Institutional Preservation in Buffalo

Just returned from Buffalo, so it seems fitting to start this blog with a project that was brought to my attention by an architectural insider based in the Buffalo community. Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, Buffalo does have some lovely architectural gems from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of which is its Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, now referred to as the Henry Hobson Richardson Complex (Buffalo's attempt to downplay that it has crazy people, while simultaneously showing off that famous architects once paid attention to Western New York).
Built between the years of of 1870-1890, the now Henry Hobson Richardson Complex was designed by H.H. Richardson (just in case that wasn't obvious enough) and Frederick Law Olmsted (in charge of landscape - you may also know him as That Guy Who Designed Central Park). Unfortunately, many parts of the complex are now in deplorable condition due to neglect. Thankfully, the Richardson Center Corporation has taken on a "rehabilitation" project for the complex that will restore both the historic structure and landscape. They are also in the process of creating an Architecture and Visitor Center, which I wholeheartedly support. Education is awesome.

However (!), such a major renovation with as much funding as it's receiving will, of course, find ways of making the property more profitable to the city by "reusing" the area. The list of ideas currently being thrown around are as follows: "a hotel, conference center, parking structure, high end condominiums, artist studios, townhouses and academic space for Buffalo State College." Three of these ideas make me extremely nervous (I made them bold, and thus more threatening so that you, the reader, will emphathize with me). The others have the possibility of also being an eyesore, but I will have to wait until the plans are public before curling up with a box of tissues and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Mood Magic flavor for bad architecture and site planning. Click here to read more about the project.