Buffalo Savings Bank

The Buffalo Savings Bank building opened in May 1901. The building's signature feature is the gold-leafed dome, which measures 23 feet tall and 56... more

by Peter Chilelli

Title

Buffalo Savings Bank

Artist

Peter Chilelli

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Buffalo Savings Bank building opened in May 1901. The building's signature feature is the gold-leafed dome, which measures 23 feet tall and 56 feet in diameter. It is covered with 13,500 terra-cotta tiles. The tiles originally were overlaid with copper, which took on a greenish hue.[1] The tiles have been gilded three times. The last restoration required 140,000 paper-thin sheets of 23.75-carat gold leaf at a cost $500,000 (more than the initial cost of the building).[2] The building contains a 9-foot (2.7 m) clock above the main columned entrance. In 1982, the original bank building received a larger linked addition on the north side called M & T Center (not to be confused with One M&T Plaza). In 1991, the Buffalo Savings Bank company became insolvent and was dissolved. The building currently serves as a branch of M&T Bank and has been designated a City of Buffalo Landmark.

Uploaded

June 24th, 2012