Buffalo City Hall (1929-1930)

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Inspired by the theatrical, futuristic renderings of Hugh Ferriss, Buffalo City Hall presents a dramatic profile to visitors of the city’s downtown.  This Art Deco building also expresses Buffalo’s status as one of the most modern cities of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while referencing the rich history of the site in the figures of its frieze, its decorative detailing and its numerous murals.  The frieze includes 21 figures that represent aspects of the city’s cultural and economic life, while the bronze doors of its main entrance incorporate symbols of the Native American tribes that once inhabited the region.  Statues of Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland adorn the corners, connecting Buffalo’s regional importance to its national presence.  Of equal note are the murals of the interior, its sculpted piers and its famous sunburst skylight window.  The observatory on the 28^th floor affords spectacular views of the city and lake Erie.

For more information: http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/Leadership/Mayor/CityHallHistory