Buffalo Urban Retail Core

The architectural goal set by competition organizers was to design a mixed-use building complex in the vicinity of Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo to attract downtown employees, city residents, tourists, combining existing commercial strip with a new keystone project while preserving key vistas with respect to the history of the city and improving spatial quality of Lafayette Square. The proposal emphasizes redefinition of closure and completeness of boundaries of Lafayette Square to reflect the form and uses the Square had in early 1900’s. Keystone project consists of an above and below grade axis reinforcing the vista between two major city squares, a retail / entertainment / office complex and enclosed pedestrian tubular walkways to provide continuity along Main Street.