seat government city albany new_york houses office mayor chamber city traffic courts city services current building designed particular style opened place pine street rectangular half story building foot tall tower southwest corner tower contains municipal country albany city hall built dutch intersection broadway hudson avenue probably possibly earlier probably replaced larger building continued known location presented proposal unite british american colonies albany declared state capital new_york home albany city hall legislature opened capitol albany government moved legislature purchasing plot land eastern terminus eagle street capitol city government moved new city hall designed city hall destroyed fire new design commissioned building opened new city hall stands fine example richardson unique style architectural critics consider building designed high point richardson career building added national_register_of_historic_places september city halls albany multiple buildings dedicated seat city government history historians disagree details earlier structures built albany original city hall dutch city hall written built early evidence journals director suggests type building built site term office book history albany claim reports state building substantial time story structure lower floor built stone jail albany historian claims built sources agree stood northeast corner today hudson avenue broadway current site officially city hall incorporated albany city map albany clearly identifies northeast corner present day broadway probable new city hall built site historians claim growing tired increasingly cramped space city government able secure funds provincial government construct new city hall site building commonly known completely new structure english control new_york years describes new story brick structure adding substantial building predecessor new building largest building albany surpassed local dutch church stands today roof new structure topped claim original use years meaning replacement structure needed earliest disagreement idea new built site pennsylvania presented formal proposal unite british american colonies original intention unite colonies defense french north attempt independent auspices british crown adopted important precursor united_states_constitution month prior meeting franklin published join die political cartoon infamous graphical representation revolutionary war city hall home political arm local revolutionary movement took operation albany government eventually expanded power control time largest county colony extending far past current borders prisoners war jailed city hall alongside common criminals following war city hall occasional meeting place newly formed addition home city county governments jail courts local registry albany declared official capital state legislature city hall home state capitol opened effort public buildings away expanding waterfront new capitol located atop state street hill land current building stands city surveyor plan city set aside land public square included map depictions city hall new city jail located state albany city government moved legislature new capitol remained new city hall opened old eventually demolished fire city hall effort city county government functions state capitol city purchased plot land build chose spot edge public square eagle street eastern terminus later renamed land bought modern dollars design new city hall albany architect cornerstone laid mayor amid ceremony date event dispute building completed cost million modern dollars new city hall greek revival structure built white marble entrance porch supported columns roof dome interior simple little ornamentation length statue stood center upper hall court room hall relief view primitive canal boat distance opposite wall similar figure sir building destroyed fire february plans replacement city hall quickly developed current city hall following fire quickly secured commission replacement city hall limited competition architects architectural firms richardson frequent visitor albany prior years having lead architects state capitol budget limited richardson design came appointed public committee price granite substituted design new city hall design dates period typically regarded richardson architectural peak design similar designs unique style architectural historian described city hall richardson designs building nomination added albany city hall banded arches rhythmic bold expression materials corner placement tower characteristic features richardson work repeated followers building load bearing masonry design laid foot tall venetian style tower southwest corner topped roof main structure half stories tall west face bays wide exterior walls rhode_island granite massachusetts trim save bold placement tower prime example richardson disregard architectural known best tower designs building noted general simplicity design simple triple arch design elements façade limited windows quadruple arch balcony chamber building simultaneously noted general simplicity care small details especially intricate carvings flanked multiple tiers relief sculpture stone originally brought albany work capitol later hired details city hall elements exterior design representations interior functionality chamber located second floor entrance story height floor entrance hall tower essentially window meant city archive round staircase extends southeast corner tower access short tower building southeast corner originally meant transition city hall built jail complete bridge transport inmates straight cells jail court rooms city hall lack funds time building initial budget doubled ending million modern dollars including richardson devoted efforts building exterior report times union states wasn money richardson job thoroughly liked said writing wasn sufficient money right outside leave future generation finish interior interior finished city architects good years richardson built interior redesigned mayor office floor tower council chamber offices building second floor city clerk office second floor tower mayor office contains painting city mayor leadership added tower contained bells produce different notes notes double bells england financed public donations upwards people cost million modern dollars municipal united_states mayor restored included replacing bells adding notes repertoire bells weigh short tons largest bell feet inches diameter weighs pounds use plays multiple concerts week clock faces tower added 1920s possibly time added image city hall shows tower clock faces stonework shows obvious intent clock faces installed city hall added national_register_of_historic_places september
Albany City Hall