New York State Capitol Restoration Picture
March 10, 2013 5:01 PM Subscribe
The New York State Capitol Building was original completed in 1899. A recent renovation was just completed and there are stunning photographs of the results.
Wait. Albany did something worthwhile with my tax money?
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:14 PM on March 10, 2013
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:14 PM on March 10, 2013
Wait. Albany did something worthwhile with my tax money?
I know, right? How unexpectedly charitable of them to use your tax dollars to maintain the extravagance of their own workplace!
posted by Sys Rq at 5:22 PM on March 10, 2013
I know, right? How unexpectedly charitable of them to use your tax dollars to maintain the extravagance of their own workplace!
posted by Sys Rq at 5:22 PM on March 10, 2013
Pretty cool pictures. Here in Denver, the capital renovation is underway as well. A donate link.
posted by brent at 5:24 PM on March 10, 2013
posted by brent at 5:24 PM on March 10, 2013
How unexpectedly charitable of them to use your tax dollars to maintain the extravagance of their own workplace!
Amortize those costs over a century. You know governments are wasting your money whey they cheap out on stuff like this, not the other way around.
posted by mhoye at 5:26 PM on March 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Amortize those costs over a century. You know governments are wasting your money whey they cheap out on stuff like this, not the other way around.
posted by mhoye at 5:26 PM on March 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Never mind why the New York State Capitol needs a war room, it just does.
posted by Ad hominem at 5:50 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ad hominem at 5:50 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
sorry about yr tax dollars and all but oh man I love me some monumental civic architecture and that staircase....wow!!!! its like something out of a dream (of really big ass crazy houses...)
posted by supermedusa at 6:00 PM on March 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 6:00 PM on March 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
I went on a tour of the NYS Capitol back in 2001, and while the architecture was striking, the most memorable thing was that (if I recall correctly; partial corroboration for my memory?) legislators are automatically counted as voting 'yes' for every bill on a given day just by signing in; they need only remain physically present if they wish to vote 'no'. As a result, on days on which no controversial votes are occurring, the Secretary of the State is often reading out numbers of 'yes' and 'no' votes to a largely empty chamber, which is a decidedly eerie thing to behold from the balcony. One hopes that they are aware of the contents of the bills to which they are voting 'yes' and are using their time wisely elsewhere...
I've also spent some time in the War Room. It's a neat space, although for some reason I remember it as being even more sweeping and epic than it appears in these photographs.
posted by beryllium at 6:20 PM on March 10, 2013
I've also spent some time in the War Room. It's a neat space, although for some reason I remember it as being even more sweeping and epic than it appears in these photographs.
posted by beryllium at 6:20 PM on March 10, 2013
Worth noting that while Albany isn't even in the top 100 US cities today, in 1900 it was ranked 40th, and from 1810 to 1850 had been in the top 10.
The War Room was intended to be the location of the building's dome (is there an image of this design online anywhere?), which wasn't built as the structure was already so heavy it was beginning to crack and slide down the hill. I think as built the design is more unusual. Related: I also wonder what the Empire State Plaza replaced.
posted by dhartung at 6:44 PM on March 10, 2013
The War Room was intended to be the location of the building's dome (is there an image of this design online anywhere?), which wasn't built as the structure was already so heavy it was beginning to crack and slide down the hill. I think as built the design is more unusual. Related: I also wonder what the Empire State Plaza replaced.
posted by dhartung at 6:44 PM on March 10, 2013
Magnificent. Something to be proud of, if one wants to be a citizen and not a mere taxpayer.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:17 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:17 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Gorgeous building but why the NYT didn't hire an architectural photographer to shoot the story is beyond me. Too many wide angle keystoned images really detracts from the beauty of the restoration.
posted by photoslob at 7:39 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by photoslob at 7:39 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is an amazingly beautiful building, and I completely agree with photoslob's comments on the shots. They are nice, but there is so much more dynamism on offer. I was fortunate enough to grow up in Albany and this building was one of many that was likely an influence in my decision to become and architect.
dhartung, to your question, my understanding is that the plaza mostly replaced urban "blight" which is to say it displaced thousands of families from substandard housing and support communities and scattered them into pre-planned multi-family buildings scattered about the city. Gentrification in pursuit of Brazilia, although I have to say I do find the modern architecture striking and everyone should see the Egg (and watch a good stage show inside it as well).
posted by meinvt at 8:27 PM on March 10, 2013
dhartung, to your question, my understanding is that the plaza mostly replaced urban "blight" which is to say it displaced thousands of families from substandard housing and support communities and scattered them into pre-planned multi-family buildings scattered about the city. Gentrification in pursuit of Brazilia, although I have to say I do find the modern architecture striking and everyone should see the Egg (and watch a good stage show inside it as well).
posted by meinvt at 8:27 PM on March 10, 2013
Never mind why the New York State Capitol needs a war room, it just does.
