New York Court of Appeals Building, Albany

The New York Court of Appeals Building, officially known as Court of Appeals Hall, is an elegant stone Greek Revival structure. Built in 1842, the building was designed by Henry Rector, showcasing a classic Greek Revival style that includes capitals and bases of columns modeled after the ancient Greek Temple of Nike Apteros on the Acropolis. This architectural choice reflects the grandeur and solemnity befitting the state's highest court.

Originally named State Hall, the building housed state offices and clerks for the court, which convened in the state capitol. In 1916, these offices were relocated, and the building was remodeled to serve as the home of the Court of Appeals. State Architect Lewis F. Pilcher oversaw the addition of a rear extension, into which the ornate courtroom, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in 1881, was moved from the Capitol's third floor. The courtroom is renowned for its hand-carved oak paneling, intricate furniture, and a striking marble and Mexican onyx fireplace, making it one of the most exquisite governmental chambers of the nineteenth century.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, the Court of Appeals Building is one of seven state supreme court buildings in the United States with such recognition. Rector's design, incorporating all three classical orders in the building's rotunda and utilizing stone arches for ceiling support as an early fireproofing measure, highlights his architectural prowess. This building is one of only two surviving structures known to have been designed by Rector, emphasizing its unique historical and architectural significance.

Situated in a neighborhood characterized by similarly grand buildings, many of which are governmental or institutional and contribute to their historic districts, the Court of Appeals Building stands as a prominent landmark.