Notable Buildings

There are many notable buildings in the capital district.  The Egg is probably the most unique and famous.  The New York State Capital Building is another.

Albany

New York State Capitol
Albany, NY
Completed in 1899 after more than 30 years of construction, the State Capitol combines Romanesque Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Classical elements and serves as the seat of New York State government.

Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY
A major modernist government complex designed by Wallace Harrison and completed in the 1960s–70s, featuring monumental architecture, reflecting pools, and the Corning Tower.

The Egg
Albany, NY
A distinctive modernist performing arts venue completed in 1978 as part of the Empire State Plaza. Known for its bold sculptural form and elevated position, The Egg houses two theaters and serves as a major cultural landmark in downtown Albany.

Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
Albany, NY
A 1930s Art Deco skyscraper that remains one of Albany’s tallest and most recognizable buildings.

Delaware and Hudson Railway Building
Albany, NY
Former headquarters of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, notable for its Flemish Gothic design and role in the city’s transportation history.

Albany City Hall
Albany, NY
A Richardsonian Romanesque landmark completed in 1883, anchoring Eagle Street and serving as a symbol of municipal government.

Troy

Rice Building
Troy, NY
An early 20th-century commercial building that exemplifies Troy’s prominence as a financial and industrial center during its peak years.

Ilium Building
Troy, NY
Named after Troy’s classical nickname, this building reflects the city’s dense commercial development and architectural ambition in the late 19th century.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Troy, NY
Opened in 1875, this renowned concert hall is celebrated for its exceptional acoustics and ornate interior.

Gurley Building
Troy, NY
Former home of W. & L.E. Gurley, a major manufacturer of precision instruments, representing Troy’s industrial innovation era.

Paige Mansion
Troy, NY
A lavish Gilded Age mansion built by steel magnate William Paine, illustrating Troy’s wealth during the late 19th century.

Academic campuses such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute contribute significantly to the region’s architectural landscape, blending historic academic buildings with cutting-edge research and performance facilities.

Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC)
Troy, NY
Opened in 2008, EMPAC is a striking contemporary facility dedicated to advanced performance, research, and multimedia experimentation. Its design integrates concert halls, studios, and research spaces within a dramatic glass-and-stone structure overlooking the Hudson Valley.

West Hall
Troy, NY
One of the oldest buildings on the RPI campus, West Hall reflects 19th-century academic architecture and represents the institute’s long history as a center for engineering and scientific education.

Chapel and Cultural Center
Troy, NY
A distinctive mid-20th-century structure serving both spiritual and cultural functions on campus, notable for its modernist design.

Troy Building
Troy, NY
One of the most prominent and recognizable buildings on the RPI campus, the Troy Building serves as a central administrative and academic facility. Its commanding position and classical detailing reflect the institute’s early institutional identity.

Sage Laboratory
Troy, NY
A major academic and research facility supporting chemistry, materials science, and related disciplines. Sage Laboratory represents RPI’s long-standing emphasis on applied science and laboratory-based education.

Voorhees Computing Center
Troy, NY
Dedicated to computer science and information technology, the Voorhees Computing Center reflects RPI’s leadership in computing and engineering education during the late 20th century. Housed in an old church, it balances modern technology (quantum computer) with old style architecture.

Schenectady

Proctors Theatre
Schenectady, NY
Opened in 1926, this restored vaudeville-era theater is a cultural anchor for downtown Schenectady.

GE Realty Plot
Schenectady, NY
A planned residential district developed for General Electric executives, featuring Colonial Revival and Tudor-style homes.

Schenectady City Hall
Schenectady, NY
An Art Deco municipal building completed in 1931, reflecting the city’s prosperity during the early 20th century.

Nott Memorial
Schenectady, NY
An iconic 16-sided structure on Union College’s campus, designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter and completed in 1875.

Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs City Hall
Saratoga Springs, NY
A Beaux-Arts building reflecting Saratoga’s stature during its late 19th and early 20th century resort era.

Canfield Casino
Saratoga Springs, NY
Once a centerpiece of elite social life, this landmark now serves as a museum and cultural venue within Congress Park.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Springs, NY
A modern performance venue set within Saratoga Spa State Park, known for hosting major orchestral and contemporary performances.

Yaddo Mansion
Saratoga Springs, NY
A Gilded Age estate that now serves as a renowned artists’ retreat, blending architecture, landscape, and cultural history.

Together, these buildings illustrate the Capital Region’s evolution from industrial powerhouse and transportation hub to government center, cultural destination, and academic community, with architecture that reflects each era of growth.

• Return to Parent Category: Local Landmarks
• Albany City Hall
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• New York State Capitol Building
• NY State Court of Appeals
• NY State Museum
• Schenectady City Hall
• The Egg: New York State Center for the Performing Arts
• The Old Montgomery Wards Building in Menands
• The Watervliet Arsenal