We're annexing Hoboken to pay for the war on Greenwich.
posted by The Whelk at 8:28 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
They don't even allow the public into the building, and this and the empire state plaza just have nothing but gates blocking off access to most areas.
It's usually really empty whenever I check it out.
posted by Folly at 8:55 PM on March 10, 2013
It's usually really empty whenever I check it out.
posted by Folly at 8:55 PM on March 10, 2013
Albany was an important rail hub as well as where the Erie canal met the Hudson. In many ways it's fortunes were tied to the railroads and canal. Now here are two guys singing a song about the Erie canal.
posted by Ad hominem at 9:15 PM on March 10, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 9:15 PM on March 10, 2013
Now here are two guys singing a song about the Erie canal.
How is that not this song?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
How is that not this song?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
That song is actually about the first Erie canal, it was only 4 feet deep and had much lower bridges than it does now. Most of the bigger cities in New York State are along the course of the old canal. Utica, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Albany and of course Lockport.
posted by Ad hominem at 1:11 AM on March 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ad hominem at 1:11 AM on March 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Never mind why the New York State Capitol needs a war room, it just does.
Albany's charter predates most of the United States, including the State of New York.
We don't call ourselves "The Empire State" for nothing. But we got patience enough to wait until this newfangled "Federalism" wears out, then we'll take our rightful place.
ASSIDUITY!
posted by mikelieman at 4:07 AM on March 11, 2013
Albany's charter predates most of the United States, including the State of New York.
We don't call ourselves "The Empire State" for nothing. But we got patience enough to wait until this newfangled "Federalism" wears out, then we'll take our rightful place.
ASSIDUITY!
posted by mikelieman at 4:07 AM on March 11, 2013
> "Never mind why the New York State Capitol needs a war room, it just does."
It is because the Governor's office will never forgive or forget Governer Daniel D. Tompkins' eventual sad fate, New York state legislators. You won't pay for the war, will you? THEN WE WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR WAR FOREVER!
posted by kyrademon at 4:51 AM on March 11, 2013
It is because the Governor's office will never forgive or forget Governer Daniel D. Tompkins' eventual sad fate, New York state legislators. You won't pay for the war, will you? THEN WE WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR WAR FOREVER!
posted by kyrademon at 4:51 AM on March 11, 2013
Beautiful building. It's just begging to be used as a movie location.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:17 AM on March 11, 2013
posted by Thorzdad at 5:17 AM on March 11, 2013
I drive past Albany on a fairly regular basis, and this is the primary view that I get. From a distance, Rockefeller's Empire State Plaza looks oddly bleak and industrial. Can't say I'm wildly fond of "The Egg" either. It's an odd city; approached from the south that skyline sits atop a snarl of raised highway that gives it an even less friendly aspect.
So it's nice to know that at least the Capitol has a bit of classic style.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:30 AM on March 11, 2013
So it's nice to know that at least the Capitol has a bit of classic style.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:30 AM on March 11, 2013
From a distance, Rockefeller's Empire State Plaza looks oddly bleak and industrial
Don't worry. It looks bleak and industrial from close up, too.
posted by Jugwine at 5:35 AM on March 11, 2013 [6 favorites]
Don't worry. It looks bleak and industrial from close up, too.
posted by Jugwine at 5:35 AM on March 11, 2013 [6 favorites]
I always forget that New York is not the capital of New York.
posted by trip and a half at 2:42 PM on March 11, 2013
posted by trip and a half at 2:42 PM on March 11, 2013
Rockefeller's Empire State Plaza looks oddly bleak and industrial.
Brutalism: A concrete fetish made real.
posted by mikelieman at 4:30 PM on March 11, 2013
Brutalism: A concrete fetish made real.
posted by mikelieman at 4:30 PM on March 11, 2013
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posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:10 PM on March 10, 2013