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Albany's 'Million Dollar Staircase' to add permanent bust of late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, its first woman

2023-03-14T15:52:00-04:00

Even then, the gender imbalance was glaring. The so-called Million Dollar Staircase, spanning 444 steps and four floors of the New York State Capitol, memorialized the faces of dozens of distinguished figures in delicate carvings, but not one was a woman. Scrutiny prompted a state official to hastily authorize the addition of several women to the staircase’s lower level. The year was 1898.

After 125 years, New York State will make its first new addition, Brooklyn native and late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The carving will be formed from the same Scotland-sourced Corsehill sandstone used for the original stairs. It is expected to cost around $150,000 and complete sometime this spring. The piece will be sculpted by artist Meredith Bergmann.

The Million Dollar Staircase, also officially known as the Great Western Staircase, was carved in place from large blocks of sandstone from 1884 to 1898. It was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and features 78 carvings of distinguished figures from that time. The few faces of women that are present on the staircase seem to serve a more decorative purpose, including babies, goddesses, and the architect’s granddaughter. The six proposed female additions include Susan B. Anthony, novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Civil War nurses.

Large U.S. architecture firm, EYP, files for bankruptcy, may sell to subsidiary of Bitcoin miner

2022-04-29T10:42:00-04:00

U.S.-based firm EYP Architecture + Engineering has filed for bankruptcy due to pressure from debt obligations. The firm, based in Albany, New York, has 11 offices across the United States and employs 470 staff. The firm has filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware owing $149 million in debts.

To address its debt burden, EYP has agreed to a deal to sell itself to Ault Alliance Inc for $68 million. Ault is a subsidiary company of BitNile, a cryptocurrency-focused company which owns and operates its own data center for mining bitcoin, and provides products orientated around disruptive technologies.

Yahoo Finance reports that Ault will make an offer of employment to all current employees of EYP, and that ongoing projects by the firm are not expected to be disrupted by the sale, which is expected to be completed by June 2022.

According to EY...

An army of gamers is building a Minecraft version of New York's state capital

2022-01-21T12:43:00-05:00

Minecraft lovers may soon be able to wander around a virtual Albany. A voluntary group of builders associated with Build the Earth Northeast USA is building the city and other parts of the Capital Region into the game.

The organization is made up of thousands of volunteer gamers who have produced successful virtual versions of other cities distributed across regional networks. Building in the hugely popular MMOG has seen a renaissance of late thanks to a mod intervention which produced construction techniques that lead to the ability for designers to create taller and taller structures using something called cubic chunks. The groups ask applicant designers to construct a virtual Long Island test home as part of their official vetting process.

The Albany build is being overseen by a splinter called Build the Earth Northeast USA. The group says it is currently in the process of constructing the state’s capitol building (itself designed in tandem between 1867 and 1899) and has already finished former Governor Nelson Rockefeller's obsessive dream Empire State Plaza and the marble Erastus Corning Tower and has preparatory plans for the New York State Museum to follow. Project managers say they have st...

The Architectural League announces 2022 Independent Projects Partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts

2021-10-20T12:15:00-04:00

The Architectural League of New York has announced a new pilot partnership with New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) that will help extend the latter’s Architecture + Design Independent Projects program as we approach the new year.

The grantmaking partnership will create opportunities for independent designers based in New York to “creatively explore or research an issue or problem in design fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, community-centered design, fashion, graphic, industrial, and interior design.”

Eighteen grantees in total will be awarded through the League following an application process that selects applications demonstrating a unique ability to “advance the design disciplines and contribute to a broader understanding of design, with an emphasis on artistry and design excellence.”

The grants will provide $10,000 for each project. Applications are due by early 2022. More information about the NYSCA program, including eligibi...

BIG + HKS + MDA unveils Honeycomb resort design for The Bahamas

2014-01-27T15:14:00-05:00

BIG, in collaboration with HKS Architects and Michael Diggiss Architects, revealed their design for the Honeycomb residential building in the beach and golf resort community of Albany in The Bahamas. Commissioned by Tavistock Group and New Valley LLC, the 175,000 ft² (approx. 16,000 m²) residential building will be the tallest structure in Albany, set to become a new centerpiece for the city.

BIG sent us more details on the project right below:

"The façade has a hexagonal pattern that uniquely frames the natural beauty of the Island. The balconies are deep enough to not only provide outdoor spaces, but also summer kitchens and a pool sunken into the balcony of each unit."

"These pools have a transparent edge towards the plaza, eliminating the visual barrier between the pool and the environment. Bathers can be fully immersed in the view of the marina and the ocean beyond."

"Bjarke Ingels: 'Our design is driven by an effort to maximize the enjoyment of the abundant natural qualities of Al...