Union Station (Albany, New York)

Albany
Albany
	A postcard of the station from c. 1930
General information
Location	575 Broadway, Albany, New York
Owned by	New York Central Railroad
Line(s)	Hudson Division
Train operators	New York Central Railroad; Boston and Albany Railroad; Delaware and Hudson Railway; West Shore Railroad
Other information
Status	Closed
History
Opened	1900
Closed	1968
Former services
	Albany Union Station
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Coordinates	42°39′5″N 73°45′0″W / 42.65139°N 73.75000°W
Built	1899–1900
Architect	Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge; Norcross Bros.
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
NRHP reference No.	71000516
Added to NRHP	February 18, 1971

Union Station, also known as Albany Union Station, is a building in Albany, New York, on the corner of Broadway and Steuben Street. Built during 1899–1900, it served originally as the city's railroad station but now houses credit union offices.^[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) during 1971.^[2]

History

Rail service

The station received 96 trains per day during 1900 and 121 per day during World War II.^[3] It was the Capital District's main railroad station until December 1968. Built primarily to serve the New York Central's passenger trains, it also hosted the services of the Delaware & Hudson. In 1968, Rensselaer Rail Station began operation across the river in Rensselaer, serving the newly merged company Penn Central Railroad, and three years later, Amtrak.

The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.^[2]

Its NRHP application asserted:

Perhaps no other building has been so important to the growth of Albany during the twentieth century as Union Station. It was designed in 1899 by Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, the successors to the firm of H.H. Richardson and the designers of the newly completed South Station in Boston and Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts. The construction was carried out by Norcross Brothers, who were considered to be one of the finest contractors of the period.^[3]

Office building

During 1986 Peter Kiernan, president of Norstar Bankcorp Inc, relocated the headquarters of the Fortune 500 bank from Guilderland, New York, to Union Station in Albany, and contracted the architecture company EYP Architecture & Engineering to complete a $14.5 million renovation of the historic building.^[5] This renovation of Union Station is documented in a book that also details the history of the station.^[6] During construction a bottle was discovered hanging on a nail behind a plaster wall ornament; inside was a note dated August 12, 1900. Signed by "AA Johnsen. Foreman," the note mentioned the names of the workers and companies involved in the original construction. It listed the workers' wages as 45 cents per hour.^[7] Kiernan then placed a new time capsule regarding this construction behind another plaster ornament on an upper floor.^[7] Union Station was renamed Norstar Plaza, and when Norstar Bancorp merged with Fleet Financial Group Inc of Providence, Rhode Island, during 1988, Norstar Plaza became one of two headquarters (with Providence) of the new company.^[8] Kiernan died later that year, and during 1989 the corporation renamed the building Peter D. Kiernan Plaza in his honor.^[8] At the end of 1999, soon after Fleet purchased BankBoston to become FleetBoston Financial, the new company decided to spend a total of $25 million on new software, hardware, and electrical, heating, and cooling systems for the building.^[9]

During 2004 Bank of America bought FleetBoston and kept the building.^[10] The next year, the bank sold Kiernan Plaza to American Financial Realty Trust and leased the building back.^[1] During 2008 American Financial Realty Trust was bought by Gramercy Realty Corp. and during 2009 October Bank of America decided to consolidate its operations at Kiernan Plaza with others in Albany by relocating them to a State Street building also owned by Gramercy, with no job losses.^[11]

In 2013, the building was acquired by Fuller Road Management, a real estate development arm of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, from a subsidiary of Gramercy.^[12] The college subsequently opened its Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) there.^[13] The building is also headquarters for the State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU).^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b Kevin Harlin (2004-12-04). "Former Fleet properties sold". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b ^c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Liebs, Chester H. (July 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Albany Union Station". Archived from the original on 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-07-10. and Accompanying two photos, exterior, from 1905 and undated Archived 2011-09-20 at the Wayback Machine
^ Waite, Diana S. (1993). Albany architecture: a guide to the city. Mount Ida Press. p. 106. ISBN 0-9625368-1-4.
^ Brad Kelly (2009-09-17). "Old station to give way to new era". Albany Knickerbocker News. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Finnegan, Thomas. "Saving Union Station Albany, New York: An Inside Look at Historic Preservation." (Washington Park Press, 1988). ISBN 0960546073.
^ ^a ^b Laurie Navilia (1987-01-23). "'Time in a bottle' details builders Union Station note detailed". Albany Knickerbocker News. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b Mark Suchecki (1989-09-14). "Norstar Plaza to be renamed for Kiernan". Albany Knickerbocker News. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
^ Jo-Ann Johnston (2000-04-20). "Building of old, commerce of new". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Kevin Harlin (2004-07-17). "Kiernan Plaza secure as Bank of America". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Churchill, Chris (2009-10-21). "A Landmark Soon to Fall Empty". Times Union. Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
^ Jordan Carleo-Evangelist (2003-08-13). "Kiernan Plaza sale now a done deal". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
^ Casey Seiler (2003-09-13). "Kiernan Plaza now a new destination". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
^ Larry Ruilson (2012-10-18). "SEFCU takes more space at Kiernan Plaza". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.

