Located about 150 miles north of Manhattan, on the east bank of the Hudson River, the city of Troy, New York, was once an industrial giant. It led the nation in iron production throughout much of the nineteenth century, and its factories turned out bells and cast-iron stoves that were sold the world over.
Lansingburgh is a neighborhood in the north end of Troy. It was first laid out in lots and incorporated in 1771 by Abraham Jacob Lansing, who had purchased the land in 1763. In 1900, Lansingburgh became part of the City of Troy.
The building's history goes back over a century, its cornerstone laid in November 1899. It housed the St. Augustine Academy until 2016.
After the school closed due to financial hardships the building was bought by a Canadian company with a vision to turn it into apartments. The adaptation project was taken on by the local architectural firm Harris A. Sanders Architects. New York firm Kool Instincts was commissioned for the interior design.
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The St. Augustine School Building was designed by a prominent local architect Marcus F. Cummings. The style is collegiate gothic with neo Romanesque influences.
The firms of H. M Cummings designed other important buildings in the region. Pictured are the county courthouse Troy, Public School No. 14, Troy Female Seminary, and Emma Willard School, Troy.
The developers and designers shared the mission of preserving the exterior as well as interior architecture of this iconic building. Among other things the windows were restored to their original design. In the interior too, efforts of preservation are noticeable. The original tilling in the hallway was left untouched and so were the wainscoting on the walls. Even the blackboards were left untouched in some of the residences.
