Period
1812
Fort Orange Club
HISTORICAL LEGACY
The Fort Orange Club of Albany was founded in 1880 in a federal period mansion that was constructed in 1812. The original mansion has expanded and undergone many renovations as the number of club memberships increased over the years. By 1900, the club had expanded with both east and west wings which included dining facilities, additional hotel guest rooms, a second-floor kitchen, billiard room and a large first floor lounge. In 1932, an athletic wing was added including a swimming pool, sauna, weight room and squash courts.
FORT ORANGE CLUB – WEST LOUNGE
Project Overview
MCWB was hired to provide design and construction documents for the renovation of the West Lounge. This involved research, documentation, and preparation of a design scheme; integrating historic elements from the 1880’s Queen Anne period (when the room was an outdoor porch) and the turn-of-the-century Arts and Crafts period (when the room was renovated by the noted Albany Architect Marcus Reynolds) with contemporary hospitality facility requirements.
Work included a new copper roof, excavation of the crawl space for construction of a new mechanical room, new mechanical and electrical systems, and a new floor structure.
Design
All aspects of the decorative interior finishes were carefully considered to unify the various elements of the space.
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New chandeliers were designed using the language of the existing original 1905 period Gustav Stickley wall sconces, which were carefully restored.
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Reproduction furnishings and lamps were selected from American Arts and Crafts designers including Stickley and Charles Limbert.
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Original Queen Anne period Windsor chairs found in the club were reproduced for the room.
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Decorative wall stenciling in patterns of gold and silver were designed for the walls, accented with stenciled panel motifs of a vase with tulips symbolizing the Dutch origins of the City of Albany.
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Window curtains were designed using woven decorative wool fabric designed by noted English Arts and Crafts designer; William Morris.
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Oriental rugs were selected to work with individual seating arrangements within the room.
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A fine collection of original Saddler etchings owned by the club and scattered around the facility, were assembled and displayed within the panels of the perimeter walls.
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A decorative laylight and skylight was integrated into the south end of the room, to reintroduce natural light where windows had been removed for the previous addition.
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The laylight was designed with a repeating pattern of hand painted amber glass of historic Albany images from various sources.
Realization
The West Lounge integrates many new and historic elements into a highly decorative unified design scheme and is now a popular site for parties and receptions, both for club and public use.
FORT ORANGE CLUB – ATHLETIC CENTER
Project Overview
The Fort Orange Club hired MCWB to add an addition to the club that housed an expanded athletic facility. The design of the expansion was contextually inspired picking up on the scale, window shapes, and materials used in the original buildings as well as patterned brickwork used elsewhere in the neighborhood. Site work involved new parking lots and a new monumental masonry & wrought fence streetscape, designed to be contextual with and to unify the campus setting.
Research & Documentation
Extensive site planning included the development of a new streetscape along Washington Avenue to screen the expanded parking area. A traditional brick with limestone trim pier and wrought iron fence scheme was designed to tie together the traditional buildings from the Fort Orange Club Complex.
Realization
Along with the Athletic Center expansion, the rehabilitation of the existing athletic facilities and new two-story addition with a mezzanine level was realized. The addition is tucked behind the original mansion located on Washington Avenue and defines itself through its unique diagonal diapering pattern, a traditional Dutch patterning style, while still maintaining sensitivity to the rhythm of the original athletic wing.
The program and new expansion include:
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A new multipurpose group fitness space that can be adapted to varying uses along with two state-of-the-art squash courts meeting all of the current World Squash Court Federation specifications.
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An elevator and handicap facilities making the entire athletic wing ADA compliant.
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A new massage space and cool down room on the first floor
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Lounge & juice bar
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Mezzanine loft for viewing squash games
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A lobby and reception desk at the entry
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An expansive fitness center adapted from the original squash courts
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Additional storage spaces
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Renovated pool
