Attend
Registration
Full registration:
$395 ($495 after May 15)
Student registration:
$245 ($295 after May 15)
Troy, NY and EMPAC
Troy, New York is nestled in the beautiful Hudson Valley and boasts a revitalizing historic downtown (featured in HBO’s The Guilded Age for its exceptionally-preserved Victorian-era architecture). The city is a remarkable incubator of small businesses, from restaurants to game studios. Its proximity to the state capital, Albany, the larger Capital and Hudson Valley Regions, and major metro areas like New York and Boston make it an attractive place to learn, work, and live.
Perched on the hill overlooking Troy’s vibrant downtown is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The technological research university is the oldest in the US and this year celebrates its bicentennial. Its fields of research span from engineering and astrophysics to game design and cognitive science. One of its more unique facilities is the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC).
EMPAC is dedicated to the ever-changing relationship between our senses, technology, and the worlds we create around us. As both a world-class performing arts center and research and production facility, EMPAC provides an environment that supports the realization of complex artworks and research projects at any stage, from inception to completion. Under a single roof are four exceptional venues: a 1200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theatre, and two large black-box studios. With this variety, the entire conference can be held conveniently in a single facility. The Theatre will host the single-track paper presentations; Studio Beta, smaller, break-out sessions and workshops; and Studio 1, a larger black-box space with a permanent ambisonic array, the evening concert. Studio 2 will also house EMPAC’s immersive environment with a 360º projection screen. The building’s large, central café will function as the primary hub and dining space.
Travel
Air
Albany International Airport
737 Albany Shaker Rd,
Albany, NY 12211
The Albany airport is about a 20 minute car ride from the campus in Troy.
NYC
John F. Kennedy International Airport
LaGuardia Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Boston
Logan International Airport
Train
The Albany-Rensselaer train station is a 20 minute car ride from the campus in Troy. Multiple trains daily from New York’s Moynihan Station in about 2.5h. One train daily from Boston’s South Station in about 5h.
Bus
There are a number of bus services that travel to the Albany area from other major metros. These include Greyhound, Megabus, PeterPan, OurBus. Check their websites for routes, times, and availability.
Accommodations
Check back soon for discounted room blocks at nearby hotels. In addition to these hotels are available a number of Airbnbs around the town and campus.
Best Western Plus Franklin Square Inn Troy/Albany
1 4th St, Troy, NY 12180
Walkable to EMPAC in 10~15 minutes (<1km)
Courtyard by Marriott Albany Troy/Waterfront
515 River St, Troy, NY 12180
Walkable to EMPAC in ~20 minutes (~1.25km)
Hilton Garden Inn Troy
235 Hoosick St, Troy, NY 12180
Walkable to EMPAC in 25~30 minutes (~2km)