Visit downtown Albany’s art deco granite skyscraper, named in honor of the city’s four-term governor and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate.
Discover an art deco gem in the heart of downtown Albany, the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building. At 388 feet (118 meters) tall, the 34-story structure is one of the tallest buildings in Albany, second only to the Erastus Corning Tower.
Admire the limestone and granite exterior of the building. Completed in 1928, it features an art deco style that was very popular at the time. Look for the bold geometric motifs in both the building’s overall design and its details, hallmarks of the art deco era.
The Alfred E. Smith State Office Building underwent extensive renovations in 2002. Today, find several prominent tenants inside, including the New York Department of State, New York State Department of Civil Service, Division of the Budget, New York State Banking Department, New York State Liquor Authority and more.
The lobby of the building has several interesting features. Try to find inscriptions of the names of all 62 counties in New York. Look at the murals adorning the ceilings, featuring the faces of famous New Yorkers. Spot Samuel Morse, developer of the Morse code John Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge William Cullen Bryant, editor of the New York Evening Post, and more.
Learn a bit more about the building’s namesake. Alfred Emanuel Smith was a prominent New York politician. Smith served as the governor of New York for four terms, from 1919 to 1920 and 1923 to 1928. He was also the Democratic nominee in the 1928 United States presidential election, although Republican candidate Herbert Hoover was victorious.
Find the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building in downtown Albany. It is located across the street from One Commerce Plaza and the New York State Capitol. An underground tunnel connects the building to the Capitol. From the upper floors of the skyscraper, enjoy panoramic views of Albany and the surrounding area.
