As an architect, Andrew Allison has spent much of his life traveling around the United States and the world. He’s trekked far from his Pennsylvania roots, studying the best in design and construction that the country has to offer.
Yet Allison said that he has found no region as impressive as the North Country and Hudson Valley corridor.
“As an outsider, I see this as one of the most unique areas of the country,” he said.
He graduated from Pennsylvania State University, with dual degrees in architecture and structural engineering. He worked for prestigious architectural firms both local and throughout the country for over 13 years before starting his own firm, AJA Architecture and Planning in Glens Falls.
Allison and his team are committed to the area and are constantly inspired by the North Country.
“I moved my firm so that we can start bringing jobs to Glens Falls,” he said. The company specializes in creating commercial, residential, and hospitality designs that focus not only on the aesthetics, but the overall experience of the space.
A treasured client is Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, a historic resort in New Paltz. Allison has been the lead architect for the resort for nearly 20 years. His latest accomplishment for the resort is the design of Grove Lodge, the newest accommodation building in the 147-year-history of the resort, and the first new overnight accommodations to be built there in over 100 years.
It was featured in the August edition of Luxury Travel magazine.
Grove Lodge features six guest suites as well as a great room. Surrounded by a fern grove on the northeast side of the property, Allison said he was inspired by the natural setting and incorporated these elements into the design of the lodge: natural stones, reclaimed wood, and other sustainable materials.
In total Grove Lodge is 8,000 square feet and two stories high. It opened in September. Upon entry into each suite, there is a large stone fireplace and locally crafted furnishings. Each bathroom has tile floors and walls, and a large separate bathtub, as well as shower.
The great room is a central meeting area with local artwork, cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, large fireplace and a private stone patio.
Grove Lodge is one of many projects Allison has completed at Mohonk Mountain House over the years. His work at The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House has earned numerous awards, including “Number One Resort Spa in the United States for 2013” by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, and “Number Six Spa in the World for 2013” by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Allison was also recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for his work on the Mohonk Pavilion, a 9,000-square-foot skating pavilion built in 2000.
“Some of the best advice I have been given has come from my clients,” he said. “I take time to listen to them. I think that is very important. Listen to them and understand what their needs are.”
“If you look at other firms, you’ll notice that many of them only have one style,” he said. “That’s not us. We are diverse in our approach to style. Where we remain consistent is in our commitment to designing a great guest experience.”
Next on his list is designing projects both domestically and internationally. He is working on a new five-star hotel in the Adirondacks as well as several local Glens Falls projects: the restoration of the historic Park Theater, the new facilities for the Open Door Mission, and several small improvements for the Glens Falls Civic Center, among others. Their international work also includes several large-scale resort projects in China.
But no matter where his travels take him, Allison always ends up back in Glens Falls.
“I could have lived anywhere and I chose here. I chose to live here over the Rocky Mountains,” he said. “This is such a unique area. Anything you want, you can find it here.”
For more information about AJA Architecture and Planning, visit www.ajaarchitecture.com.