E-Comm Square, Infrared | 05.25.2025
Albany, New York
This infrared black-and-white photo was taken today at the remains of E-Comm Square in downtown Albany.
The buildings along this stretch of Broadway date back to the mid-1800s, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1848. For decades, this row was part of a thriving corridor of commerce and industry, warehouses, storefronts, and later, state offices. In the early 2000s, the property was acquired for a proposed convention center. When plans shifted elsewhere, the site was left behind.
Years of vacancy followed. Roof collapses. Red X placards. Emergency demolitions. Today, the block is mostly silent—its story told through fading signs and photos like this.
Infrared photography reveals what the eye doesn’t catch. Here, the green of spring foliage appears ghostly white, casting the scene in spectral contrast. It’s a reminder of how quickly nature begins to reclaim the built environment once we step away. Weeds rise through concrete. Roots settle in mortar. Decay isn’t dramatic, it’s patient.
The sign still reads “E-Comm Square,” but its function is long gone. All that remains is form, and nature, slowly taking it back.
Originally appeared on www.restorationobscura.com.
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