George N. Pierce and Company had made its first automobile in 1901. In 1907 the grand new factory, consisting of an Administration building and separate one story manufacturing, assembling and body buildings began production of Pierce Arrow cars. Additions which more than doubled the size of the plant were made after 1916.

Yet to the discerning eye, this is still recognizable as one of the most important industrial plants of its time

The Pierce-Arrow Factory Complex sprawls over 34 acres on a site bounded by Elmwood Avenue on the west, the New York Central railroad tracks on the north and Great Arrow Avenue on the south. The eastern boundary of the plant was originally Delaware Avenue, but the historic district terminates west of the new unrelated construction which now faces on Delaware Avenue. Located just on the northern fringes of a solid residential neighborhood, the factory was built in 1906-7 on the northwest corner of the Pan American Exposition Grounds (1901).

Supremely rational in its organization, the complex includes approximately fourteen major buildings many of which are linked. The Administration Building, (building "O" on the plot plan) also known in its earlier days as the "Welfare Building" extends almost the entire length of the Elmwood Avenue frontage. The Administration Building seems to have been planned to establish the factory's public image behind which were tucked the more massive and innovative factory structures.

Stretching along the northern edge of the complex beside the railroad tracks are a series of buildings which were directly related to the receiving of raw materials or shipping out of the finished cars by rail. These buildings, now adapted to new individual uses, include the Garage {Building "L" 1906-7), facing Elmwood Avenue, the Brazing Building ( Building "F" 1906-7) and the Power House.(Building "L" 1906-7).

The four remaining buildings; The Manufacturing Assembly, Sub-Assembly and Body Buildings, form the "heart" of the plant occupying the majority of the area.

Both the Manufacturing Building and the Assembly Building have saw tooth roofs which could provide natural and even light to the entire floor area.

- Source: Historic Structures: Pierce Arrow Factory Complex, Buffalo, New York (online December 2022)

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