‘New American Cities Architecture, Part 1: Buffalo’ Webinar

As the United States readied its westward expansion in the early 19th century, new cities began to rise. From Western New York State’s “Burned-over Country” to the coal ranges of Pennsylvania and the shores of the Great Lakes, a new urban culture was coming into being; one far less influenced by European modes of design. It’s time to explore three “New American” cities that would—for better and for worse—provide a dramatic new template for the country’s architecture, engineering, and society.

Join New York Adventure Club for a three-part series on the history of New American Cities where we’ll explore the buildings and structures that have shaped urbanism in the United States and elsewhere. In Part One: Buffalo, we’ll visit one of the nation’s earliest “Gateway Cities,” a major conduit of goods and services between the East Coast and the rapidly developing Midwestern interior.

Led by architectural historian David V. Griffin of Landmark Branding, this digital showcase featuring a selection of unique structures will include:

• A brief overview of Buffalo, New York, from its earliest surviving buildings its status as one of the country’s three radial plan cities modeled after L’Enfant’s Washington, DC, plan
• A look at the development of the grain elevator, invented in Buffalo
• The incredible legacy of buildings by masters such as Henry Hobson Richardson, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright
• Art Nouveau and Art Deco Buffalo Modern Age architecture: Brutalism, Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph, and beyond
• An in-depth look at each building’s construction, context, and current status, with a focus on how culture and innovation drive architectural symbolism