Calumet Building - Table of Contents

2013 photos
Interior - The Calumet Building

(CAL you met)
46-58 West Chippewa St., Buffalo NY

ERECTED:

1906
Addition: 2012

ARCHITECTS:

1906 -  Esenwein & Johnson
2012 - Carmina Wood Morris Architects

EXTERIOR STYLE:

Art Nouveau. This is the most exuberant, flamboyant  example of polychromatic glazed terra cotta in the city.
2012 INTERIOR STYLE:
Industrial Style / Industrial Interior Design

2013 PRINCIPAL OWNER:

Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP

SEE ALSO:

Dylan Marsh, Changes Ahead for the Calumet Building Buffalo Rising (online April 2013)



The addition:  "The law firm's [Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP] office entrance is at 233 Franklin Street where an elevator bank was added to the building along with a ramp.  This was an imperative part of the design as it made the second and third floors of the offices wheel-chair and handicap accessible.  This side entrance is the law firm's official entry way, while the center door on Chippewa is still used as the entrance to Bacchus Restaurant." -   Holly Metz Doyle, The Calumet: Making Old Elements Appear New Again  Buffalo Spree Magazine (online April 2013)



Addition architects Carmina Wood Morris Architects were sensitive to to the original 1907 building.



When the building was purchased in 2010, the upper floors were unfinished.

"When the four partners [of Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP] walked into its space they were blown away by what they saw.  Partner Tom Liptak remembers that 'Pigeons were flying through the air as rats and mice were crawling around the empty shell of the building.'  There were remnants of fires that had been burning in the middle of the cavernous space, presumably left by vagrants escaping the elements.   According to partner Jim Nowak, 'We didn't know what we needed to know at that point.'  Nevertheless, their imaginations began to turn." -  Holly Metz Doyle, The Calumet: Making Old Elements Appear New Again  Buffalo Spree Magazine (online April 2013)



Industrial Style / Industrial Interior Design ... Original 1906 walls were cleaned and left uncovered whenever possible.

"With Steve Carmina as the architect, the new group's plan was designed to create a welcoming, loft-like space with an urban feel while preserving as much of the historic details and design as they possibly could in order to maintain the Calumet Building's status as an historical landmark."-  Holly Metz Doyle, The Calumet: Making Old Elements Appear New Again  Buffalo Spree Magazine (online April 2013)



Most ceilings expose the utilities and floor joists.

"That cavernous shell of a building allowed them to do pretty much whatever they wanted because they were not limited by existing electrical wiring or plumbing.  What resulted is a sophisticated professional office space that combines old elements of exposed brick walls, original hardwood flooring and original skylights with new features including exposed duct work and partition walls of glass or drywall."-  Holly Metz Doyle, The Calumet: Making Old Elements Appear New Again  Buffalo Spree Magazine (online April 2013)



Industrial Style / Industrial Interior Design






"[Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP partner Judy] Shelton envisions Chippewa becoming a mixed-use neighborhood, combining business, entertainment and services.  Laura Zaepfel, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Uniland Development agrees that mixed-use components would be the most appropriate use of the old buildings that occupy the Chippewa District.  With some major key players already invested and showing interest, it is not that far-fetched of an idea that the perhaps the Renaissance of Chippewa is upon us." -  Holly Metz Doyle, The Calumet: Making Old Elements Appear New Again  Buffalo Spree Magazine (online April 2013)


Special thanks to Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP managing partner Patrick Kenney and marketing director Alexa Christopher for their assistance in 2013.
Photos and their arrangement ©2013 Chuck LaChiusa
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