Paterson Arts Center
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Phinney Design Group, with Jonathan Haynes as architect and project designer, Environmental Design Partnership, and acoustician Sam Berkow are the team designing and planning the Paterson Arts Center (working-draft title).
Vision
The vision is to create a beautiful oasis for recording, music, and art on the Paterson’s property in the heart of upstate New York. It will include housing for musicians, support for recording sessions, and house artwork, all with respect for the environment and a rural quality of life. Currently, there are two homes on the property. The vision is to build a music studio/art barn and, later, 1-3 modern cabins.
PAC began as a concept in 2024 after the passing of Robert’s parents, visual artists Tony Paterson and Eleanor Cohen. The Patersons were from Boston and Buffalo, and they retired to Saratoga Springs. Tony was a bronze sculptor, and Eleanor Cohen was an oil painter.
Tony Paterson’s sculptures are currently displayed in an outdoor sculpture garden, with more to be added over the coming years.
It was Robert’s parents’ wish to create a proper home for their art on the property they loved. This property offers a magical sanctuary for their art and for musicians to compose, record albums, and create beautiful music.
Interesting background: many generations of Robert’s side of the family have lived in New York State since the late 1800s, including Albany, Rensselaer, Troy, North Greenbush, and Defreestville, and over 100 relatives are buried in cemeteries throughout the Capital Region. Tony was born and grew up in Albany, Defreestville, and North Greenbush. Some of Robert’s relatives are also buried in nearby military cemeteries. Robert’s father fought in the Korean War, and his great-grandfather was one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.
The idea was conceived by composer Robert Paterson and violinist Victoria Paterson, who have lived on this property and have called Saratoga home since 2018. Robert is also a record producer and executive producer for their two boutique record labels, American Modern Recordings and Lumiere Records.
Robert is a lifelong vegan and an advocate for animals and the environment, celebrating the natural world. Explore his music: Triple Concerto,A New Eaarth,Listen, and I Go Among Trees.
Key Facts
- Quiet – The studio will be 100% sound-proof, ensuring there is no outside noise during indoor sessions. Sam Berkow is our acoustician every step of the way, having sound-engineered Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mickey Hart’s (of The Grateful Dead) private studio, and much more.
- Small Scale – @ 10,000 square feet, over 50% of the square footage consists of a basement and storage for this historic art collection and musical instruments, as well as offices for Robert and Victoria.
- Environmentally Responsible – Designed with Phinney Design Group and Environmental Design Partnership to protect wildlife, wetlands, and tranquility. The facility will be LEED-certified, Net Zero, powered by solar and geothermal energy.
Impacts
- Economic Growth – Stimulate job growth in the region: some examples: employing builders (Phinney, contractors, and many more workers), groundskeepers (lawn care, plowing, gardens, landscaping, overall property maintenance), hiring staff, musicians, producers and recording engineers.
- Local Partnerships – Employing local trusted design, planning, and environmental experts, Phinney Design Group & EDP.
- Cultural & Financial Benefits – Bringing internationally recognized musicians to the region, who in turn spend their dollars when visiting the Town of Saratoga, Schuylerville, and Saratoga Springs.
- Housing artists – The Patersons currently house musicians/artists on the property during their festival every June. Later phase: build up to three modern cabins to alleviate an ongoing housing issue for visiting artists and musicians. PAC serves a need: a chronic lack of affordable housing options for visiting musicians to the area.
Artists who stayed at the property and invigorated the region in 2025:
- Bass player, New York Philharmonic
- Concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera
- Principal trumpet player, New York City Ballet
- Principal tuba player, New York City Ballet
- Pianist from Nice, France’s Zodiac Festival
- Drummer with Foreigner, Evanescence, and Norah Jones
- Singers from Opera Saratoga
- Japanese sculptor, who works for Jeff Koons: restoration, preservation, and caretaker of Tony Paterson’s historic collection
- 60’s folk band Peter, Paul, and Mary: family getaway
- Mostly Modern’s Staff & Board: special work retreats, as well as regular home office
- Percussionist extraordinaire from Mexico City, practice & performance retreat
- Countless others who aren’t as famous!
