August 20th saw the first public look of the Richardson Olmsted Complex new design. Many from the community turned out for the design unveiling and provided some wonderful comments and feedback for the team.
“Design plans were presented for the transformation of the Richardson Olmsted Complex buildings and grounds into a hospitality venue and cultural amenity. This first phase of development as a boutique hotel, event and conference space and an architecture center for Buffalo will occupy the iconic Towers Building and two adjacent buildings. Re-greening of the landscape has started with the South Lawn, along Forest Avenue, as a welcoming public space. Additional landscape improvements will take place with a second entry to the north. The design builds upon the concepts developed during the Master Planning process, created with community input gathered through nine public meetings and with the active participation of the Richardson Center Corporation Community Advisory Group. The design team is comprised of executive architect Flynn Battaglia Architects of Buffalo and design architect Deborah Berke Partners of New York. Additional members of the team include Boston-based historic preservation firm Goody Clancy; Andropogon Associates, a Philadelphia-based landscape architecture firm; LP Ciminelli, a construction management firm from Buffalo; and INNVest Lodging, also headquartered in Buffalo, the preferred operator of the boutique hotel and event and conference space.”