For some time, we at Buffalo Rising offices downtown have watched the building on the adjacent corner transform from unoccupied eyesore to yet another one of downtown's hip, rustic office buildings. The 5-story was renovated with the help of Savarino construction, but the design and engineering was done in-house by Watts staffers.
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(Edward Watts addresses the press and Watts employees. From left to right, Mayor Brown, Ed Watts, Sam Savarino.)
Ed Watts' company was previously located in Amherst, but outgrew space demands. After a comprehensive search for a sufficient location downtown, they settled on the building at 95 Perry St. "Our new building satisfies all of our needs including parking as well as storage. Employee response has been overwhelmingly positive," Watts said. Watts' firm employs 75 people, including of a variety of specialty consultants, licensed engineers, registered architects, scientists, and technicians.
(The lobby of the Watts building, infused with brick, modern exposed pipe, and plant-life)
Six of their staff are accredited by LEED®, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professionals. Their environmental influence is evident in the building, which utilizes green technology.
The building itself is a former warehouse, a member of several buildings that were almost destroyed. "We've put new wine in old bottles," stated Sam Savarino, president of Savarino Construction. "These buildings were worth saving." Certainly the Cobblestone District has improved vastly in just a few short years, and Savarino has been a big player in that improvement.
(A view of the desks and modern-themed office.)
The $20 million project was completed with the help of Buffalo Place, and is now home to 300 employees among several companies in the building, including Empire State Development, First Niagara, and Key Community Investment Corporation.
(Left to right: Michael Schmand, Edward O. Watts Jr, Mayor Brown, Edward O. Watts, Sam Savarino.)
In the past two years, downtown Buffalo has become the home to companies like BlueCross BlueShield, New Era Cap, and Labbatt Blue. Moves like this act as a precedent for future businesses looking to settle in downtown.
Ed Watts' company was previously located in Amherst, but outgrew space demands. After a comprehensive search for a sufficient location downtown, they settled on the building at 95 Perry St. "Our new building satisfies all of our needs including parking as well as storage. Employee response has been overwhelmingly positive," Watts said. Watts' firm employs 75 people, including of a variety of specialty consultants, licensed engineers, registered architects, scientists, and technicians.
(The lobby of the Watts building, infused with brick, modern exposed pipe, and plant-life)
Six of their staff are accredited by LEED®, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professionals. Their environmental influence is evident in the building, which utilizes green technology.
The building itself is a former warehouse, a member of several buildings that were almost destroyed. "We've put new wine in old bottles," stated Sam Savarino, president of Savarino Construction. "These buildings were worth saving." Certainly the Cobblestone District has improved vastly in just a few short years, and Savarino has been a big player in that improvement.
(A view of the desks and modern-themed office.)
The $20 million project was completed with the help of Buffalo Place, and is now home to 300 employees among several companies in the building, including Empire State Development, First Niagara, and Key Community Investment Corporation.
(Left to right: Michael Schmand, Edward O. Watts Jr, Mayor Brown, Edward O. Watts, Sam Savarino.)
In the past two years, downtown Buffalo has become the home to companies like BlueCross BlueShield, New Era Cap, and Labbatt Blue. Moves like this act as a precedent for future businesses looking to settle in downtown.
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The transformation of 95 Perry St. has been amazing to watch over the last year. Also on a smaller scale the converison of the old terminal building into WJ Morrissey's on Mississippi Street is another incredible development as well. Excellent news for the Cobblestone District..