City Hall - Table of Contents
Buffalo
City Hall - Façade
Buffalo, NY
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.
Built:
1929-1931 Architect:
Dietel Wade & Jones Building materials:
Base - green granite
Main body - Ohio sandstone
Upper floors - yellowish sone with polychrome terra cotta tiles at the topo ofthe tower
Window surround - BronzeStyle:
Art Deco Location:
Joseph Ellicott Local Preservation District
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.
The building contains 566,313 square feet of space and cost $6,851,547.00, plus architectural fees of nearly $400,000.00
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Samuel Wilkeson homestead. Demolished. |
September 16, 1929. |
March 22, 1930. |
July 4, 1930. |
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July 1971. |
View from Court Street near Main St. |
The footprint of the building is an elongated octagon. |
Glass dome above octagonal drum |
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Octagonal drum |
Symbolism includes Native American images |
8 massive stone columns |
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The central figure is a woman, representing the city of Buffalo. See East and West Friezes |
Eight massive columns in the shape of tightly bundled reeds |
The columns represent strength in unity |
Pioneer hunter historical bas-relief over center door. |
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The interior of the entrance portico |
The coffers of the ceiling have colored tiles |
Woman weaving a basket. |
The pinnacles are shaped like miniature Art Deco buildings. |
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The seal of the city |
Window bronze panels with Art Deco geometric design |
Art Deco design |
One of 12 window jambs representing the months of the year |
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"Vintage - Fruitage |
Art Deco sylized eagle |
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Sources of text:
- "Buffalo City Hall: An Americanesque Masterpiece," by John H. Conlin. Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, Buffalo, NY, 1993. Available through Western New York Wares
- Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (27 photos, 16 data pages). Type: Buffalo City Hall
