137 Front St Schenectady

 Riverside School
 
Riverside School was built in 1923 as an elementary school to accommodate 562 children in kindergarten through sixth grade on property that originally extended to the Mohawk River.  James Baird served as the school’s first principal.  As the 15th school built in the Schenectady City School District, Riverside School was used as an elementary school until 1983 when it closed.  In 1985 the City sold the property to a developer who converted the building into condominium apartments, generally keeping the large former classroom spaces intact for new residential units.
 
Designed in the Neoclassical style popular during the 1920s for public school buildings, the building’s architecture reflects Progressive era ideals and imagery for reform in the public school education system.  The five-bay two-story on raised basement building is faced in deep red-colored brick, laid in a Flemish bond pattern, with light tan Indiana limestone ornamental trim, resting on a limestone base.  The center and end bays project slightly forward of the flanking wings.  The center bay contains the main entrance, which is approached by a set of steps to a porch which contains the entry doors encased in a monumental arch, framed by engaged Tuscan order columns, and surmounted by the school’s name and a balustraded balcony.  Ascending above the balcony, the second floor is marked by a six-part window; above that, the school’s date stone; and, yet further above in the parapet pediment, a roundel containing the seal of the City of Schenectady.  The facades are articulated by brick pilasters with limestone base and cap stones, and ornamented with limestone panels between floors.