Timeline
- Spring, 2025: first public meetings with the Planning Board.
- July 16, 2025: First professional outdoor sound study to measure outdoor decibel levels with members of the Town of Saratoga Planning Board, Brandon Ferguson from Environmental Design Partnership, and acoustician Sam Berkow from Henderson Engineers.
- August 11, 2025: Town of Saratoga Planning Board review and unanimous approval of site plans for compliance with local zoning codes, ensuring we address factors like traffic, drainage, septic, utility installation, and lot configuration.
- September 8, 2025: Public meeting with the Town of Saratoga Zoning Board.
- September 17, 2025: Public site visit, second professional outdoor sound study, and building height balloon test. This second sound study was an opportunity for everyone to meet, explore, get a sense of the exact height of the recording studio, its precise location, and the privacy on over 19 acres.
- November/December 2025: A traffic study was conducted by Creighton-Manning. The sound study is being updated, and new plans and language are in progress to address issues. (Note: without outdoor performances, the outdoor sound study is being phased out.)
- 2026: PAC is in its early planning stages. The team is exploring and creating brand-new designs and modifications over the coming months and years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the timeline?
2027-2037 window.
What is the area like? How close are neighbors?
The studio is in a rural area, in the middle of a giant field, located on over 19 acres. No neighbors are within 600 feet of the studio. The closest neighbors are 669 feet from the studio and they love music. Any other neighbors are 881 feet to 1,194 feet away, a 1/4 mile away, 1/2 mile away, and literally miles away.
What is the capacity?
Recording sessions (which are entirely private and indoors) will have 4-12 people on average, including the owners and staff.
What Will Be the hours of operation?
Visits available by appointment only.
What is a comparable studio?
Singing River – at Abeshouse Studio
What kind of music will be recorded?
We welcome all genres, but primarily acoustic classical music.
How many Outdoor concerts will take place?
None. This will be an indoor-only space, meant for recording sessions and the display of paintings and sculptures.
I heard there will be an amphitheater.
Since this will be an indoor studio, the small outdoor seating area in the first drafts have been removed.
Is the studio soundproof?
The studio is 100% sound-proof. It will be a double-walled building. No indoor sound will be heard outside, and vice versa. This is required for a state-of-the-art recording studio, essentially a building within a building.
The studio and homes will have Mînut sound and occupancy monitors. We will always have proper staff working at the studio. Two professional sound studies were completed in 2025, and outdoor decibel levels were well below town decibel limits at the property lines. Note that these studies were conducted for potential outdoor performances, and it has since been determined that there will be no outdoor performances.
What about traffic?
Creighton Manning, one of the region’s top civil engineering firms, located in Albany, NY, was hired to conduct a traffic survey in November 2025. This information will be used to determine the impact of current traffic.
What about parking?
Parking will be behind trees, out of sight of Burke Road and County Route 68. Large trees and gorgeous landscaping will be planted to provide even more privacy. Note that the Planning Board initially recommended 51 paved parking spaces. With a redesign and no outdoor performances, there will be significantly fewer parking spaces.
What about the environment?
Everything from the septic system to groundwater runoff, to the energy the building uses, is being planned and designed by Environmental Design Partnership and Phinney Design Group to ensure the surrounding environment is not harmed. The facility will be LEED-certified, Net Zero, powered by solar and geothermal energy.
What about Airbnb?
The Patersons have two homes on their property and rent them out periodically. In addition, they house family members, friends and musicians for holidays and various projects, primarily for 3-4 weeks each June during their festival.
Why not just build in Victory or Schuylerville?
This is their forever home. They do not own land elsewhere, nor do they have the means or any interest in moving. They absolutely love this property and living in the Town of Saratoga!
Is this the new site for the Mostly Modern Festival?
No, Mostly Modern Festival takes place at the Arthur Zankel Music Center every June.
I want to know more. How can I visit?
Come out for a home studio and property tour. Reach out here to learn and connect!
