Erie Canal Harbor Masterplan
The Buffalo and Erie Canal Harbor Master Plan refers to the 12.5 acre site at the foot of Main Street on the site of the historic western terminus of the Erie Canal and the location of the original settlement of the City of Buffalo. The Project involved the design of a $62 million Master Plan that included reinterpretation of the site in a historic context with significant focus on the Erie Canal era. An extensive public participation process determined site program and directly informed the preferred alternative design included in the Master Plan. The Master Plan includes program and design recommendations that will recreate the Erie Canal Harbor terminus as a vibrant central location where local citizens and visitors will have enhanced public access to the waterfront, experience local history and enjoy festivals and public gatherings. The site also includes a restored portion of the Commercial Slip, several boat basins, a recreated Central Wharf, interpretive historic exhibits and a new site for the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Museum.
Erie Canal Harbor Naval Museum
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park includes a new Museum, Superyard building and an outdoor Exhibit Yard that will be sited between the commercial Slip and the previously constructed Veteran’s Park. The new, 11,100-square-foot, two-story Museum building is located on the site of the former Coit-McCutcheon Block. The north and east elevations of the building are adjacent to the Commercial Slip and are designed to recall the size, massing, materials, and fenestration of historic canal structures at this location. The west and south facades of the Museum, facing the military park, have been designed as contemporary elements. The interior design of the building is organized around a large central open area connected on all three levels of the building. As visitors enter the building from Commercial Street all of the ground level spaces will be visible including the café, the gift shop, the restrooms, the elevator and the stairs.
Client: Empire State Development
Location: Buffalo, NY
Completion Date: Spring 2007
