Alfred E. Smith Building Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Alfred E. Smith Building
The Alfred E. Smith Building viewed from the New York State Capitol
General information
Architectural style	Art Deco
Location	Albany, New York, United States
Coordinates	42°39′14″N 73°45′36″W / 42.653986°N 73.75993°W / 42.653986; -73.75993
Completed	1928
Height	387 ft (118 m)
Technical details
Floor count	34
Design and construction
Architect	William E. Haugaard and Sullivan W. Jones

The Alfred E. Smith Building, also known as the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, is a tall building in downtown Albany, New York. It stands right across from the New York State Capitol, which is where the state government works. This building is named after Alfred Emmanuel Smith, who was a very important governor of New York for four terms. He also ran for president in 1928.

The Smith Building is an Art Deco skyscraper, which means it has a cool, decorative style popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It has 34 floors and is about 388 feet (118 meters) tall. This makes it one of the tallest buildings in Albany! It was finished in 1928 and is used for offices by the New York State government.

About the Alfred E. Smith Building
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About the Alfred E. Smith Building

The Alfred E. Smith Building is a famous landmark in Albany, New York. It's a key part of the state government area, located very close to the New York State Capitol. The building was designed by architects William E. Haugaard and Sullivan W. Jones.

It was completed in 1928. For many years, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city. Today, it still stands out with its unique design.

Who was Alfred E. Smith?

The building is named after Alfred Emmanuel Smith. He was a very important person in New York's history. Smith served as the governor of New York four times.

He was also chosen by the Democratic Party to run for president in the 1928 presidential election. Naming the building after him honors his contributions to the state.

Building Features

The Alfred E. Smith Building has some special features that make it unique. One cool detail is that the names of all 62 counties in New York State are carved into the stone around the bottom of the building.

Inside, the main lobby shows off its Art Deco style. There's a large mural (a big painting on a wall) that shows famous New Yorkers. The building is made from strong materials like limestone and granite.

There's even a secret tunnel that connects the Smith Building to the Capitol building. This makes it easy for people working in both buildings to move between them. From the building, you can see great views of Albany and the surrounding area.

What's Inside?

The Alfred E. Smith Building houses many offices for the New York State government. Before a big renovation, the state's Comptroller's Office was located there.

After the renovation, which updated many parts of the building, new state departments moved in. These include the New York State Department of Civil Service, the Department of State, the New York State Banking Department, the New York State Liquor Authority, and the Division of the Budget. These offices help manage different parts of the state's work.

Observation Deck History

When the building was first built, it had an open-air observation deck on the 31st floor. This deck was about 350 feet (107 meters) high. It was a popular spot for people to look out over the city.

However, this observation deck was closed in 1976. This happened when a new, taller observation deck opened in the nearby Erastus Corning Tower. The Corning Tower's deck is on the 42nd floor and is enclosed, offering views from even higher up.