Delta Psi, Alpha Chapter building

The Alpha chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall) purchased a 36-foot wide lot on 434 Riverside Drive from Harriet B. Hale on March 23, 1897.[2] The fraternity's intent was to build a new chapter house closer to the new location of Columbia University which had recently moved to Morningside Heights.[2] In addition to promixity to campus, the site "afforded breathtaking views of the Hudson River and New Jersey palisades."[2]

In 1898, the fraternity hired the architectural firm of Wood, Palmer & Hornbustel to design its new chapter house.[4] The architects were Henry Hornbustel and George Carnegie Palmer; the latter was a member of the Columbia chapter of St. Anthony Hall.[4][6] The architects filed plans with the city on August 26, 1898.[2] The plans called for a five-story building constructed of brick and stone, costing $45,000.[2] The estimated cost of $45,000 in about $1.43 million in 2021 dollars; however, the final cost was nearly double the estimate.[2]

The resulting structure was five stories, with a basement, in red brick that is heavily trimmed in limestone.[2] The architects used Beaux Arts and French Renaissance revival styles.[2] At the top of the building there was a stone cornice with a carved cartouche with the fraternity's Greek letters ΔΨ.[2]

The building's entrance was set back with a covered porch that also served as a balcony for the second story.[2] The third and fourth floors also had balconies.[2] The fifth floor had copper covered dormers.[2]

Inside, the building included a reception room, a ballroom, a basement crypt, a billiard room, a dining room, a library, and bedrooms for twenty fraternity members.[2][7] Originally, the interior was decorated in the Arts and Crafts stye.[2] In 1906, fraternity historian, Edward Fermor Hall wrote that the Alpha chapter house was "beautifully decorated and finished in marble at a large expense."[2]

The chandelier in the ballroom was featured on the cover Vampire Weekend's first album.[7]