New York State Department of Education Building
Encyclopedia
The New York State Education Department Building (commonly known as the State Education Building) is a state office building in Albany
, New York
. It currently houses offices of the New York State Education Department
(NYSED) and was formerly home to the New York State Museum
and New York State Library
. Designed by Henry Hornbostel
and opened in 1912, the building is known for its expansive colonnade
.
Dr. Andrew Sloan Draper
was the first Commissioner of Education
of New York and wanted a separate Education Building to provide more space for the growing agency. In 1906, after two years of negotiations with the New York Legislature
, Draper secured a site near the New York State Capitol
building. However, William Croswell Doane
, the first Episcopal Bishop in Albany
, was building the Cathedral of All Saints
on South Swan Street, on the very block that Commissioner Draper viewed as his. When Doane was out of Albany, Draper used his political influence to snatch up surrounding property and forever obscured the view of Doane’s new building from Washington Avenue and from the skyline as seen from the Hudson River
. The Education Building cost approximately $4 million. It was finished on January 1, 1911 but was not dedicated until November 1912 with the state museum and library moving into fireproof wings in the building. Unfortunately in March 1911 a fire in the Capitol destroyed some of the state library collection before it was moved. Over 450,000 books and 270,000 manuscripts and journals were lost in this disaster.
In 1959, work was finished on a nine story addition to the northeastern side of the building along Hawk and Elk streets. The addition is officially called the New York State Department of Education Building Annex.
The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
The building housed the New York State Museum from 1912 until as late as 1976, when the museum was relocated to the Cultural Education Center
(part of the Empire State Plaza
). The New York State Library, also housed in the Education Building, was moved to the Cultural Education Center as well.
, "The 36 Corinthian columns facing Washington Avenue form the longest colonnade in the United States." The colonnade consists of "36 hollow marble columns with terra-cotta corinthian capitals and a very wide entablature
."
The building has a T-shaped layout, with the colonnade forming the top bar of the T. Its Neoclassical
design reflects the renewed interest in this style that followed the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Flanking the entrance are two sculptures of seated children; these sculptures serve as lampposts. Important interior features of the building include the 94-foot-high rotunda, with its glass-and steel-dome, and the 50-foot-high reading room, with its large arched windows. The rotunda also contains barrel-vaulted glass skylights and a mural
depicting "man's quest for education."
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It currently houses offices of the New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
(NYSED) and was formerly home to the New York State Museum
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol...
and New York State Library
New York State Library
The New York State Library is part of the New York State Education Department. The Library and its sister institutions, the New York State Museum and New York State Archives, are housed in the Cultural Education Center...
. Designed by Henry Hornbostel
Henry Hornbostel
Henry Hornbostel was an American architect.He designed more than 225 buildings, bridges, and monuments in the United States; currently 22 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
and opened in 1912, the building is known for its expansive colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
.
History
The State Education Building was designed by Henry Hornbostel and built between 1908 and 1911. It was the "first major building constructed in the United States solely as a headquarters for the administration of education."Dr. Andrew Sloan Draper
Andrew Sloan Draper
Andrew Sloan Draper was an American educator, author, and jurist.-Biography:He was born in Westford, New York on June 21, 1848. He graduated from The Albany Academy and Albany Law School. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and as a judge of the United States court of Alabama...
was the first Commissioner of Education
Commissioner of Education
The Commissioner of Education was the title given to the head of the National Bureau of Education, a former unit within the Department of the Interior in the United States...
of New York and wanted a separate Education Building to provide more space for the growing agency. In 1906, after two years of negotiations with the New York Legislature
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
, Draper secured a site near the New York State Capitol
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany, on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million , was the most expensive government...
building. However, William Croswell Doane
William Croswell Doane
The Right Reverend William Croswell Doane was the 1st Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany in the United States. He was bishop from 1869 until his death in 1913. As a student at Burlington College, New Jersey , he was a founding member of a chapter of the college society St...
, the first Episcopal Bishop in Albany
Episcopal Diocese of Albany
The Episcopal Diocese of Albany is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church.-History:The Church of Englandarrived in 1674 with a chaplain assigned to the British military garrison at Albany, New York. In 1704 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent two missionaries to the Mohawk...
, was building the Cathedral of All Saints
Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York is the central church of the Episcopal See of the Albany and the seat of the Episcopal Bishop of Albany...
on South Swan Street, on the very block that Commissioner Draper viewed as his. When Doane was out of Albany, Draper used his political influence to snatch up surrounding property and forever obscured the view of Doane’s new building from Washington Avenue and from the skyline as seen from the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. The Education Building cost approximately $4 million. It was finished on January 1, 1911 but was not dedicated until November 1912 with the state museum and library moving into fireproof wings in the building. Unfortunately in March 1911 a fire in the Capitol destroyed some of the state library collection before it was moved. Over 450,000 books and 270,000 manuscripts and journals were lost in this disaster.
In 1959, work was finished on a nine story addition to the northeastern side of the building along Hawk and Elk streets. The addition is officially called the New York State Department of Education Building Annex.
The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.
The building housed the New York State Museum from 1912 until as late as 1976, when the museum was relocated to the Cultural Education Center
Cultural Education Center
The Cultural Education Center is attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York, United States. Specifically located on Madison Avenue, it faces northward towards the New York State Capitol building...
(part of the Empire State Plaza
Empire State Plaza
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is a complex of several state government buildings in downtown Albany, New York....
). The New York State Library, also housed in the Education Building, was moved to the Cultural Education Center as well.
Architecture
The State Education Building is notable for its massive colonnade. Its NRHP application claimed that the colonnade is "one of the longest in the world." According to EmporisEmporis
Emporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....
, "The 36 Corinthian columns facing Washington Avenue form the longest colonnade in the United States." The colonnade consists of "36 hollow marble columns with terra-cotta corinthian capitals and a very wide entablature
Entablature
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and are commonly divided into the architrave , the frieze ,...
."
The building has a T-shaped layout, with the colonnade forming the top bar of the T. Its Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
design reflects the renewed interest in this style that followed the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Flanking the entrance are two sculptures of seated children; these sculptures serve as lampposts. Important interior features of the building include the 94-foot-high rotunda, with its glass-and steel-dome, and the 50-foot-high reading room, with its large arched windows. The rotunda also contains barrel-vaulted glass skylights and a mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
depicting "man's quest for education."
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New YorkNational Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New YorkThe National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New York represent the history of Albany from the Dutch colonial era, through the British colonial era, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and World War II, in addition to various periods of immigration into New York's...