Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Awesome!

In ten years we'll consider this new atrium to be a terrible mistake and an affront to a wonderful early Modernist building. It's tomorrow's equivalent to putting vynyl and fake shutters on a Painted Lady.

ok...well...i guess as long as new-era is downtown but why do they have to re-do the exterior? does this symbolize what could literally be a "new-era?" i say let them do whatever the hell they want.

This "renovated" front would have looked modern - back in 1960. Maybe George, Judy, and their boy, Elroy will work here. ..Seriously, though, the existing structure has such a wonderful, simple integrity...why not expand upon it ...maybe add a grander stairway and some formal landscaping instead?

I think it's rather nice.

Wow, that'll look real nice when finished. It will help give Buffalo a little more new and modern feel, thank God.

I think it will look good, but either way I'm just grateful that New Era decided to locate their headquaters and museum downtown.

It's like a transition from the old Justice League to the new Justice League. I really like the old building. Seeing it in person is really something. I agree with bjfan82 though. It will be nice to see a modern build-out in that neighborhood.

some people are never satisfied...

I think is good to get rid of the fascist inspired modernism. The atrium is not greta architecture but it will give the street some neede flash.

I hope they do something with the eagal though.

I don't mind renovation to make an old building usable, but this addition is tasteless. The renovation gives absolutely no respect to the clean massivity of the facade, but instead butchers it to follow suit with all the other cooker-cutter trendy architecture currently being executed. Sure I want these employees to come to downtown for work, but complicating this stately facade is not the way to do it.

In my opinion, not all architecture should be about preservation or blending in with history, or even looking forward to what people will think in 50 years. Architecture should also be about *today*. That steel and glass is today's style. 50 years from now people will probably roll their eyes and say "that is sooo 2000". And that's fine, because that is the era we're in. People need to lighten up and allow modern development to happen, especially when it's good development like this. You're not going to like every design so deal with it.

:)

I think it is beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd rather see the building used than vacant for a long time until they need to demolish it like I'm sure will soon be the fate of the Aud!

No black glass please.

I hope we get to see inside this thing.

Skidmore meets Chandigarh. Oh, well.

It's a shame they aren't at least preserving and/or incorporating the exisiting facade...Perhaps the glass will be built around the same--and we'll be able to see remnants of the old facade--with eagle--from the interior...someone should send this thread to New Era...

The existing building is set back too far and is too low slung. This facade will create more street density. It will also spill more light and activity onto the street. That old Federal Reserve Building is no prize winner. It is dead dead dead. Did you ever see the old Fed building on Main. Now that was a building. It is now a shovel ready site. Its columns are out on the Amherst Campus aranged in the form of a moc Greek ruin

"STEEL" hit the nail on the head. Street density and pedestrian activity are what this neigthborhood needs, and this project is poised inject a healthy dose

The presentation the architectural firm provided to the WVRG shows the glass atrium and it seems to allow the facade's appearance from the street. As well, this addition will cover a wheel chair accessible entry and add some depth and beauty to the building that sits, and sits, and sits - without a future until this point.

Another feature is a curb cut in front of the new atrium that will allow for employee, tour, and other drop offs without interferirng with traffic flow or causing undue accidents. This was not done at the new Federal Building on S Elmwood and mornings are a real threat to motorists and pedestrians, alike.

New Era will also be adding additional street lighting for secure passage on S Elmwood and a glassed in entryway in the rear of the building (where the wind tunnel effect looms during "certain" seasons each year.)

New Era's architectural firm reached out to the WVRG, something that has not happened in the past.

We appreciate their effort in doing so and hope to open communications with New Era regarding job growth for the immediate area. Think of it - one of the busiest seasons for this company is during the winter - NFL Championships, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, March Madness. If 50 or so locals from the Lower West Side are employed by New Era during a bad weather time for their employees in the South Towns, the West Villagers and Lower West Side employees can be there to get the orders out in a time sensitive fashion.

It blends the old with the new- not great but I can live with it. Steel is right- this place is a fortress as-is. This is a museum and office building- the Fort Knox days are over.

Marilyn- my understanding is this is strictly offices, the manufacturing and assembly functions are staying in Derby and Alabama.

Gotta agree with Steel here. This building, as the federal reserve branch, was designed to imposing and unwelcoming. I was originally actually kind of disappointed in the choice for New Era's HQ because it didn't seem that walling off the 300 employees behind this impermeable facade would contribute to street life in the least. But I think the glass and steel atrium is not a bad addition, and brings the building (and the activity inside it) to the street.

