Type Offices Roof 589 ft (180 m) Height 180 m Opened 1973 | Completed 1966 Floor count 42 Floors 44 | |
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Location Albany, New York, United States Architects Wallace Harrison, Max Abramovitz Similar Empire State Plaza, Albany Pine Bush, USS Slater (DE‑766), New York State Capitol, Albany Institute of History | ||
The Erastus Corning Tower, also known as the Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd Tower or simply the Corning Tower, is a skyscraper located in downtown Albany, New York. Completed in 1966 and sided with Vermont Pearl marble and glass, the state office building is part of the Empire State Plaza. At 589 feet (180 m) and 44 stories in height, it is the tallest skyscraper in the state of New York outside of the city of New York. Erastus Corning 2nd, the building's namesake, was the mayor of Albany for over 40 years from 1941 to 1983. The tower was dedicated to him in March 1983 during his hospitalization. Before that dedication, it was known as the "Tower Building".
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Map of Erastus Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12210, USA
The Corning Tower houses the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of General Services. Two New York State Department of Transportation traffic cameras are located on the building to monitor nearby traffic conditions. From 2000 to 2004, it was the tallest structure in the World Almanac's list of "Other Tall Buildings in North American Cities".
Observation deck
An observation deck is located on the Corning Tower's 42nd floor. It offers expansive views of Albany, the Hudson River, and the surrounding area. Panels below the windows give information about the visible landmarks. The observation deck, however, does not feature a 360-degree view because it has no windows on the west side. A nonstop elevator to the 42nd floor reaches a speed of 26 km/h (16 MPH). The deck is open to the public for free Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors can access the observation deck, by the plaza or concourse levels. Upon taking office in 2010, Governor Andrew Cuomo eliminated that photo ID requirement.