Great Designers
While Buffalo is indebted to Frank Lloyd Wright and the magnificent work he built here, there were many other planners and designers who had a part in making Buffalo the aesthetically-pleasing “Queen City of the Great Lakes” by the beginning of the twentieth century.
All of them had in common tremendous talent, drive and ambition, with commanding, dynamic personalities. Above all, they had vision.
Joseph Ellicott realized the potential of Western New York and laid the groundwork for its prosperity for the next 100 years.
Frederick Law Olmsted understood the importance of what we would call today “quality of life” and, through the creation of parks, parkways and circles, sought to create a refuge within an urban environment.
Henry Hobson Richardson created a style that would become known as “Richardsonian Romanesque,” celebrating the power of buildings to project authority and the prosperity of its people.
Louis Sullivan gave us the skyscraper by understanding the potential of elevators, structural steel and other new building materials. His vision changed the cityscapes of America and the world.
Edward B. Green Sr. left a lasting imprint on Buffalo with lavish homes, industrial and commercial commissions, churches, hospitals and a myriad of other designs. His genius and vision are breathtaking.
What is amazing is that Buffalo was able to attract these and other such talented people to design its buildings and shape its environment.