But just so everyone is aware I have not gotten soft, I stlil think the proposed federal court house and Health Now designs (not functions, mind you) are abominations that have no place in the city.

i say put up a big, classic, neon new-era sign on top with a store front selling sporting goods. i always loved those big ass signs with just the words and the frameworks behind it. you see many of them in cities like baltimore and pittsburg. who cares about the modernism, its the commercialism that makes a city exciting,

The new addition to the older building is a good way to connect our older achitecture with the new stuff that's being built. It might help to make the new Federal Courthouse, planned for just down the street, to look less out of place. Also, 300 more employess in this area is a great addition to the West Village neighborhood. Besides providing shoppers, lunchers, and happy-hour goers, some of them might decide they want to live near their jobs in the adjacent West Village neighborhood. There's nothing like being able to walk to work and go home for lunch.

I love the design!!! It will be a nice addition to Delaware Avenue.

It is good to see the adaptive reuse of an old gov't building built specifically for the function of banking and coin storage. I don't think there are many businesses who would be willing to take on the adaptation of such a structure. The front facade served beautifully as a Federal Reserve Bank, but reusing the Delaware facade for a corporate headquarters would not help convey a modern, global image. New Era should be commended for taking on such a project and making the commitment to stay in WNY. certainly a company that is global does not need to be based in Buffalo.

Fresh and imaginative reuse of an otherwise plain modernist building that was begging for some 21st Century flair. I think its beautiful. An eye catching addition that will serve as a visual entree to the Chippewa District and beyond.

Im glad they are actually turning that blank, fortress like facade into something bright, open, and light. Preservation be damed, if an old building is poorly designed, and anti urban (there are points for sharp shooters on this building, and the only windows are tiny ones made of bullet proof glass) why not change it or tear it down? I am a little concerned about the architects (BHNT) though, some of there work has looked great on paper, but has turned out ...well... pretty boring. Also, im wondering if this could be an oppourtuniy to bring a little high end retail downtown?

I saw this same exact atrium being slapped up recently on a Catholic school building in Cheektowaga. Take a trip to Genesee Street near Pine Ridge Road to see what kind of "new era" this architecture will bring downtown.

I hear there is lots of shovel ready tax free land down in Tijuana!

It's great to see MODERN come to Downtown Buffalo. This is right down the street from a new Federal Court House (Modern-State of the Art), what a great addition to Delaware Ave. If only we could start to see more modern buildings take place of the surface lots across the street.

It's too bad that New Era is a anti-labor, union busting company. That said, I seriously applaud their decision to come downtown. I'm not a huge fan of the new look of the building, but I'm just glad they aren't demolishing the old one.

Why the pull off area? Let's keep cars off the sidewalk please.

i have a great idea!!! Let's preserve it, keep it exactly the same and keep it vacant! This way we can all look at it and post pics here on BRO to blog about!

I Think its gonna be great...havent had any companies move 300 jobs here in 10 years.

As companies have fled WNY its nice to see one that is dedicated to sticking it out here.

I second momo. For real economic progress to occur in our third-world nation of a downtown, we need to stop the constant idealized preservation and start getting practical. Turning our city into an inflexible, unchangeable architecture museum is not the way to attract business and growth. Many of our great buildings and facades are worth saving unchanged. This is not one of them. I have lived in many different places and nowhere but Buffalo are people so resistant to change and afraid of business.
Besides, we still have something called property rights around here and that allows New Era to do whatever the hell they want to that building. It doesn't belong to the "community," it belongs to New Era.

May I suggest everyone read "A Torontonian Perspective" recently posted above? We may have very good reason to resist change and fear business. Perhaps Buffalonians are much smarter than they're given credit for.

I saw SF change for the worse in many of the same ways Lorne describes regarding Toronto. The SF of the mid-90s had none of the charm and soul it had in the mid-70s (when I moved there). The Manhattenization of downtown ruined it's uniqueness - giant skyscrapers way out of scale with the older architecture and obliterating the distinctive hills from the distant view. Insta-lofts, trendy-modern (vs. good modern) in design and insulting to the old industrial charm of SoMa, sprouting like weeds. People so wrapped up in their money and material wealth and turning rude and cold and brusque.

I escaped to Portland OR and reveled in its regularness. As much as I still love that city, in the short five years I was there I began to see the faintest beginnings of the same path SF went down. Whole Foods Portland does not need, but alas, it now has one. I'm keeping the faith that this city will remain true to itself, but I'm worried.

