Category Archives: Architecture

Civic Deco


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If you are ever in Buffalo, New York, you owe it to yourself to visit the Buffalo City Hall on Niagara Square. This is one of the grandest Art Deco city halls in all of the United States. Tours are given Monday – Saturday and the best part is that they are free. For more information click this link: City Hall Tours.

 

Ground was broken for Buffalo’s new city hall on September 16, 1929. Designed by John Wade with the assistance of George Dietel of the firm Dietel, Wade and Jones. The corner stone was laid on May 14, 1930 and building was completed in November of 1931. Rising to height of 378 feet it is one of the tallest buildings in Western New York.

 

The friezes on the outside of the building were created by Albert Stewart, the sculptures inside the lobby were by Rene Paul Chambellan and the six lobby murals were designed by William de Leftwich Dodge.

 

The ceiling is Guastavino tile in Native American motifs. The elevator lobby is high style Art Deco executed in bronze. The tour ends at the observation deck with wonderful views of downtown Buffalo as well as Lake Erie and southern Ontario, Canada.

 Chris & Anthony

 

Welcome! Dedicated to all things Art Deco.

We are located in Rochester, New York. Join us on our journeys across North America searching for Art Deco. Kicking off the site, here are two notable local Art Deco buildings. Detail of “The Wings of Progress”, on top the Genesee Valley Building (now the Times Square Building) at the corner of Broad Street and Exchange Boulevard. Completed in 1930 and briefly the tallest building in the city.

 

The "Wings of Progress"

The “Wings of Progress”

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The Charlotte Junior-Senior High School, completed in 1931, on Lake Avenue, just to the north of downtown Rochester.

 

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Some deco details of the school – bas relief plaque –

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air vent grill –

 

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If you are ever in the Rochester area, make sure to visit these buildings in person.

 Chris & Anthony