First Niagara Leases Larkin 'U' Building

First Niagara has confirmed it is becoming the sole tenant of Larkin Development Group's most recent restoration project, the historic Larkin U Building. Toward the end of July, First Niagara will begin moving employees into the Van Rensselaer Street building.  The new space follows an announcement last week that the bank will be adding 500 jobs over the next five years as the bank continues to grow.

The 60,000 square foot building will house approximately 180 First Niagara employees representing various departments throughout the company (Compliance, Audit, Human Resources, Enterprise Risk Management and the Treasury departments, along with the Third Party Administrators & Claims Service group of First Niagara Risk Management and the document management team of Commercial Loan Administration) that are currently based at the Lockport Administration Center, Larkin at Exchange and 282 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.

From the National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form for the Larkin District prepared by Architectural Historian Jennifer Walkowski of Clinton Brown Company Architecture:

The 3-story brick building with Medina sandstone accents is designed in the decorative Romanesque Revival style.  The primary western façade features a series of large arcaded arches which contain windows and a central entry door.  Originally constructed in 1893 by D. Ullman Sons, a large-scale industrial salvage and recycling firm, the Larkin Company purchased the building in 1911.

This relocation initiative supports First Niagara's continued growth of operations, workforce and investment at its corporate home, the Larkin District.  The lease at 282 Delaware is coming to an end and First Niagara does not intend to renew it.  This move will also free up needed space in the Administration Building located in Lockport.
 
Larkin Development Group worked closely with the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) on this major economic development initiative.  The U Building supports First Niagara's growth plans specific to Erie County and Buffalo, and the restoration of the building is part of Larkin Development Group's overall development plans for revitalizing the historic Larkin District.