Tour: 48 Hudson Avenue: The Van Ostrande-Radliff House
Join us for an exclusive, complimentary tour of the newly renovated, oldest building in Albany. 48 Hudson Avenue has had a variety of different uses and undergone many changes; growing wider, taller, and deeper with three major additions and alterations between 1790 and 1892, and two facelifts in the 20th century. Ironically, every time the building was significantly altered, the owner stripped the building back down to the Dutch “bones” and today, the story most clearly told is by the building itself in physical evidence that is its Dutch origin. Now, Albany’s oldest building is going to become the new headquarters for Historic Albany Foundation’s operations. he historic house will become a classroom space that will host HAF’s workshops, lectures, and other programs, as well as be open to the public to rent. It will also house HAF’s research library where anyone can come research Albany’s history using grantor, grantee indexes, city directories, and other published books on Albany history.
This tour is complimentary to attend, but space is limited.
About the tour:
This tour has been approved for 1 LU/HSW
This one-hour architectural tour of the Van Ostrande-Radliff House, the oldest surviving building in Albany, invites participants into a rare and tangible connection with the city’s early history. As one of the few remaining examples of early Dutch urban architecture in the Hudson Valley, the house offers not only a window into 18th-century life, but also a compelling case study in how historic buildings endure, evolve, and can be responsibly adapted for continued use.
Led by preservation professionals from the Historic Albany Foundation, the tour will explore the building’s original materials and construction methods alongside the layers of change that have accumulated over nearly three centuries. Participants will encounter the physical evidence that tell the story of both craftsmanship and survival, and that now inform careful decisions about stabilization, repair, and restoration.
At the same time, the course will examine the complex challenge of making a pre-code structure safe and accessible for the public today. Discussions will include strategies for addressing structural integrity, fire safety, and means of egress; integrating accessible routes and vertical circulation; and upgrading building systems, all while preserving the character and authenticity that give the building its meaning. The tour will highlight how design professionals thoughtfully balance regulatory requirements, occupant safety, and long-term performance with a deep respect for historic fabric.
By acknowledging contemporary considerations within the lived history of the building, this tour will underscore the architect’s role as both problem-solver and steward, ensuring that places of cultural significance remain not only preserved, but safe, inclusive, and alive for future generations.
Learning Objectives
1. Reflect on and share how encountering a building that has stood for nearly three centuries can evoke a sense of continuity, craftsmanship, and human connection across time.
2. Identify how historic construction methods and materials in the Van Ostrande-Radliff House influence structural behavior, fire resistance, and overall building performance.
3. Evaluate how the building’s evolution over time, including additions and alterations, affects current life safety conditions such as means of egress, hazard exposure, and occupancy considerations.
4. Explain how building codes, life safety requirements, and preservation standards are applied and balanced in the rehabilitation of a pre-code historic building.
5. Assess how preservation and adaptive reuse contribute to occupant health, safety, and welfare by extending the life of existing buildings, conserving resources, and maintaining meaningful connections to place.
Design & Honor Awards Celebration
The AIA Eastern NY Design Awards is a local awards program honoring our members, highlighting the excellence of their creations and bestowing on them the much deserved recognition for their remarkable contributions to the built environment.
Join us on June 23, 2026 at Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy on June 23, 2026.
Tickets will be available for purchase soon.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to take part in a complimentary tour of the newly renovated Troy Savings Bank Music Hall prior to the event.
Architecture Week 2026
Architecture Week celebrates the profession of architecture and invites everyone—especially K-12 students—to explore architecture and design. We all play key roles in educating and inspiring the next generation of architects. Let's build the pipeline together.
Thank you to our 2026 Architecture Week sponsors, The AIA College of Fellows and Committee on Architecture for Education.
AIA Brooklyn ARE Study Group - PjM
AIA Brooklyn’s ARE Study Sessions are complimentary and open to members of AIA Eastern NY!
Get ready to dive deep into the world of architecture and engineering with virtual AIA BKEP ARE Study Sessions - knowledge awaits
Sign up to share your study notes & run discussions on the Division subject of your choice/exam focus, to get various perspectives on the exam material as you study for your exams!
This session AIA Contracts. It will be the second of two sessions on this.
AIA Brooklyn ARE Study Group - PcM
AIA Brooklyn’s ARE Study Sessions are complimentary and open to members of AIA Eastern NY!
Get ready to dive deep into the world of architecture and engineering with virtual AIA BKEP ARE Study Sessions - knowledge awaits
Sign up to share your study notes & run discussions on the Division subject of your choice/exam focus, to get various perspectives on the exam material as you study for your exams!
This session AIA Contracts. It will be the first of two sessions on this.
AIA Eastern NY Annual Meeting
2025 Annual Meeting and Election of 2026 Officers and Directors.
Tour of NYS Capitol
Approved for 1 LU/HSW
The New York State Capitol has been the seat of the New York State government for over a century. This magnificent building was completed in 1899 and took over 32 years to complete.
The Capitol was designed by four different architects- Thomas Fuller, Leopold Eidlitz, Henry Hobson Richardson, and Isaac Perry. Many different architectural styles can be seen throughout this building including Italian Renaissance, Gothic, Moorish, and French Renaissance.
The tour will visit the Senate and Assembly Staircases, the Great Western Staircase, the Senate and Assembly Chamber Galleries, as well as the Governor’s public Reception Room, to name most of the tour destinations. We will learn about how much the Capitol cost to construct, why it took so long to build, and of course the design and architecture that makes it the revered National Historic Landmark it is today.
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the history and architectural design of the New York State Capitol, focusing on recent restoration efforts;
Evaluate the architectural challenges involved in restoring the Capitol while also accommodating the needs of modern New York State government;
Breakdown the techniques and special fabrication processes used in recent restoration projects including: stone carving, hand-made & hand-painted art glass, decorative terra cotta roofing, monumental skylights, restoration stone cleaning, and ornamental interior metalwork;
Illustrate the procurement process of consultant engineers and architects
Alice Dodge Wallace '38 Center for the Performing Arts Tour
Approved for 1.5 LU/HSW
Founded in 1814, The Emma Willard School in Troy, New York is a national leader in education for young women. Its landmark campus balances Jacobean Revival and contemporary architecture within a historic landscape designed in part by the Olmsted Brothers. Annum’s Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts transforms the historic chapel (originally built as a gymnasium), giving it a third life as a 495 seat theater and community gathering space, and connecting it to a new below-grade wing with orchestra, theater and dance spaces, as well as a habitable green roof.
Join us for a complimentary tour of this facility during which we will discuss:
•Annum’s design process, and the balance of architectural heritage with contemporary design
•Designing for the performing arts: planning, technology and acoustics
•Landscape design on a historic campus, and its influence on the arts wing roof
•Structural challenges and solutions in the adaptive reuse of the historic chapel
•Preservation methodologies and techniques for the historic chapel exterior
•Challenges and solutions for sustainability in MEPFP systems upgrade
•Designing for accessibility within a heritage structure
KIPP Tech Valley HS Tour
Over the past few years since the addition of the Albany Community and Troy Prep Schools, KIPP has grown from two to seven schools serving students across the Capital Region. To better support the growing KIPP community, CSArch led a planning study in January 2021 to develop options for a new high school. After a survey to parents in the spring of 2023 revealed an overwhelmingly positive response to the possibility of a space for all “KIPPsters” in grades 9-12, the goal to create KIPP Capital High School became an exciting reality.
Since March 2023, CSArch has led the charge for the design and construction of the brand-new high school building on the site adjacent to the existing KIPP Tech Valley Primary and Middle School. With capacity for up to 800 students, the three-floor, 95,980 SF building will include general classrooms, art and music classrooms, science labs, computer, media and innovation labs, a large gymnasium and fitness center, student support suite, and administrative offices. To maximize flexibility and adaptability, the cafeteria and learning stair will serve as the community-centering focal point of the building, providing support for large or small gatherings, presentations, and school performances.
Upon completion in July 2025, the new high school will offer a safe, engaging, and innovative educational experience for all KIPPsters.
It is next door to the current KIPP Tech Valley Middle School at 400 Northern Boulevard Albany, NY 12210. There is parking in the rear of the building.
Approved for 1 LU/HSW
Registration is limited to 20 participants.
Registration is complimentary for members of AIAENY
Tour Roots Grow Center – Adaptive Reuse and Sustainable Design in Practice
This complimentary tour is only available to attendees of the Design and Honor Awards Reception.
Explore the multi-phase transformation of Capital Roots’ headquarters through an architectural tour of Capital Roots in Troy, NY. Beginning with the vision behind Phase 1, participants will learn how the project embodies Capital Roots’ mission to nourish healthy communities with access to fresh food and green spaces for all.
Phase 1 involved the adaptive reuse of a former manufacturing building at 594 River Street into a vibrant, accessible hub. Emphasis was placed on cost-effective sustainable solutions, including solar power, green roofs, permeable paving, bioretention gardens, and a functional water-harvesting silo that also serves as a striking design feature. The design team maximized natural light, reused original building materials, maintained operable windows and high ceilings, and created an open floor plan to support movement, communication, and a healthy workplace—all while avoiding the need for an elevator through creative accessibility solutions.
Phase 2 expanded on this vision with the construction of a new facility to increase food production capacity. The new building incorporates sustainable materials and systems, including daylighting strategies, a photovoltaic roof, and stormwater management features to protect the Hudson River. With a larger commercial kitchen, indoor market, and community gathering spaces, the center continues to support the organization’s mission and deepen its impact across the Capital Region.
This tour will highlight how adaptive reuse, green technology, and mission-driven design can come together to create healthier, more sustainable communities.
Learning Objectives:
Analyze how adaptive reuse strategies contribute to sustainable design while enhancing public and nature’s health through reduced construction waste, improved indoor air quality, and preservation of historic materials.
Evaluate the impact of integrated green infrastructure—including green roofs, permeable paving, stormwater management, and solar energy—on site performance, energy efficiency, and the environmental health of surrounding communities.
Identify cost-effective design solutions that prioritize occupant well-being, such as maximizing daylight, utilizing natural ventilation, and creating accessible, movement-friendly environments without reliance on complex mechanical systems.
Demonstrate how architecture can support community health and equity by aligning with the mission of organizations like Capital Roots to provide access to fresh food, green space, and inclusive gathering spaces for underserved populations.
Approved for 1 LU/HSW
Designing for Human Centric Lighting
Presented at Hippo's Showcase Home in Voorheesville, this presentation seeks to provide guidance on how to take a human-centric approach to lighting design, and understand the key design considerations including lighting quality, natural light, and personalized controls.
The house is complete with Lutron Ketra, programmed to follow circadian rhythm. Having this CEU in a residential environment should make for an informative (and enjoyable) event.
1 LU
Complimentary Registration: Click here
Doing Business with Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
DASNY leaders and attendees will engage in a series of presentations about upcoming projects, organizational updates, and opportunities to provide professional consulting services. Opening remarks will be given by DASNY President & CEO, Robert Rodriguez.
AIA New York State members are invited to attend at the ACEC New York member rate, using code DASNYAIA at checkout.
University at Albany College of Nanotechnology, Science and Engineering (Former Albany High School) Tour
A long-standing educational landmark in Albany’s midtown, the 129,000 square foot, Neoclassical building originally served as Albany High School from 1913 to 1974. After the high school moved to its current location on Washington Avenue, the building housed Philip Schuyler Elementary School before the University at Albany purchased the property in 2013. During that 100-year period, the building retained most of its original character and charm, including the historic corridors, exterior envelope, entry foyers, stairwells, skylights, and the building’s 1200-seat auditorium.
In 2016, UAlbany announced plans to embark on a multi-phased, comprehensive renovation and adaptive reuse of the former Albany High School. Once complete, the building would house the University’s new College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) to provide state-of-the-art educational, lab, and research facilities for engineering and computer science programs. Led by CSArch as the architect and engineer-of-record, the design focuses on restoring and preserving the most distinguishable features of the original building while creating state-of-the-art spaces for cutting-edge research and academic programming to take place.
The recently completed phase of the project restored the south wing, which encompasses approximately half of the building’s 129,000 square feet. Construction of the $85 million project will now shift to a comparable renovation of the north wing and restoration of the historic auditorium in the sixth and final phase of the project, which is expected to be complete in 2027. Upon completion, the project will achieve LEED Gold certification and expand the size of UAlbany's downtown campus by about 40 percent, while simultaneously serving as a testament to the city's rich history.
We will be touring the completed wing of the building and the wing that is currently under construction. Please be sure wear appropriate attire and provide your own hard hat.
Street parking is recommended as the nearby campus lot requires a UAlbany-issued parking pass.
Submitted for 1 LU/HSW
Registration is limited to 20 participants.
Registration is complimentary for members of AIAAENY