“Shaping Buffalo’s Future—Your Ideas in Glass”
The DL&W project has announced that it has secured a cultural anchor for its exciting new waterfront market project. A nonprofit educational glassmaking facility called Buffalo Electric Glass (BEG) is in the process of being established, which will include the city’s first publicly accessible hot glass workshop.
It’s interesting how these types of projects come to pass. In this particular case, I am proud to say that the I had a hand in the initial ideation of the 15,000-square-foot facility that will be located on the second floor of the historic DL&W Station. It happened like this…
I was hanging out at Essex Pub, playing pool, and I met a guy by the name of Robert Cassetti who told me that he had sat on the board of the Corning Museum of Glass. I told Cassettin that it was a lifelong dream to establish a significant glass facility in Buffalo, and he basically said that it would never happen. It would be too expensive. Not enough resources. There’s already a glass museum in New York State, etc. At the end of the evening I grabbed his digits, and the next day I reached out to Christa Glennie at the DL&W and told her that I met Cassetti, and that I thought that there was a huge opportunity to establish a glass making facility at the DL&W. It would be a unique, all-ages attraction that would draw countless people to the waterfront. While she didn’t think that the idea was in line with the direction that they were heading, she agreed to meet up with Cassetti. The rest, as they say, is history… or the future of the DL&W project in this case. This cultural attraction is now being considered the anchor of the Terminal, which is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the waterfront each year. Its anchor status will also prop up many of the other businesses located within the facility, which will benefit greatly from the foot traffic that it will generate.
Once open, the hot glass workshop will include:
- One-on-one hands-on experiences
- Live narrated demonstrations
- Artist-led programming designed around all-electric glass melting and reheating technology
Paying respects to this city’s part in the innovation of renewable hydropower, BEG will be powered by 100% electricity and is anticipated to be the world’s most sustainable hot glass studio.
The mission of Buffalo Electric Glass is to put visitors in the center of the creative experience,” said Rob Cassetti, president of the BEG board, and recognized leader, for over 30 years, in developing innovative glass and glassblowing programs. “Here, the visitor becomes the creator—through hands-on glassmaking experiences and the opportunity to see their ideas brought to life by master glass blowers. Our goal is to make glassmaking accessible, inspiring, and deeply connected to the creative spirit of this city.”
Scheduled to open in 2028, in line with the anticipated opening of the entire second floor redevelopment of the DL&W Station, BEG will anchor the multi-use public hub being developed by Savarino DL&W Development. Situated above above the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s nearly completed Metro Rail passenger station, the BEG team will be headed up by Cassetti, along with colleague Steve Gibbs. Together, the two created the industry-leading Hot Glass Show and mobile glassmaking programs at The Corning Museum of Glass. Gibbs is also the co-inventor of the electric furnace technologies planned for the DL&W facility. Cassetti and Gibbs also worked together to bring the Corning Museum of Glass GlassBarge to Buffalo’s waterfront in 2018.
BEG is being designed in collaboration with CJS Architects, to establish a sustainable, permanent home for contemporary glassmaking in the “Electric City.”
Buffalo Electric Glass board officers include:
Robert Cassetti — President, is the BEG Senior Advisor, and retired Senior Director of Creative Strategy and Visitor Engagement, the Corning Museum of Glass. In addition to his leadership in audience engagement, Cassetti has served on arts and museum boards, contributing expertise in creative strategy, communications, and cross-disciplinary cultural programming.
Emily Tucker — Vice President, is Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving, University at Buffalo, and Co-Founder and Co-Director, Art Resource. Tucker is a fundraising and community engagement professional and art curator with extensive board experience.
Renata Toney — Vice President of Destination Experience at Visit Buffalo. A longstanding communications specialist, Toney’s career includes advancing arts, culture, and destination storytelling across Western New York.
Keri Kerper — Treasurer, is Director of Community Development, City of Olean. As an economic development leader, Kerper has extensive experience supporting municipal revitalization, small business growth, and community-focused programming.
Learn more about the DL&W Project.
Get connected: www.dlandwbuffalo.com