[BofA-1] Kevin Harlin (2004-12-04). "Former Fleet properties sold". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[nris-2] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

[nrhptext-3] Liebs, Chester H. (July 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Albany Union Station". Archived from the original on 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-07-10. and Accompanying two photos, exterior, from 1905 and undated Archived 2011-09-20 at the Wayback Machine

[4] Waite, Diana S. (1993). Albany architecture: a guide to the city. Mount Ida Press. p. 106. ISBN 0-9625368-1-4.

[5] Brad Kelly (2009-09-17). "Old station to give way to new era". Albany Knickerbocker News. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[6] Finnegan, Thomas. "Saving Union Station Albany, New York: An Inside Look at Historic Preservation." (Washington Park Press, 1988). ISBN 0960546073.

[Bottle-7] Laurie Navilia (1987-01-23). "'Time in a bottle' details builders Union Station note detailed". Albany Knickerbocker News. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[Kiernan-8] Mark Suchecki (1989-09-14). "Norstar Plaza to be renamed for Kiernan". Albany Knickerbocker News. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2009-04-21.

[9] Jo-Ann Johnston (2000-04-20). "Building of old, commerce of new". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[10] Kevin Harlin (2004-07-17). "Kiernan Plaza secure as Bank of America". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2009-04-21.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[11] Churchill, Chris (2009-10-21). "A Landmark Soon to Fall Empty". Times Union. Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2011-07-10.

[12] Jordan Carleo-Evangelist (2003-08-13). "Kiernan Plaza sale now a done deal". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.

[SCiTI-13] Casey Seiler (2003-09-13). "Kiernan Plaza now a new destination". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.

[SEFCU-14] Larry Ruilson (2012-10-18). "SEFCU takes more space at Kiernan Plaza". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2021-11-29.

[1]

[3]

[4]

[2]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

v t e U.S. National Register of Historic Places in New York
Topics	Contributing property Keeper of the Register Historic district History of the National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Property types
Lists by county	Albany Allegany Bronx Broome Cattaraugus Cayuga Chautauqua Chemung Chenango Clinton Columbia Cortland Delaware Dutchess Erie Essex Franklin Fulton Genesee Greene Hamilton Herkimer Jefferson Kings (Brooklyn) Lewis Livingston Madison Monroe Montgomery Nassau New York (Manhattan) Niagara Oneida Onondaga Ontario Orange Orleans Oswego Otsego Putnam Queens Rensselaer Richmond (Staten Island) Rockland Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Schuyler Seneca St. Lawrence Steuben Suffolk Sullivan Tioga Tompkins Ulster Warren Washington Wayne Westchester Northern Southern Wyoming Yates
Lists by city	Albany Buffalo New Rochelle New York City Bronx Brooklyn Queens Staten Island Manhattan Below 14th St. 14th–59th St. 59th–110th St. Above 110th St. Minor islands Niagara Falls Peekskill Poughkeepsie Rhinebeck Rochester Syracuse Yonkers
Other lists	Bridges and tunnels National Historic Landmarks New York City Outside New York City
Category List National Register of Historic Places Portal

