Why Does Albany’s Empire State Plaza Look Like That?

Despite living in the Capital region for almost a year now, I had yet to visit Albany's famous (or infamous) Empire State Plaza.

I finally had the chance a few days ago, and I was in awe. It's unlike anything I'd seen before, and it led me to ask some questions about how a structure like this could come to be...

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History of the Plaza

The project was started by former Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, who was embarrassed after showing the state's capital to a Netherlands princess. He decided to finally give Albany a visual identity, so in 1965, he laid the cornerstone, and construction began. The legislative office was the first to be completed in 1972, and the final building, The Egg, wrapped construction in 1978.

The Capital at ESP

In addition to the office & governmental buildings, Rockefeller also commissioned art experts to create the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, a collection of 92 works that is considered “the greatest collection of modern American art in any single public site that is not a museum.”

Why Does it Look Like That?

My first thought upon seeing the plaza from the inside was: 'Wow, this looks like Soviet Russia", and I wasn't entirely wrong. The plaza was based on the 1920s and 1930s "International Style" which focuses on unornamented buildings and logical floor layouts.

It was meant to be a look into the future, almost Blade Runner-esque. Rockefeller made the point that he wanted Albany to look to the future, so he built it.

For better or for worse, it's the center of New York's Capital, and will continue to be a landmark for the city for decades to come.