M&T Bank is on the prowl for office space. The local financial giant is looking to consolidate its six area IT and technical departments into 100,000 sq.ft. of ‘central business district’ office space in one or more locations according to Buffalo Business First. The move, if it happens, is expected to take place next year, effectively ruling out a build-to-suit downtown location.
From Business First:
If the move takes place, it could see M&T Bank leasing more than 100,000-square-feet and relocating several hundred employees into the central business district.
“Fewer is better than more,” said Keith Belanger, M&T Bank senior vice president, of the idea of consolidating its workforce.
M&T’s tech and IT support staff is spread among four suburban buildings in Cheektowaga and Amherst and two more sites in Buffalo.
Belanger went on to say downtown remains M&T’s first choice.
Large blocks of space are hard to come by downtown besides Seneca One tower, the former Hens & Kelly building that Erie County is largely vacating, Bank of American building, office space in 500 Pearl or 1091 Main that are currently under construction, Roblin/Marin at Main and Seneca, and perhaps the Trico complex. If the search includes the Larkin District, the bank has 250,00 sq.ft. of leased space in the Larkin Center of Commerce where existing warehouse and light industrial space can be converted for office use relatively quickly.