A bench from the Buffalo Benches Project has ended up in Allentown. The bench is part of a series of creations made by University at Buffalo students as part of a Small Built Works Studio (SBWS) initiative. Most of the benches from the project are finding their way to the Old First Ward, but this sole bench ended up being installed in front of architect and UB professor Brad Wales’ Allentown office/studio.
The poster below depicts all of the benches made for the project. As you can see, many of the benches reflect life in the Old First Ward.
Another one of the project’s benches sits inside Wale’s gallery window, with a poster resting nearby.
While a single bench might not appear to be an earth shattering installation in Allentown, combined with numerous examples of other Small Built Works Studio projects, the neighborhood is a museum without walls, dedicated to the ingenuity and creativity of UB’s architecture and design students. Allentown boasts SBWS bus shelters, bike racks, waymarking monuments, poetry, gates, a wind and solar sculpture, and other creations that were made possible thanks to a professor who sees the need for his students to interact with the built fabric of the city.
I always look forward to seeing Small Built Works projects come to life. They add so much to the vibrancy and vitality of our neighborhoods.