This really is a nice project. They have integrated some simple seating, bike racks, trees, garbage cans, lighting etc. All elements that make a street comfortable and functional for everyone. I particularly like the raised tree planters with the cluster of trees. I think it is time to realize that dirt at the same level at the sidewalk just means it is going to be trampled and compacted to the point where the tree's roots can't properly exchange gas and stunt their growth.

It also goes against the mentality that we need to have nothing on the sidewalks because of snow plowing concerns. Going buy here all winter it was maintained very well.

I could even imagine bars or restaurants in this building. Unlike the granite works which worried about noise for residences above. The late night scene would be a perfect fit with the office scene. They use the space at different time blocks.

I was in this building last week. The investment side of M&T bank leases out at least 3 floors within the building and they have tons of local art covering their walls. I actually went to the building with a bunch of new M&T hires from all over the east coast. The new employees stayed at the Hyatt and sadly to say were not very impressed with the downtown.

Most of the comments heard were about how dead and rundown the central business district looked. I lobbied all week for Buffalo and took a few of the out of towners to the elmwood and hertel areas but it seems the majority of them were not impressed. Just thought you guys might enjoy a glimpse of what out of town professionals think of Buffalo when they visit for the first time.

This is indeed one *fine* building, and like you, Queenseyes, I've noted its progress from vacant lot with great interest. It's clearly modern, yet it "plays nice" with the other nearby buildings. Architecturally it's a good neighbor, and a good addition to Buffalo's unsurpassed Delaware Avenue collection.

Architecture has thankfully left behind the Post-modern era which included the idea that for a building to fit in it had to copy (unfortunately, often badly) features and styles from its surroundings. Although I really like some post-modern buildings (especially the Bausch & Lomb headquarters in My Fair City), taken to its logical extreme post-modernism resulted in some embarrassingly chameleon-like buildings. 285 Delaware shows clearly a more up-to-date idea of how good design can make a new building work with - and enhance - an existing streetscape of any era.

This is a building that will do its owners, designers, tenants, neighbors - and city - proud.

I can totally envision some clothing stores, gift store, and a restaurant in these spaces.

Great job uniland. the interior finishes are very nice. Developers consider this CLASS A office space. Something downtown has very very little of. This building will fill up.

The first floor retail will fill up at the same pace as Granite Works......That will take several months, but i think thats typical....even in the burbs.

I'd rather not see the Chippewa scene come to this building. Cheap beer and vomit is not the sort of thing that really lends itself to maintaining a good looking building. I'd much rather seem something like a cafe/bookstore or a decent restaurant open here.

I wonder how much of what they saw as dead was a part of wanting to see it that way. Everyone I know from NYC or other places that went to college here said Buffalo was a dead city. That was until I really showed them around the parks and neighborhoods that don't make the news coverage during a snow storm.

Everyone changed their mind about Buffalo. It obviously isn't Boston or NY and thats fine but it also if far from dead.

yea downtown is dead compared to nyc boston and but if you are out on a friday or saturday night it is tough to characterize any part of downtown as dead, neato building

The street scene in these pics reminds me of Midtown's 6Th. Ave in NYC. Can totally see retailers filling up these spaces. Who do we contact if interested?