total Media. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
32. ^ 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.
33. ^ a b "Facilities". Duckett Creek Sanitary District. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
34. ^ Missouri State Operating Permit: MO-0131300 (PDF). Missouri Clean Water Commission. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
35. ^ Missouri State Operating Permit: MO-0132152 (PDF). Missouri Clean Water Commission. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
36. ^ Fontenay, Blake (29 September 2021). "Port St. Lucie officials experiment with 'stealth' sewage pumping station". Treasure Coast Newspapers. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
37. ^ Weingartner, Tana (22 August 2014). "Hidden Works: What's really inside that house?". WVXU. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
38. ^ "Metro Nashville District Energy System" (PDF). No. Winter 2003. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
39. ^ 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.
40. ^ "Mott Haven Substation". Thrillist. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
41. ^ a b Basch, Michelle (14 December 2017). "This DC 'home' has been fooling people since the '50s". WTOP News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
42. ^ 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.
43. ^ "2530 Norton St Rochester, NY 14609". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
44. ^ "250 Seneca Park Ave Rochester, NY 14617". Monroe County, NY. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
45. ^ National Register of Historic Places Form: Lake Orion Historic District (PDF). National Park Service. 6 July 2006. p. 7-6. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
46. ^ "Peermont Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Atlantic City Electric. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
47. ^ "In Focus: Peermont Substation - "Camo-tecture" Down the Shore" (PDF). PS&S. Retrieved 5 March 2024.