The River House Project reclaims a turn-of-the-century elementary school, meticulously and historically restored to its original glory, to create a stunning and spacious work studio space in the city of Hudson, NY. With a focus on film, media, design and innovation professionals, it is the first such facility in the region. Over four floors of light-filled former classrooms, River House Project serves the region’s growing creative economy by providing offices, studios and creative suites for industry professionals.

After decades of abandonment, River House was brought back to life through co-founders Melissa Auf der Maur’s and Tony Stone’s vision to save the historic building while fostering creativity, culture and collaboration to assure it remains an anchor within the community. This this one-of-a-kind professional workspace allows a growing creative sector to take further root in the region.

River House serves as a model of energy efficiency and exemplary reuse, reconstructed to retain its stately and solid structure as well as much of its historic appointments. It artfully marries cutting-edge technology with elegant, historic architecture.

 
 

The four-floor, southern-facing, 19,000 square-foot building dates back to 1903, and sits on the bluff of Allen Street, overlooking the majestic sweep of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, just steps away from the Hudson Amtrak Station. Over 100 restored windows flood every space with the crystalline light of the iconic Hudson River School skies.

The building was used as an elementary school until the 1960s, and then as a textile assembly site in the 1970s and 80s. The restoration work was undertaken with the utmost care and attention to the historic details of the building. River House honors both the epic and eclectic history of the city of Hudson itself.

The four floors, 5000 square feet each, have studio and office spaces, designed and specially wired for editing suites and post production studios (sound and image) that can be adapted for a project’s specific needs.

FACILITIES & rooms

● Basement: Two studio/office spaces, a co-working common area and screening room (coming February 2020)

● Ground floor: Rotating exhibition space for visiting and local artists (or studio/office space for larger teams), as well as two additional studios/office spaces with shared common kitchen area

● Second floor: Four studio/office spaces with shared common lounge area

● Attic: 4000 square feet of additional, open-floor supportive studio/office space

In addition to short term and long term rentals, River House is available for daily rentals for corporate retreats, photoshoots, conferences and more. Please contact us for a rates and availability.

 
 

River House Project provides filmmakers and other creative professionals the unique opportunity to stretch their legs and work in an environment unlike the traditional editing suite or office space. When River House Project Co-Founders Tony Stone and Melissa Auf Der Maur spearheaded the restoration process, they envisioned a one-of-a-kind, collaborative work environment. Working out of a building filled with other likeminded professionals creates an inspiring atmosphere of productivity and allows teams to strengthen their professional network. As more productions choose to call River House home, the creative industry, both local and global, has a chance to shift in new ways.

Stone and Auf der Maur are in a unique position to be an active part of the many cultural and economic shifts taking place in Hudson. Auf der Maur and Stone have already created an important cultural destination in Hudson, Basilica Hudson, a multidisciplinary arts center supporting the creation, production and presentation of innovative and independent arts and culture while fostering sustainable community. Founded in 2010, Basilica Hudson makes its home in a spectacular solar-powered reclaimed 1880s industrial factory on the waterfront of the historic city of Hudson.

 
 

River House Project provides innovative workspaces for professionals – filmmakers, fabricators, designers, inventors, producers, researchers, writers and architects – seeking offices, studios and creative suites. These facilities allow for an expanded level of creative, professional and experimental activity in Hudson. While serving the growing creative economic resurgence underway in the broader region, River House also provides local residents a way to access and establish themselves within this sector.

In 2017, River House Project was designated a priority project by the New York State Regional Economic Development Council, and was awarded a grant to complete the construction and renovation. The Governor’s Office has also identified the River House Project as a Priority Project within the Downtown Revitalization Initiative awarded to Hudson in 2017.

River House Project has also received generous support from National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization program, as well as the National Parks Service Historic Preservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

River House Project is a NY State Qualified Post-Production Facility. Productions will benefit from NY State Film Tax-Credits (fully refundable credit of 40% of qualified production costs and post-production costs incurred in New York State).