BUFFALO CITY HALL

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Title	BUFFALO CITY HALL
View	View on axis with the entry and front elevation, from the east
Notes	government, administrative
Work Type	city hall skyscraper
Style/Period	Art Deco
Creator Name	Dietel, G.J. Wade, John
Creator Nationality	American
Date.Creator Birth	20C
Major Design Aspects	futuristic prominence through height setbacks monumental incorporates public art
Elements & Spatial Types	observation deck
Climate Type	cold temperate
Country	United States of America
City	Buffalo
State/Province	NY
Architectural Material	sandstone, limestone, granite, steel (tawny Ohio sandstone, gray Minnesota limestone, gray granite, steel)
Structural System	steel frame
Dates	1929-1931
Century	20C
Designation/Awards/Inscriptions	city landmark
Photographer	Scott Gilchrist, Archivision
Subject Information	An exceptional example of Art Deco design, Buffalo's City Hall is richly decorated. Tile details on the corners of the building reflect the influence of Native American design. Carved friezes above the front and rear entrances depict aspects of life in the city. The building features an observation deck on the 28th floor with a spectacular view of Lake Erie. The dome of the building is impressively lit at night. Source: www.ap.buffalo.edu/buffarch/cityhall.htm / 'The groundbreaking for City Hall was held on September 16, 1929. The building was completed November 10, 1931. The building was dedicated July 1, 1932, to commemorate the City Centennial. The 32-story structure was built on two triangular lots on the west side of Niagara Square, spanning Court Street. The construction of City Hall in 1929 closed off Court Street from the square. This was the first interruption of Ellicott's street plan. The completion of the similarly-styled Art Deco State and Federal Buildings in 1935 on the east side of Niagara Square realized the concept of a city center group of governmental buildings, first suggested in 1920. The City Hall Building serves as a reminder of Buffalo's past. Its decorative art illustrates significant elements in the area of history including themes of the Iroquois Indian nation, the development of the Erie Canal, the United States's relation to Canada, and the pioneering and industrial spirit of Buffalo's citizens, past and present. Included, too, are statues of Buffalonians who were Presidents of the United States: Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland. Walls are faced with tawny Ohio sandstone and gray Minnesota limestone, above a base of gray granite. Source: http://ah.bfn.org/a/niagSq/65/hist.html / 'The City Hall is supported on 180 caissons, set on bedrock, at depths of 36 to 48 feet below ground level. The footprint of the building is an elongated octagon, measuring 315 feet on the north-south axis and 164 feet on the east-west axis. It has a riveted steel frame, and reinforced concrete floors. The exterior walls are faced with tawny Ohio sandstone and gray Minnesota limestone, above a base of gray granite.' Source: http://ah.bfn.org/a/niagSq/65/ext/
Credit Line	Archivision Inc. (all images copyright Scott Gilchrist / Archivision.com)
Collection Title	Archivision (architecture, urban design, gardens, landscapes and public art)
Collection information	Collection administered by the Visual Resources manager, Architecture Library, (402) 472-1193

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BUFFALO CITY HALL

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