rather than remain in new york city like many of classmates, reynolds returned to albany to begin his professional life. indeed, reynolds' social status and connections helped him significantly when looking for work; many of his high-class family friends became clients. reynolds' first commissions out of college the demolition of the decrepit van rensselaer mansion, which was owned by his cousins. he had much of the original building moved to williams college where it was incorporated into the replacement sigma phi house. the structure was in such bad shape, much of the material was not usable in the new building. his efforts on this project supported his second published work, "the colonial buildings of rensselaerwyck".