SUNY Central Administration Headquarters Fleche
Albany, NY
Original architect
Marcus T. Reynolds
(completed 1915)
Building owner
State University of New York
In collaboration with
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Building description
The State University of New York Administration Headquarters was
originally constructed between 1914 and 1915 as offices for the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad and was known as the D&H Building. The
Flemish revival exterior of the building and the weathervane that turns
235 feet in the air atop the central tower were designed by Albany
architect Marcus T. Reynolds. The weathervane is a replica of Henry
Hudson's ship the
Half Moon, in which he sailed in 1609 to the site
that would become Albany.
The fleche of the SUNY Administration Headquarters consists of an
octagonal base with open tracery and a crocketted spire. The steel
armature of the tracery and spire are clad in sheet copper. The
weathervane, which measures nearly 7 feet in length and 9 feet in
height, is also constructed of copper.
Scope of work
- Guided client engineer to top of spire to allow hands-on access.
- Provided video documentation of conditions at the weathervane and
exterior of the spire.
- Provided measurements of various elements on the exterior and interior
of spire.
- Designed and installed copper cowls to waterproof new access holes at
the copper-clad spire.