No matter what size city you may find yourself in, I always advise looking up when you are first finding your way, because much is missed is you keep your gaze solely at eye level. I must have ignored my own advice for the past few decades, as I never really noticed the beauty atop the Peter D. Kiernan Plaza, which sits right across the street from my office building. Previously operating as Union Station, the building was once where trains arrived and departed from unit the late 1960’s, when it was bought by New York State. Renovated and preserved in the late 1980’s, it was named the Peter D. Kiernan Plaza for the head of Norstar Bancorp (which is still listed on the front of the building).
Sadly, that’s all the historical and architectural Albany info I bothered to investigate. One day maybe I’ll do a deeper dive into what the sculptural elements mean, such as the lion-fronted globes on each corner of the building. I do love a lion sculpture. It’s also a good reminder to myself to look up and see what other treasures are dangling right above us every day. Now that I’m walking more in the milder weather, the world is rising before me. Remember: look up!
