albany ny architecture

Albany’s first century was one of discovery, settling, survival and industry, all of which are represented in what is left of the early Albany landscape. Discovered and settled by early Dutch fur traders, the early architecture of Albany is inspired by the Dutch style, which generally focused on substance and utility, as opposed to flair and elegance. The early settlers usually built their houses out of the wood, focusing on a box-like appearance with a functioning cellar, things which are common in New World Dutch architecture. Two examples that remain today from that period are the Schuyler and Van Rensselaer houses, which were built from 1667 to 1668, and the Dutch Reformed Church, which dates back to 1715. In the beginning, brick was used sparingly for two separate, but related, reasons: 1) brick was expensive and wood was cheap, and 2) because of the constant threat of a route at the hands of the French or Indians, the loss of a house because of retreat was a constant threat. As relations between the Indians, French and Dutch settled at the turn of the 18th Century, brick was introduced to the architecture of Albany.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the early Dutch architecture lies in the function of Albany as a fur trade outpost amongst hostile entities. Because of constant threat of invasion, early Albany was condense - surrounded by a stockade on three fronts. The roads that were established during that time period still exist today, and if you travel down Broadway around State Street, you will experience the urban planning of the early Dutch Albany settlers. Over time, the stockade was expanded, encompassing much of what of the industrial part of Albany.

Later in the development of Albany, following its transition from Dutch to English hands, the City became a travel, political, and industrial destination, leading to bigger, more extravagant, and permanent architecture. Massive immigration led to an influx of skilled laborers, namely stone cutters. This new pool of stone cutters helped paved the way for a massive change in the architectural style of Albany buildings.

During the first half of the 19th Century, Albany became a center for all things commercial, as well as the political center for all of New York State, which was growing by leaps and bounds at that point. This new prominence spurred on the construction of elegant, extravagant and towering buildings, serving as headquarters of government, industry and travel. Buildings built during this time period are easily identifiable by their stone facades and gothic style, which are characterized by slim pointed windows and doorways, towering spires and large towers.

There gothic-style buildings were usually churches, although this was not an absolute rule. St. Peter’s Church on State Street, Emmanuel Church and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception were all built around the middle of the 19th Century, and all share the same gothic design. In addition to these churches, many of the government buildings in Albany which were built during this period share a gothic taste. The New York State Capitol building has many gothic features, including spires, arched doorways and windows. The Albany City Hall was built around the same time period and includes a single bell tower with a spire top. But, love of the gothic style did not end in the 19th Century, in fact perhaps the most prominent, and largest, example of gothic architecture in Albany is the D&H Building. The D&H was built in 1915, and when all four portions of it where connected together, it measure 660 feet long. This massive building was the headquarters of the D&H Railroad, which was a prominent railroad at the time. Currently, the D&H Building is the headquarters for the State University System of New York.

As Albany marched into the 20th Century, gothic architecture started to lose its prominence. Replacing gothic was a style known as art deco, which grew in influence through the first half of the Century. Art deco is a mish-mash of styles, including Constructionism, Cubism, Modernism, Bauhaus, and Futurism, creating an interesting blend that was often regarded as ultra-modern. Perhaps the best example of this style is the Alfred E. Smith Building on South Swan Street, which was built in 1930. Its giant, boxy, utilitarian style conflicts greatly with the architectural flourish of the State Capitol Building, which is adjacent to the Smith Building. The US Post Office, Courthouse and Customshouse, Hotel Wellington, and the New York State Education Building all share many of the same characteristics, being built around the same time period as the Smith Building.

Entering the second half of the 20th Century, art deco was replaced by modern and post-modern architectural design. Post-modern style is one in which past styles purposefully clash, resulting in abrupt design and function. The Empire State Plaza, built in 1979, which includes the Corning Tower, The Egg, and the Cultural Education Building, exemplifies this style perfectly, with its clash of design, function and materials used to construct the different projects. This style continues to reign supreme in Albany, being used as a basis for the Department of Conservation Building, built in 2001.

Albany, with its long and illustrious history, was, and is, the perfect laboratory for architectural design in the United States. From the early Dutch farm houses, to the towering gothic churches, to the art deco government buildings and post-modern complexes, Albany covers every architectural transition of the past 300 years.