Old Post Office, Albany

The Old Post Office, also known as the United States Government Building, was constructed between 1879 and 1883. Initially, plans for a larger Gothic Revival structure were proposed two decades before its actual construction. However, due to extended time and the high costs associated with land acquisition, these plans were scaled back. Instead, a more modest yet elegant building in the Italian Renaissance Revival style was erected.

The Old Post Office served as Albany's main postal facility until 1972 when postal operations were relocated to larger premises. Despite this move, the building continued to house various federal government offices for a few more years. In 1977, the building became part of SUNY Plaza, the central administrative headquarters of the State University of New York (SUNY). Since then, it has been repurposed for use by SUNY’s central administration.

The architectural significance of the Old Post Office was recognized when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Additionally, it contributes to the historical fabric of the Downtown Albany Historic District, which was added to the National Register in 1980.