Buffalo Savings Bank Still Gaining Interest

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Architecture, architecture photography, buffalo, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, buffalo new york, Buffalo Photography, new york, ny, Photography

Amidst the cranes and hope for a new Buffalo, sits wonders created in the past that still shine today. The Buffalo Savings Bank is one of them. This building was completed in 1901 under the guidance of the Green & Wicks architectural firm, centrally located in downtown Buffalo, NY at the intersections of Main, Huron and Genesee Streets. This golden domed building became the center of this area’s banking industry.

Millard Fillmore was among the founding trustees for the bank. Green & Wicks modeled the structure in the classical revival style incorporating the dome, among many other distinct features. Because of the unusual lot size, the building was constructed on three street fronts. The arches and columns, along with it’s significant clock in a carved stone frame, are often over shadowed by the gold leaf exterior dome.

Currently the home of M&T Bank, Buffalo Savings Bank (which eventually became Gold Dome Bank), went insolvent in 1991. In those days if you didn’t run your business properly, you went out of business, no bail outs for them!

There are so many details to this structure, you owe yourself the pleasure of stopping in for a look around! We feature our take on the building in our Buffalo NY gallery, Page 3 and page 5.  You can access High Peaks here: www.highpeaksphotography.com. Enjoy!

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H.H. Richardson Olmstead Complex being brought back to life in Buffalo

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Architecture, architecture photography, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, Buffalo Photography

In late January of this year, another in a series of reuse campaigns was announced in Buffalo, NY. In a joint effort, utilizing state support and private investment, about one third of the massive 480,000 square foot H.H. Richardson complex will be recreated as a boutique hotel, event and conference space and the Buffalo Architecture Center.

The $56.4 million dollar renovation represents yet another re-birth for a great architectural gem from our past. For years this complex has sat empty, many fearing the wrecking ball was the only thing in it’s future. We are now anticipating a three-year project that will bring this campus back to life!

Revitalizing this gem will add another feather in a hat full of distinctive buildings. The addition of the Buffalo Architecture Center, will highlight the ability to bring this 19^th century masterpiece, currently a National Historic Landmark, into 21^st century relevance.

Here’s hoping this will add additional oomph to our tourism efforts to promote our architecture.  Click Here to get an overview of this great project. Of course, we’d encourage you to visit High Peaks Photography for pictures of this and other Buffalo gems.

Buffalo City Hall – The Gateway to Buffalo’s Past, Present and Future

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architecture photography, buffalo, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, Buffalo City Hall, Buffalo Photography, city hall

Constructed between September of 1929 and November of 1931, this impressive 32 story building was built in Niagara Square to be the new “city center”.

Its design was intended to reflect and be a reminder of Buffalo’s past, it’s present and it’s future.  At a cost of nearly $7,000,000,000, this was, at the time, the most costly city center in the country.

The art deco design by Dietel & Wade presents a balanced appeal, allowing for a modern look that blends nicely with the other classical architecture of its neighbors. The John W. Cowper Co. built City Hall. Its interior and exterior reflect the importance of our rich Native American heritage, our position as a gateway to Canada and the Great Lakes and our industrial and agricultural importance at that time.

The building, by all standards and considerations of the time was right sized.  It was capable of housing all of the departments needed to address the needs of a growing metropolis. Today, this same building, still dedicated to providing services to its citizens, is the largest by any city in our country.

You haven’t lived unless you taken a trip to the Observation Deck, some 360 feet above street level.  From this vantage point one can take in the entire city and much of Southern Ontario.

Weekday tours are free and are conducted between noon and 1 p.m.

Check out www.preservationbuffalloniagara.org for more Buffalo Tour info.

Buffalo Central Terminal: Preserving its past is ever present

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Architecture, architecture photography, buffalo, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, buffalo central terminal, Buffalo Photography, ny central terminal

Buffalo Central Terminal was a great example of art deco architecture when it was completed in 1929. The main concourse is 225 feet long, 66 feet wide and 58.5 feet tall. The attached office tower is 15 stories in height or 271 feet.  It’s history includes many scene’s of the separation and re-uniting of WNY families and their loved ones.

Many were off to war an on their way to NYC and beyond. Between 1941 and 1944 railroads carried 98% of all military personnel. Between 1040 and 1945, revenue for passenger miles increased from 23 billion miles to 95 billion! Unfortunately, the reason for their success would also contribute to their downfall. The rationing which occurred on all fronts, gas, machinery, etc.; led to an overwhelming demand for rail services.

The railroads could not  accommodate the demand, their equipment could not withstand the heavy usage and their inability to replace equipment because of the war effort, led to many unhappy customers. Once the war ended and people had their cars back, passenger rail service began it’s quick and a unavoidable decent.

NY Central Railroad was the original owner of the terminal.  Penn Central Railroad took over in 1968 to be followed by Amtrak in 1971. The terminal ceased operations in 1979. In 1997 the Central Terminal Restoration Corp. took possession and began addressing many years of neglect and disrepair.

In 2009 a master plan emerged. The effort to preserve and enhance the physical plant is in place. Over 20 fundraising activities are hosted each year. Dyngus Day and Oktoberfest among the most popular. Plans allow for events, even weddings. There are thoughts of a future rail museum, commerce and light rail/high speed rail expansion in the future. 

Upcoming October events include Halloween Ghost Hunts and Candlelight tours.

Visit www.buffalocentralterminal.org for more event info.  Oh yeah, and buy the damn picture! (you can get it and other Buffalo, NY architecture prints at HighPeaksPhotography.com)

St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church

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Architecture, architecture photography, buffalo, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, Buffalo Photography, Photography

Located on E. Delavan Avenue on Buffalo’s urban east side, this magnificent Renaissance Revival style church was completed in 1911. The architects were Schmill and Gould. Constructed of Indiana limestone, the church held it’s final mass on January 1, 2008.

We’ve touched on re-use in recent blogs, this one takes the cake! Mary Our Queen parish in Norcross, Georgia; (outside Atlanta) is currently raising money, estimated at $16 million dollars, to completely deconstruct the church, ship it to Georgia and reassemble it there. The parish intends on using this for their church of the future. Efforts have been underway for the past four years to make this happen.

You can find out more about this unique re-use project by visiting the following links:

http://www.ajc.com/news/norcross-congregation-buys-buffalo-305194.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-02-03-closing-churches_N.html
http://www.movedbygrace.com/

American Gothic Revival Style Architecture

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Architecture, buffalo, buffalo architecture, Buffalo Architecture Photography, Buffalo Photography, Photography

American Gothic Revival style architecture, a later evolution of the Gothic revival style was prominent in the late 19th century. Many Buffalo, NY builds represent this style. Exterior highlights include using masonry materials to create various decorative and textural contrasts, and these highlights contrasted earlier Gothic designs.

A good local example of this style is St. Louis RC Church. It was erected between 1886 and 1889, on the corner of Main and Edward in downtown Buffalo, NY. Schikel and Ditmar was the architectural firm that designed the church.

Rising 245 feet from the ground, the octagonal steeple, including the 72 foot tall pierced spire, is the only remaining pierced spire in the US. The spire is the tallest open-work spire ever built completely of stone without reinforcement.

Some common internal Gothic components found at St. Louis are its distributive bays, columns, keys and arches. Externally, the church offers a majestic crocket, quatrefoil, pinnacles and finials, in addition to beautiful tracery windows.

Make sure you include this on your must see list when touring our fair city. You can get greater detail on St. Louis by visiting their website; www.stlouisrcchurch.org.