Officials from Uniland Development Company and Delaware North Companies, construction workers, and guests gathered at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street today to celebrate a milestone of Uniland’s $110 million project that will further transform the area into a thriving commercial corridor.
A 20-foot-long steel beam – painted white and signed in black marker by project workers and officials – was raised into its final position on the roof of the skeletal building late this morning in a traditional “topping off” ceremony on the site at 250 Delaware Avenue. The occasion marks the more than 3,000 tons of structural steel that have been installed at a swift pace over the last 85 days with a crew of approximately 30 iron workers.
“Due to our experience and breadth of services, Uniland has the ability to bring a product of this quality to attract and retain world-class businesses in Buffalo. The city is experiencing a renaissance, and we need to meet the demands of today’s enterprises with product like this to continue that progress,” said Michael Montante, Uniland Vice President.
The 12-story complex will contain 193,000 sq.ft of office space, a 120 room hotel, retail space along Delaware Avenue, Chippewa and S. Elmwood, and 593 parking spaces in a parking ramp and under the building. As seen below, the amount of retail space in the project has grown from 10,000 sq.ft. to 18,000 sq.ft. The building, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and HHL Architects, will be anchored by Delaware North Cos.
old first floor plan
new first floor plan
Delaware North will initially occupy 110,000 square feet of modern office space on the top four-and-a-half floors – with room to expand on several of the floors below. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts will operate the building’s 100,000 square-foot hotel and a portion of the retail space. The Department of Homeland Security has also leased a little over 50,000 sq.ft. of space in the building.
Delaware North is expected to occupy its space late next summer.