Albany County | US Courthouses

Albany County is named for the Duke of York and Albany who later became King James II of England.

surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Schenectady County and Saratoga County

E – Rensselaer County

S – Greene County

W – Schoharie County

Created: November 1, 1683

County Seat:

Albany 1683 – present

County Courthouse – Albany

Location: 16 Eagle Street / Columbia Street

Built: 1912 – 1916

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Hoppin and Koen

Contractor: W L Crow Construction Company

Description: The building faces northwest and is a four story gray colored stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located in the center of Albany. The front of the building has three rectangular openings on the first story. Columns rises from the second to third stories and divide the windows. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the Legislative Chamber is located on the second story. There is a large rectangular interior atrium area with open courtyard. The building houses the County Supreme Court of the 3rd Judicial District.

Old County Courthouse – Albany

Location: 24 Eagle Street / Pine Street

Built: 1881 – 1883

Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson

Contractor: Norcross Brothers

Description: The building faces northwest and is a three story buff colored stone style structure. The building is located in the center of Albany to the south of the courthouse and has a rugged texture, massive stone walls, dramatic semicircular arches, sculptured shapes, deep windows, cavernous recessed door openings and bands of windows. The walls are rusticated Milford granite from Rhode Island with Longmeadow brownstone trim from Massachusetts. The building is noted for the simplicity of its design and care for details, especially its intricate carvings in particular the gargoyles and foliated forms. At the southwest corner is a high square tower with steep roof. The building served as City Hall and the Albany County Court House until the present courthouse was constructed.

Note: Many of the stonecutters who were brought to Albany to work on the capitol were hired to do the details on City Hall. C H Rutan was the superintendent during construction.

County Judicial Center – Albany

Location: 6 Lodge Street / Steuben Street

Built: 2002 – 2005

Style: Modern

Architect: Crandell Associates Architects

Contractor: BBL Construction Services

Description: The building faces northwest and is a four story red and gray colored concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Albany on the southeast side of the courthouse. The entrance is located at the northwest corner with two large arched openings. Narrow concrete belts run horizontally with wider vertical belts. The roof line is flat. he building houses the County Court of the 3rd Judicial District.

Note: The cost of construction was $16,500,000.

County Family Courthouse – Albany

Location: 30 Clinton Street / Chapel Street

Built: 2003 – 2005

Style: Modern

Architect: Clough, Harbour & Associates and Crandell Associates Architects

Contractor: BBL Construction Services

Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the north side of the center of Albany. The northeast front has a semi-circular entrance rising above the roof line and with wide green colored dome. Between the windows on the first and second stories arw white colored concrete panels. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Family Court of the 3rd Judicial District.

Note: In 2012, the county purchased the courthouse from Columbia Developments for $22,800,000.

See: The 3rd Judicial District 3 is located at Castleton-On-Hudson and includes Columbia County, Greene County, Rensselaer County, Schoharie County, Sullivan County and Ulster County.

See: New York Court of Appeal is located in Albany. and the Third Judicial Department of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is also located in Albany.

History: The county was created in 1683. The first courthouse was built in 1740 at Hudson Street and Broadway. The building burned in 1836. The second courthouse was designed by Phillip Hooker and built by Jonathan Lyman of Albany from 1829 to 1832. The building served as City Hall and Albany County Court House. The building was destroyed by fire in 1880. The Albany Savings Bank built in 1875 was purchased by the county in 1898 as the county office building. The third courthouse was the City Hall constructed in 1881 to 1883. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1916. The Judicial Center was constructed in 2002 to 2005.