[3] It was the largest synagogue in the United States at the time of its construction and is one of the few built in the Gothic Revival style.

[7][8][9] and then, following vandalism, acquired by the government of New York City (1981), after which it was sold to a succession of owners: Hungarian Development, Inc. (1983), Seashells, Inc. (1984), and finally Angel Lopez Orensanz (1986).

[10] Spanish sculptor and painter Angel Orensanz purchased the property in 1986, about after 12 years after its last synagogue-owners had abandoned its use.

[1][11] Its larger center door is crowned by triangular molding that is almost as high as the second floor, which contains a Magen David with thin pinnacles on either side.

[1][11] It has a tripartite front facade of red stone brick, covered with stucco, framed at its top by a pointed gable.

[1] The synagogue building was designed by Eisenach (Germany)-born architect Alexander Saeltzer, who was engaged in February 1849.

[18] After Ansche Chesed left in 1874,[7][1] the synagogue was used by several Eastern European Orthodox Jewish congregations, which reconfigured the space to the more traditional orientation and removed the organ.

[1][26] In 1994, the controversial Andres Serrano-directed music video for Godflesh's song "Crush My Soul" was filmed in the center.

[7][29] Mandy Patinkin's Mamaloshen was also performed there, and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, poet Maya Angelou, playwright Arthur Miller, actress Tyne Daly, composer Philip Glass, and singers Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have performed there.

[13][7][22] In 2003, Avril Lavigne recorded her music video for "Losing Grip" there with Liz Friedlander as the director.