Ray Staten

Ray is from Long Island, New York, and developed an interest in history and architecture growing up next door to the abandoned Kings Park Psychiatric Center. This interest eventually led him to return to school to pursue a degree in architecture in historic preservation. He currently works his day job doing drafting blueprints for concrete superstructure construction in New York City while pursuing these degrees for a career in historic preservation. Ray previously worked at the Cresson Sanatorium and Prison as a tour guide, leading historic guided tours, and helping with the preservation of the property. His first visit to a Kirkbride building was the Hudson River Psychiatric Center, where he fell in love with these buildings. His interest in the Kirkbride buildings extends beyond the architecture itself with a passion for mental health care and advocating for those with mental illness, and a belief that these buildings and their past can be used to educate people about the present and future of mental healthcare.