Delaware & Hudson Railroad Building

Presently home of the Administration Building of the State University of New York (SUNY) System, the former headquarters of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad (D&H) was erected in between 1914 and 1918. The building later housed government offices until it was purchased by the SUNY system in 1972. Designed by architect Marcus T. Reynolds in the Flemish Gothic style, it is commonly known as the "D&JH Building" or "The Castle" for its castle-like appearance. Notable features include the numerous Gothic arches and decorative elements, the central tower, and the turrets. It is sometimes mistaken for the state capitol given its size and grandiose appearance.

Two years before the D&H Building was erected, the city commissioned studies to develop plans for downtown Albany. One idea was to develop the area at the eastern end of State Street between Broadway and the Hudson River with a long office building that would block the view of railroad tracks and create a visual "terminus" for State Street. The D&H Railroad seized the opportunity to build a new office building to replace the previous one which had become inadequate. The company hired Reynolds, who by then had established himself as a leading Albany architect.

The D&H Building is his best-known work. A reinforced steel and concrete structure, it was built in stages. The central tower and north section were constructed in 1914-1915 and the southern section and was erected in 1915-1918. In 1916-1918, the Albany Evening Journal built an addition on the southern section. The owner of the newspaper was powerful political figure William Barnes, who used his publication to support Republican policies. He lived in an apartment on the upper floors of the south tower.

The D&H Railroad and the Albany Evening Journal eventually vacated the building. The SUNY bought it in 1972 to be its headquarters and moved in after five years of renovation. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. In 2020, it was renamed the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building after the former chairman of the SUNY board of trustees, Carl McCall.

"Honoring a True Visionary Leader." SUNY. February 2020. https://www.suny.edu/features/mccall-building.

Liebs, Chester H. "Delaware & Hudson Railroad Building." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 16, 1972. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75316205.

"System Administration HQ." The State University of New York. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.suny.edu/about/state-university-plaza.