Albany Pump Station, Albany

The Albany Pump Station, originally known as the Quackenbush Pumping Station of the Albany Water Works, is a historic building situated in Quackenbush Square. This large brick structure, constructed in the 1870s and later expanded, is a prominent feature of the area, which also includes the nearby Quackenbush House, one of Albany's oldest buildings.

The main block of the pump station is a two-story, four-by-four-bay brick building topped with a slate-shingled hipped roof. Its west facade is characterized by large elliptically-arched windows, with brick lintels, keystones, and stone sills, separated by broad pilasters. A distinctive red sign reading "Albany Pump Station" adorns the top of the facade, indicating its current function as a brewpub and restaurant.

The building complex includes a later northern extension that matches the original's architectural style. To the south, a two-story brick building that once served as stables adds to the historical ambiance with its rounded windows. Despite extensive renovations to convert the structure into a modern restaurant, the Albany Pump Station retains much of its industrial character. The renovations have cleverly incorporated 40-foot ceilings, creating an expansive and open interior space.

Inside, while little remains of the original pumping equipment, two 20-ton cranes from the building's industrial past have been preserved and repurposed. These cranes were ingeniously used to lift the brewery's serving tanks to their current positions, seamlessly blending historical elements with the building’s new function.