v t e New York Central Railroad Main Line stations (1914–1968)
Chicago^P Englewood^P South Chicago⁴ East Side⁴ Whiting⁵ Indiana Harbor⁵ Gary^P Millers² Dune Park² Porter²^A⁶ Chesterton⁵ Burdick⁴ Otis⁵ Durham⁴ Pinola² La Porte^P Rolling Prarie⁵ Hudson Lake² New Carlisle⁵ Terre Coupee² Lydick² South Bend^P Mishawaka⁵ Osceola²^D⁵ Elkhart^P Goshen⁵ Millersburg⁵ Ligonier⁵ Wawaka⁵ Brimfield⁵ Kendallville⁶ Corunna⁵ Waterloo^P Butler⁵ Edgerton⁵ Melbern²^D⁵ Bryan^P Stryker⁵ Archbold⁵ Pettisville⁵ Wauseon⁵ Delta⁵ Swanton⁵ Holland²^A⁵ Air Line Junction² Toledo^P Millbury Junction⁵ Martin⁴ Graytown⁴ Rocky Ridge⁴ Oak Harbor⁴ La Carne⁵ Port Clinton^P Gypsum⁴ Danbury⁴ Bay Bridge² Venice⁴ Sandusky^P Huron⁴ Ceylon⁴ Vermilion⁴ Brownhelm² Amherst⁴ Elyria^P Shawville⁵ Olmsted Falls⁵ Berea⁵ Linndale⁶ Cleveland^PA East Cleveland⁶ Nottingham⁵ Noble² Wickliffe³ Willoughby⁴ Reynolds² Mentor⁴ Heisley² Painesville^P Lane² Perry⁵ Madison⁵ Unionville⁵ Geneva⁶ Saybrook⁵ Ashtabula^P Kingsville⁴ Conneaut⁶ Springfield⁴ Lake City⁵ Fairview⁴ Swanville⁴ Erie^P Harbor Creek⁴ Moorhead² North East⁶ State Line⁴ Ripley² Forsyth² Westfield^P Portland² Brocton⁴ Van Buren² Dunkirk^P Waites Crossing² Silver Creek⁵ Irving⁴ Farnham⁴ Angola⁵ Derby⁴ North Evans⁴ Lake View⁴ Wanakah² Athol Springs⁴ Bay View⁴ Blasdell² Lackawanna² Buffalo Central^A/Buffalo Exchange Street³ East Buffalo² Forks² Depew⁴ Lancaster⁴ Dellwood³ Wende⁴ Crittenden⁴ Corfu⁴ West Batavia³ Batavia^A South Byron³ West Bergen³ Bergen³ Churchville³ Chili³ Cold Water³ Center Park² Rochester^A Brighton² East Rochester²^C⁵ Fairport⁴ North Macedon² Walworth⁴ Palmyra⁵ East Palmyra⁴ Newark⁶ Lyons⁶ Lock Berlin² Clyde⁵ Savannah⁴ Fox Ridge² North Port Byron² North Weedsport⁴ Jordan⁴ Memphis²^C⁴ Warners² Syracuse^B Minoa⁵ Kirkville²^D⁵ North Chittenango⁴ Sullivan³ Canastota⁵ Wampsville⁵ Oneida⁶ Verona⁵ Greenway⁴ Rome Oriskany⁵ Whitesboro⁴ Utica North Frankfort² North Ilion⁵ Herkimer⁶ Little Falls⁶ East Creek² St. Johnsville⁵ Fort Plain⁶ Palatine Bridge⁵ Sprakers⁴ Yosts² Fonda⁵ Tribes Hill⁵ Fort Johnson² Amsterdam⁶^P Hoffman's⁴ Schenectady^P Carman² Karner² West Albany³ Albany^P Rensselaer²^D⁵ Castleton-on-Hudson⁵ Schodack Landing⁵ Stuyvesant⁵ Newton Hook⁵ Stockport⁵ Hudson North Germantown⁵ Linlithgo³ Germantown⁵ Tivoli⁵ Barrytown⁵ Rhinecliff⁶ Staatsburgh⁵ Hyde Park⁵ Poughkeepsie Camelot²^D⁵ New Hamburg⁵ Chelsea⁵ Beacon Dutchess²^D⁵ Storm King³ Cold Spring⁵ Garrison⁵ Manitou⁵ Peekskill⁶ Croton–Harmon Ossining⁵ Tarrytown⁵ Yonkers⁶ 138th Street²^C⁵ 125th Street⁶ New York
Old Main Line – Cleveland (pre 1930)	Berea⁵ West Park³ Cleveland³ East 40th² East 55th² East 105th³ Coits² Collinwood³ Nottingham⁵
Old Main Line – Syracuse (1936-1962)	Belle Isle² Syracuse⁶ East Syracuse⁵
Old Main Line – Syracuse (pre 1936)	Belle Isle² Syracuse³ East Syracuse⁵
²Closed in 1920s ³Closed in 1930s ⁴Closed in 1940s ⁵Closed in 1950s ⁶Closed in 1960s ^PClosed by Penn Central ^AClosed by Amtrak ^CRe-opened in 1930s ^DRe-opened in 1940s Italics - bypassed station

History

Rail service

Office building

See also

References