Troy Savings Bank Music Hall plans $14M expansion

• From the Times Union of 3/21/24

TROY — The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall plans to invest $14 million in an expansion project that will allow it to hold performances during the summer months, provide additional space for programming, add parking and transform parts of the exterior. 

“I’m excited. It’s a demanding project for us to take on. It’s transformative,” Jon Elbaum, executive director of the music hall, said Wednesday, putting the project price at $14 million. Work could begin in a month with asbestos abatement, Elbaum said. Completion is expected by the end of 2025 with the possibility of the first summer performances in 2026. 

Careful planning has been done to preserve the music hall’s acoustics, which are considered a treasure, and draw performers to the venue for the sake of recording their music. 

Dash Chrisner of Architecture+, a firm based in Troy representing the music hall, said that an acoustical engineer has been hired and is evaluating the project. Each time a step is taken, the impact on the acoustics is considered to ensure the hall is protected from vibrations and sounds from the HVAC equipment and other changes, Chrisner said. 

The Planning Commission began reviewing the project Wednesday night at its March meeting at City Hall. The commission declared itself the lead agency for environmental review. The commission set a public hearing for April 17 at its next meeting. 

Plans submitted to the Planning Commission call for the creation of the Music Hub, the upgrades to the HVAC system to permit summertime performances, and remaking the parking lot across State Street from the music hall, which is located at 30 Second Street.

The music hall’s plans call for making use of the closed banking space. Elbaum said the bank has been empty for about a decade. 

“The Music Hub initiative of the project will involve the alteration of the bank floor, including annex spaces, to establish a flexible suite of rooms that will support performance, instruction and community events,” the application filed with the city states. Plans also call for changing the plaza and entrance into the annex building from Second Street. There also are plans for a new marquee.

Changes would be made to the parking lot to add more parking spaces and improve the landscaping. Chrisner said the music hall is considering running power to the parking lot so it may be used for outdoor events. 

Planning Commission Chairman Roddy Ragan and Commissioner James Rath said they would like to see something done with the parking lot. They pointed out that the lot sticks out due its location at Second and State streets and that it may be better used. 

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