Albany’s New York State Legislative Hearing Rooms recently underwent $5.2 million in renovations and upgrades. Located at the north end of the Empire State Plaza in the Legislative Office Building, the three hearing rooms are in use nearly year-round by both the Senate and Assembly as well as other state agencies.
In an attempt by state government to become more visible and transparent to the average citizen, a key aspect of the renovations involved incorporating numerous technological upgrades and advancements. The new audiovisual systems allow for digital projection of material on large format monitors for the audience and legislators as well as for enhanced television and radio transmission.
Several aspects of the renovation project were driven by Federal and State mandates. The the Legislative Office Building was constructed in the early 1970s with the Hearing Rooms receiving their last major upgrade more than three decades ago. Seating capacity between the three hearing rooms totals nine hundred.
