On a recent tour of the Larkin District (stay tuned for more), we stopped in to check out the former bank building being converted to the offices of Young + Wright Architecture. The history of this fine building, and its present rehab, have been well-covered by Chris Hawley at his Hydraulics Press blog, and by BRO's own West Coast Perspective.
We toured all three floors of the building, and as the upper two floors are still empty (to be converted to living space) it provided a great opportunity to capture some of the building's interior spaces...
...and also some great views of the rest of the district:
As we entered the building we encountered some of the folks from Young + Wright Architecture moving in. They not only designed the rehab of the building, but will occupy the first floor. Shawn Wright stopped what he was doing for a moment and showed me around, and covered one of the big questions I've had about the project: why the granite was removed from the front façade. Several good reasons, as it turns out. First, the granite wasn't original to the building (built originally as a grocery), but was added later by the bank. Second, the granite was so well attached, the workmen pretty much has to break it off to work on the building. And third, once it was off, they discovered extra space in the storefront area that had been closed off for decades--and the column in the center. The extra space, which allows in much more natural light, is a huge bonus for an architectural studio.
It will also provide a clear view of all the goings-on in the rapidly revitalizing district. Right across the street is the former Larkin gas station that will be the activity center and hub for the district, along with the district's extreme streetscape makeover which started construction this summer. Having a front-row seat on all that will only enhance the experience of working for a firm that made Buffalo Business First's list of "best places to work."
Earlier in the year, Young + Wright had projected a move-in date of "no later than Labor Day," so they ended up right on schedule. Shawn told me that business is good for their firm, and they are doing well despite the recession. Glad to hear it, Shawn. Good luck to you, Jerry Young, and your team in your new digs!
More pix of the rehab work, inside and out, are here on the Hydraulics Press blog.
Get connected:
Young + Wright Architecture
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We toured all three floors of the building, and as the upper two floors are still empty (to be converted to living space) it provided a great opportunity to capture some of the building's interior spaces...
...and also some great views of the rest of the district:
As we entered the building we encountered some of the folks from Young + Wright Architecture moving in. They not only designed the rehab of the building, but will occupy the first floor. Shawn Wright stopped what he was doing for a moment and showed me around, and covered one of the big questions I've had about the project: why the granite was removed from the front façade. Several good reasons, as it turns out. First, the granite wasn't original to the building (built originally as a grocery), but was added later by the bank. Second, the granite was so well attached, the workmen pretty much has to break it off to work on the building. And third, once it was off, they discovered extra space in the storefront area that had been closed off for decades--and the column in the center. The extra space, which allows in much more natural light, is a huge bonus for an architectural studio.
It will also provide a clear view of all the goings-on in the rapidly revitalizing district. Right across the street is the former Larkin gas station that will be the activity center and hub for the district, along with the district's extreme streetscape makeover which started construction this summer. Having a front-row seat on all that will only enhance the experience of working for a firm that made Buffalo Business First's list of "best places to work."
Earlier in the year, Young + Wright had projected a move-in date of "no later than Labor Day," so they ended up right on schedule. Shawn told me that business is good for their firm, and they are doing well despite the recession. Glad to hear it, Shawn. Good luck to you, Jerry Young, and your team in your new digs!
More pix of the rehab work, inside and out, are here on the Hydraulics Press blog.
Get connected:
Young + Wright Architecture
Congratulations Shawn, Jerry, and the whole firm. Young and Wright is definitely an up and coming firm..They've done a number of the Buffalo School projects...well versed in preservation and creative and progresive.
Also: Is this whole development awesome?....Buffalo is so lucky to have Zemsky, Swift, Petrella and Jones...the developers/owners in the hydraulics. They are as much patrons of Buffalo as owners.
Hats off!