With the design conversion of the existing Statler Towers from office space to mixed-use condominiums, retail and office spaces, the building needed a new pedestrian scale street presence. The historic Statler Towers, on Delaware Avenue, overlook Niagara Square and the historic Buffalo City Hall. The block of Delaware Avenue where the Statler Towers sits, currently has no pedestrian street presence. Our new design calls for street trees, benches, new lighting at multiple heights and new pavement materials and patterns. The most significant change is creating bump-outs along Delaware Avenue at Niagara Square and at Mohawk Street. This, along with a new center traffic island in Delaware Avenue at Niagara Square, provides safer street crossing for pedestrians and provides Statler Towers a greater street presence.

In addition to these changes along Delaware Avenue, a new level of pedestrian activity will be seen along the existing sidewalk area along Niagara Square. The wide sidewalk allows for outdoor café seating and retail spill-over from the first floor retail areas to create a dynamic pedestrian space with the most beautiful views of Niagara Square and City Hall. The redesign of Genesee Street with new angled parking and a larger pedestrian plaza space at the corner of Genesee and Franklin Streets help put the emphasis of the space on the pedestrian and not on the automobile.

A 1919 advertisement for the historic hotel shows a rendering with lush roof-scapes. Our goal was to bring this rendering to life, and to provide an amenity not seen anywhere else in Buffalo’s downtown residential areas.

The major rooftop terrace is located on the roof of the second story and overlooks Niagara Square. The rooftop is designed as a public space that can be used for multiple purposes including the expansion of a proposed restaurant. The rooftop features a water fountain, trees and arbor structures for shade, benches overlooking Niagara Square, and large areas for multiple tables and chairs. The design and location of lush colorful vegetation, trees and structures with various heights is intended to create a noticeable presence from Niagara Square, as well as to provide visual interest to the upper floors that look down on the rooftop terrace.

The building has the potential for two smaller roof areas as well, one dedicated roof space for Condominium Residents and one for Hotel guests. The residence rooftop could provide an outdoor pool area with small and large cabanas, a BBQ patio and lush gardens with seating areas. The residence rooftop could also accommodate a “winter garden” area with several small spas and resistance pools that could be used year round. The Hotel guest rooftop could also accommodate a pool area with large and small cabanas, an outdoor café with seating and garden spaces.