Driving Directions

The Education Building is part of the government center in downtown Albany that includes the Empire State Plaza, the State Capitol, the Education Building and Annex, and the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building. The main entrance to the Education Building is at 89 Washington Avenue. It is necessary to have a New York State Education Department photo identification badge to gain entrance to the building. Visitors and NYSED staff who do not have a badge with them are required to obtain a visitor's badge from the building guard in the lobby.

Directions

Northern New York to Albany

1. Drive south on Route 87 (Northway) to I-90 east (Albany/Boston)
2. Drive east on I-90 to the exit for Route 787(Troy/Albany)
3. Drive Route 787 south to Exit 4B (Route 9 North/Clinton Avenue)
4. At the first traffic signal at the bottom of the ramp, take a left turn onto Broadway
5. Continue on Broadway to State Street
6. Take a right turn onto State Street and continue up the hill toward the State Capitol. You'll cross Pearl Street and then come to the State Capitol at Eagle Street
7. At the State Capitol veer toward the right and continue up the hill - this is Washington Avenue
8. At the next traffic signal, take a right turn onto North Hawk Street.  The Education Building's Chancellors Hall (building with columns) is at the corner of North Hawk Street and Washington Avenue. Continue on North Hawk Street to the Education Building Annex which you'll find on the left at the corner of North Hawk and Elk Streets

Southern New York to Albany

1. Drive north on I-87 (Thruway) to Exit 23
2. Drive north on Route 787 to Exit 4 (Downtown Albany, Routes 9 and 20)
3. Follow signs to Clinton Avenue (Route 9 North)
4. At the first traffic signal at the bottom of the ramp, take a left turn onto Broadway
5. Continue on Broadway to State Street
6. Take a right turn onto State Street and continue up the hill toward the State Capitol. You'll cross Pearl Street and then come to the State Capitol at Eagle Street
7. At the State Capitol veer toward the right and continue up the hill - this is Washington Avenue
8. At the next traffic signal, take a right turn onto North Hawk Street.  The Education Building's Chancellors Hall (building with columns) is at the corner of North Hawk Street and Washington Avenue. Continue on North Hawk Street to the Education Building Annex which you'll find on the left at the corner of North Hawk and Elk Streets

Eastern New York to Albany

1. Drive west on I-90 to the exit for Route 787 (Troy/Albany)
2. Drive Route 787 south to Exit 4B (Route 9 North/Clinton Avenue)
3. At the first traffic signal at the bottom of the ramp, take a left turn onto Broadway
4. Continue on Broadway to State Street
5. Take a right turn onto State Street and continue up the hill toward the State Capitol. You'll cross Pearl Street and then come to the State Capitol at Eagle Street
6. At the State Capitol veer toward the right and continue up the hill - this is Washington Avenue
7. At the next traffic signal, take a right turn onto North Hawk Street. The Education Building's Chancellors Hall (building with columns) is at the corner of North Hawk Street and Washington Avenue. Continue on North Hawk Street to the Education Building Annex which you'll find on the left at the corner of North Hawk and Elk Streets

Western New York to Albany

1. Drive east on I-90 (Thruway)to Exit 24
2. Drive east on I-90 to the exit for Route 787 (Troy/Albany)
3. Drive Route 787 south to Exit 4B (Rote 9 North/Clinton Avenue)
4. At the first traffic signal at the bottom of the ramp, take a left turn onto Broadway
5. Continue on Broadway to State Street
6. Take a right turn onto State Street and continue up the hill toward the State Capitol. You'll cross Pearl Street and then come to the State Capitol at Eagle Street
7. At the State Capitol veer toward the right and continue up the hill - this is Washington Avenue
8. At the next traffic signal, take a right turn onto North Hawk Street. The Education Building's Chancellors Hall building with columns) is at the corner of North Hawk Street and Washington Avenue. Continue on North Hawk Street to the Education Building Annex which you'll find on the left at the corner of North Hawk and Elk Streets

Parking Information

Parking in downtown Albany, especially the area around the New York State Education Building and Annex, is difficult. The streets bordering the Education Building and Annex are restricted by parking meters. Within a two-block radius, there are several privately owned parking garages/lots. Within the Empire State Plaza, the State offers parking for a fee. Free on-street parking is available but the closest streets are three to four blocks away.

Street Parking

Visit the Albany Parking Authority for more information

Elk Street Parking Lot

The Elk Street Parking Lot is located at the corner of Elk Street and Swan Street. A limited number of spaces are available at $5.00 per day.

Empire State Plaza Parking

Pay parking is available at the Empire State Plaza which is a 15-minute walk to the Education Building Annex. Costs range from a minimum of $1.00 per hour up to a maximum of $10.00. Additional pay parking can be found at the State parking lots near the Cultural Education Center (State Museum, State Library and State Archives) costing from $2.00 to $7.00. Visa, Master Card and American Express are accepted in all visitor parking lots. 

The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) maintains the following Web pages:

• Directions to the Empire State Plaza
• Visitors' Parking at the Empire State Plaza
• Empire State Plaza Visitor Parking Facilities Map

From the parking lots beneath the Empire State Plaza, take any elevator to the Concourse level. This underground level connects all of the buildings of the Plaza together as well as the State Capitol. Follow signs to the State Capitol which is at the north end of the Plaza. Capitol security now requires all visitors to pass through airport-like scanners. Once through security, continue straight into the tunnel and take the escalator at the end up to the first floor and continue straight ahead, past a post office on the left and a newsstand on the right, to the Washington Avenue exit. A traffic signal marks the intersection of Washington Avenue and North Hawk Street. Cross the street and walk straight ahead along North Hawk Street. The New York State Education Building Annex's main entrance is located at the corner of North Hawk and Elk Streets

Parking Garages/Lots

Privately owned parking facilities aren't easily found near the Education Building and Annex. The Twin Towers Garage is across the street from the Education Building beneath One Commerce Plaza at the corner of Washington Avenue and Swan Street. Call the garage at 518-449-7610 for more information.