America likes to measure success by large size and big numbers, which frequently have no relationship to quality in reality. It's all about the quantity in the USofA...

I think Buffalo's onto something here. We have the chance to NOT ruin our city's soul for the sake of progress by learning from the mistakes of so many other so-called successful cities.

Buffalo can be progressive and successful by preserving and enhancing what it has and precisely by NOT being like everyone else.

Yes there are buildings and neighborhoods worth preserving. Unfortunately for buffalo we don't have the same interest in growth and developement as SF and Portland. In most cities old buildings are torn down and new bigger ones are built in there place because there is no other available land. Unfortunately here in buffalo there is an abundance of available land, and old buildings are torn down because they have sat vacant for years!

this building was built to keep people out and its contents in, like a fortress. First, I would think New Era would like to extend a little more open image to clients, employees a,d public alike. Secondly if the people at New Era would rather have a glass and steel entrance than a 3 story stone wall, who are we to complain.

BUILD THE DAMN BRIDGE

In responce to Valiants comment, New Era had tryed to reduce their labor costs by busting the union (CWA) a few years ago. It resulted in a huge strike,a nasty boycott, universitys dropping contracts,and big national campaign.(which i was involved in, on the side of the union.) BUT...THE STRIKE WAS SETTLED 3 YEARS AGO! Now, they have learned to respect the union, and have moved alot of work to their Derby NY plant. Major Garmet Manufacturers having the bulk of their production in the United States (not to mention labor friendly New York State, is very rare. (it has alot to do with their contract with the MLB.) New Era Should be given alot of credit for wanting to contribute to this area, and invest in down town.

To Carl and the rest of the Buffalonians who live in the dark ages. First of all the respect of the people in Mobile Alabama for persevering through hurricanes and trauma for the past few years I applaude you. The workers in Alabama have a work ethic that far surpasses the union work ethic and the workers in the Buffalo union. You guys should take a lesson. For the people Of Buffalo who expect enormous wages and benefits for a job that a monkey could probably be trained to do you should be satisfied that this company doesn't just close the doors on Buffalo and move to a city that would welcome them with open arms.
The renovations to this building are going to be a welcome site for the dreariness and the loneliness of this downtown area.
The way the economy in Buffalo has transitioned over the past decade everyone in this city should be proud that this company is staying in the Westen New York area. 5950 Rules !!!!!

I know I may have been a little overly sensitive and critical in the last message but I believe it comes from my being brought up in the Buffalo area and my true love for the city and the people. I just think resistance to change is a big downfall and change should be welcome. I love the area and the people and am proud to say I am from the Buffalo area. God Bless the Buffalo Bills and Go Sabres !!!!!

As a computer programmer that works with the same languages that they code with at New Era I am VERY excited about their move downtown. The only problem is that I have no idea when they are moving down here.

Can anyone help with an appox time

According to Business First, New Era says construction could start this Spring and they would be occupying the space in "late Fall." The project will be reviewed by the Planning Board on the 14th.

thanks

THE TYPE OF FACE LIFT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE WHOLE CITY NEEDS! Thank you New Era Cap.

Project unanimously approved by the Planning Board this morning...

As a recerntly returned expat, I am thrilled and heartened to see such continued progress. A few remarks:

-As for the comments that New Era's redesigns for the old Fed don't respect something like 'Buffalo's historic architectural legacy,' get real. A wide variety of such designs is what left us with this 'legacy' (crutch?) in the first place. Like, I wonder, do you think Richardson encountered such hostility from Buffaloians who had been raised in log cabins?

-Fascist architecture? Um, so should the majority of the architecture in DC be condemned?

-Steel and glass rule!

Steel and glass are tough to live with in large doses. Live in Toronto for a few years and you'll know what I mean. A touch of this kind of thing here and there is fine--that's all we need.
A truce and balance between old and new might be best for us here--this is a singular place.

I do hope that if they are not going to re-use the existing entrance, that it will be made available to some other LOCAL concern, and that it won't be another loss to Buffalo.

I like the pattern of the window/entrance.

I like the "lighter" more pedestrian friendly entrance. It will be a nice addition to downtown. I just wish they could also update the rest of the tower, too, in a similar fashion. Maybe if this company succeeds, that will be in their future plans.

This addition definitely makes the entrance more inviting than the existing buildings entrance, which looks more like what it was a "Fortress" It would not make sense for a global corporation such as New Era Cap Co to want an entrance more suitable for downtown Baghdad!

I like it!