Project Overview
Restoring New York State Capitol’s Grand Staircase – The Eastern Approach
The Office of General Services has embarked on a project to rehabilitate the New York State Capitol’s historic Eastern Approach, north and south promenades, executive drive, and east portico. The project will reopen the grand staircase to the public and ensure it will withstand inclement weather and be preserved for future generations.
Known as “The Eastern Approach,” the monumental grand staircase, which rises from East Capitol Park to the Capitol’s second floor, has been closed to the public for nearly a decade due to structural damage caused by water infiltration. The staircase began to show signs of instability and deterioration in the 1920s. In the 1950s, the structure was supported from the interior with concrete piers. Over the following decades, moisture saturation and movement caused by the freeze-thaw cycle continued to fuel deterioration.
The restoration project will integrate the reuse of existing materials and blend traditional and modern construction techniques throughout the rehabilitation process.
The scope of work includes:
- Reconstruction of the stairs, balustrades, and retaining walls to protect against water damage and structural instability.
- Installation and replacement of weatherproofing and storm drainage systems.
- Cleaning, pointing, and repair of stone and granite elements.
- Removal and reconstruction of deteriorated landings and basement floor.
- Fitting of new windows, transoms, and doors that match the originals, as well as ladders to provide access between basement levels.
- Preservation of the historic lamp standards.
Upon completion in 2028, the stairs will be reopened to the public.
Project 47331 Plans and Specs Now available
Bids to Be Received October 23, 2024
STATE FINANCE LAW §§ 139-J AND 139-K
Procurement Lobbying Designated Contact
Under State Finance Law §§ 139-j and 139-k, this solicitation includes and imposes certain restrictions on communications during the procurement process. If you have any questions concerning this procurement, please reach out to the project's Designated Contact: Catherine Skaczkowski, Division of Contract Management, at (518) 474-0203. Further information about these requirements can be found on the Advisory Council for Procurement Lobbying website.
National Historic Landmark
Reviving the Architectural Heritage of the State Capitol’s Historic Entryway
The New York State Capitol, designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior, stands preeminent among other state capitols. Prominently rising on a hill, the imposing gray granite building was created in an eclectic French Renaissance Revival style. Constructed between 1867 and 1899, the building was the result of two design competitions, a series of different architects, and political, financial, and architectural compromises over three decades.
Appointed in 1883 by Governor Grover Cleveland to oversee the Capitol’s construction, Isaac G. Perry, the “Capitol Commissioner,” laid the foundation for the Eastern Approach, a monumental staircase planned as the building’s main entrance. As it stands today, the Eastern Approach features four successive flights of stairs that start from the center of East Capitol Park and end at the broad entrance of the portico on the building’s second floor. A promenade deck or terrace flanks the staircase, wrapping around the building to connect the north and south porticos.
The Mechanic is surrounded by tools of the trade.
Acanthus leaves swirl across the corbel.
The Manufacturer is a female head encircled with gears to run machines.
On the north wall, a spider is centered in its web that has been spun between flowers.