As we approach the opening of the Great New York State Fair we want to take a little time to consider the unique architectural qualities of the fairgrounds. In 1841 New York State held the first state fair in the nation's history. Construction began in 1908 on the first structures for what is now the current fairgrounds. The fair continued to grow and evolve throughout the 20th century and in the middle 1970’s a highly significant, though not hugely visible change took place as the fair started to use their buildings in the off-season, rather than just at the end of summer.
For most of the last century the fair consisted of a series of quite large, and decorative buildings which were constructed almost entirely without any insulation systems, or even means to heat the structures. This was not an issue during the waning summer days when the fair was held. However, it was an extremely limiting factor for how the facility could be used the rest of the year.
In the 1970’s and throughout the 80’s New York state began investing in new roofing, wall insulating systems, as well as mechanical equipment to condition these buildings for use in the off-season. These changes took a facility that while vibrant and exciting for a few weeks in August was otherwise a “white-elephant” for the rest of the year, and turned it into a year round community asset.
It is no coincidence that these changes took place during a time when the State of New York was developing and implementing a state-wide energy efficiency code. The first NYS Energy Code was introduced in 1979. This code, which with updates and revisions, is still in use today and sets minimum energy efficiency standards for new buildings. The current revision is now known as the 2020 Energy Conservation Code of New York State is something our team at Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C. works with on a daily basis.
The energy crisis of the 1970’s significantly raised the general public’s understanding of energy efficiency and the fairgrounds was in a very real sense a laboratory for the application of this new code. New York State was a leader in the nation in implementing a series of requirements for new construction, as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings. This meant that the designs of new buildings had to be conscious of how energy efficient their systems and appliances were going to be. Building designs incorporate these regulations by carefully choosing the correct amount of insulation, and the best heating and cooling system for each building.
As with all existing buildings, the transformation from an unheated seasonal use to year round occupancy involved careful planning to make sure the proper moisture/vapor barriers were installed to protect the fabric of the existing building. This careful detailing is important in any structure, but absolutely vital in an older building that was not originally designed to be conditioned inside. If this is done wrong, humidity and condensation can build up within the wall causing extensive damage.
While these upgrades may not be very noticeable during your visit to the Fair this month, if you attend any gatherings at the fairgrounds during the off season, they make an enormous difference. Dan Fay, Architect, loves to attend Nationals in July with some of his old cars. He is often reminded of the importance of these updates as he wanders through the various buildings at the fairgrounds enjoying not only the old cars but the comfortable air conditioning as he walks through each of these historic buildings.