The main building of the general hospital originally consisted of 125 beds and was eventually expanded to 300.
Original concepts for the hospital included a rooftop bistro-style sitting and recreational area.
With the Administration Building and Hospital Extension, the general hospital comprised four operating rooms, a women's ward, a pediatric ward, a maternity ward, and a psychiatric ward.
It was equipped with two birdcage elevators.
Wards were open, and had lots of windows for ventilation and natural light.
Each ward was also provided with a south-facing porch for fresh air, and activity.
The operating rooms were located on the third floor and had skylights in order to provide the best lighting possible.
Supplemental lighting was provided via I.P. Frink.

The structures on Island 2 shared the same design as the original facilities on island 1: a brick facade in Flemish bond, quoins, and limestone ornamentation.
All structures were internally connected via covered passageways.

Along the central corridor connecting the islands, (on Island 2, just south of the ferry terminal) is the Laundry Building, which was constructed in 1900-1901 along with the now-demolished surgeon's house.
The structure is one and a half stories tall with a hip roof and skylights facing to the north and south.
Repaired repeatedly throughout its history, the laundry-outbuilding was last restored in 2002.
It had linen, laundry, and disinfecting rooms; a boiler room; a morgue with autopsy room; and quarters for the laundry staff on the second floor.

To the east of the Laundry Building , on island 2 is the psychopathic ward, a two-story building erected in 1906–1907.
This building is the only structure in the hospital complex to have a flat roof, and it previously also had a porch to its south.
It housed 25 to 30 beds and was intended for the temporary treatment of immigrants suspected of being insane or having mental disorders, pending their deportation, hospitalization, or commitment to sanatoria.
Male and female patients were segregated, and there were also a dayroom, veranda, nurse's office, and small pantry on each floor.
In 1952 the psychopathic ward was converted into a Coast Guard brig.

The main General Hospital building is directly east of the psychopathic ward.
It is composed of three similarly designed structures: from west to east, they are Hospital Building No.
1 (built 1900-1901), the Administration Building (1905-1907), and Hospital Building No.
2 (1908-1909).
The 3.5-story building no.
1 is shaped like an inverted "C" with two 2.5-story rectangular wings facing southward; the wings contain two-story-tall porches.
The administration building is smaller but also 3.5 stories.
The 3.5-story building no.
2 is similar to building no.
1, but also has a three-story porch at the south elevation of the central pavilion.
All three buildings have stone-stoop entrances on their north facades and courtyards on their south.
The main building of the general hospital originally consisted of 125 beds and was eventually expanded to 300. Original concepts for the hospital included a rooftop bistro-style sitting and recreational area. With the Administration Building and Hospital Extension, the general hospital comprised four operating rooms, a women's ward, a pediatric ward, a maternity ward, and a psychiatric ward. It was equipped with two birdcage elevators. Wards were open, and had lots of windows for ventilation and natural light. Each ward was also provided with a south-facing porch for fresh air, and activity. The operating rooms were located on the third floor and had skylights in order to provide the best lighting possible. Supplemental lighting was provided via I.P. Frink.
The structures on Island 2 shared the same design as the original facilities on island 1: a brick facade in Flemish bond, quoins, and limestone ornamentation. All structures were internally connected via covered passageways.
Along the central corridor connecting the islands, (on Island 2, just south of the ferry terminal) is the Laundry Building, which was constructed in 1900-1901 along with the now-demolished surgeon's house. The structure is one and a half stories tall with a hip roof and skylights facing to the north and south. Repaired repeatedly throughout its history, the laundry-outbuilding was last restored in 2002. It had linen, laundry, and disinfecting rooms; a boiler room; a morgue with autopsy room; and quarters for the laundry staff on the second floor.
To the east of the Laundry Building , on island 2 is the psychopathic ward, a two-story building erected in 1906–1907. This building is the only structure in the hospital complex to have a flat roof, and it previously also had a porch to its south. It housed 25 to 30 beds and was intended for the temporary treatment of immigrants suspected of being insane or having mental disorders, pending their deportation, hospitalization, or commitment to sanatoria. Male and female patients were segregated, and there were also a dayroom, veranda, nurse's office, and small pantry on each floor. In 1952 the psychopathic ward was converted into a Coast Guard brig.
The main General Hospital building is directly east of the psychopathic ward. It is composed of three similarly designed structures: from west to east, they are Hospital Building No. 1 (built 1900-1901), the Administration Building (1905-1907), and Hospital Building No. 2 (1908-1909). The 3.5-story building no. 1 is shaped like an inverted "C" with two 2.5-story rectangular wings facing southward; the wings contain two-story-tall porches. The administration building is smaller but also 3.5 stories. The 3.5-story building no. 2 is similar to building no. 1, but also has a three-story porch at the south elevation of the central pavilion. All three buildings have stone-stoop entrances on their north facades and courtyards on their south.
Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital