AMSURE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse | Award of Citation
Phinney Design Group
Located at 31 Woodlawn, this nearly century-old Saratoga Springs landmark was originally constructed in 1926 as the Helitzer Building, a factory producing fine ladies’ dresses. By 1936, it had transitioned into civic use, serving Saratoga County and the City of Saratoga Springs for decades. In 2021, Amsure acquired the 14,000-square-foot building to create its new headquarters, undertaking a careful renovation that balanced preservation with modernization. The deteriorating historic exterior was stabilized and restored while new mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems were installed. Improvements to the thermal envelope and energy-efficient windows enhanced performance without compromising character. Interior reconfiguration introduced a semiopen office plan, conference rooms, and refreshed site landscaping, ensuring the building’s continued relevance through sustainability and thoughtful design.
“Adaptive reuse breathes new life into the existing building. The care taken in rejuvenating its envelope impacts both the inhabitants and the surrounding community.”
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Client: Adirondack Trust
Submitting Firm: Phinney Design Group
Design Team & Consultants: Brennan Drake, AIA, Submitting Architect; Michael Phinney, AIA & Brennan Drake, AIA, Partners-in-Charge; Patrick Piper & Rebecca Zeisel, AIA, Project Architects; Emily MacDougall, Architectural Designer; Rachel Terragnoli, Interior Designer; SB Engineering, Structural; Hesnor Engineering, MEP Engineering
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© Elizabeth Haynes Photography