The Schaefer is complete! Young + Wright Architectural officially opened its doors today at the Schaefer Building, the repurposed former grocery and bank building at Seneca and Emslie streets.
Young + Wright Architectural, until a couple weeks ago a tenant at the nearly fully booked Larkin Terminal Warehouse, officially "cut the ribbon" on its new headquarters at the Schaefer Building, giving the rapidly growing, sustainability-focused architecture firm a prominent curbside presence.
Mayor Byron W. Brown and Larkin Development Group principal Howard Zemsky were on hand to point out the role of the firm as an "urban pioneer" at the rustic manufacturing district. "They were early adopters," noted Zemsky of the partners at Young + Wright. "They believed in our project when not that many people believed in it."
Jerry Young and Shawn Wright, partners in the firm, got out the big scissors to ceremoniously dedicate the new headquarters, the first completed of a series of improvements that are quickly recasting the once forlorn neighborhood as one of the Rust Belt's dramatic turnaround stories.
The firm is now fully operational at the site, the Schaefer interior fully refurbished with modern amenities and a loft-like, open floor plan. The mixed-use project will, by early 2011, also include two "penthouse" apartments overlooking Larkin Square. Young + Wright is both the primary tenant and the project architect for the restored neighborhood landmark.
"Any investment that we have made or any support we have given," noted Mayor Brown, "when you see results like this, they are certainly well worth it."
Today's ribbon cutting was in the foreground of a flurry of construction projects, including the nearly complete Larkin District Streetscape Project (above)...
ongoing construction at the Larkin U Building and Larkin Filling Station (above)...
recently started brownfield reclamation and site preparation for a mixed-use development at 111 Hydraulic Street (above)...
and the ongoing renovation of the Kamman Building (above), which will soon be home to the Buffalo office of another architectural firm, Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects, LLP.
"The city is certainly excited about this project," said Mayor Brown of the Schaefer's reclamation. "There are more projects to come."
Special thanks to David Torke for his photo documentation of the event. Listen to Torke's podcast of today's ribbon cutting here.
We've been so excited about this project. So sorry we didn't hear about the ceremony in time to make it. I wish the mayor would have come down Emslie Street to Bristol to see what the Buffalo Parks dept. did to our neighborhood playground. We are now missing $5000. in playground equipment.
Posted by: Mary | September 18, 2010 at 07:29 AM