Norstar Building Buffalo Historic Designation and Redevelopment

This post examines the recent nomination of the Norstar Building—now known as the Bank of America Building at 560 Main Street (10 Fountain Plaza)—to the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.

I’ll explain why this 1982 office tower is being recognized and how historic designation unlocks financial tools that make conversion to residential use possible.

The building’s energy-conscious design and its role in Buffalo’s 1980s downtown revitalization are important to architects, engineers, and developers today.

Table of Contents

Historic nomination and the push for adaptive reuse

The nomination comes as developer Ciminelli Real Estate plans to convert most of the nine-story tower to residential use.

Securing a place on the state and national registers would make the project eligible for grants, historic tax credits, and other incentives that improve redevelopment feasibility.

Financial tools that make conversion viable

Eligibility for federal and state rehabilitation tax credits can be the difference between a stalled concept and a completed conversion.

These credits, along with potential grants, reduce the equity requirement for developers and help attract financing for preservation-based projects.

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For downtown Buffalo, this means preserving architectural character while increasing housing in the city center.

Architectural and energy significance

Though under fifty years old, the building is notable for its early energy-efficiency features.

It is an important early work by architect Mark Mendell of Cannon Design.

The nomination highlights the tower’s importance as an early example of energy-conscious commercial architecture in Buffalo.

Design features worth preserving

The Norstar Building is a steel-framed concrete tower set at a bold angle with alternating ribbon windows and concrete panels.

Its design includes several features relevant for adaptive reuse:

Recessed south-facing windows and light shelves that control daylight and heat gain for better energy performance.

Flexible floor plates with a central core for elevators and stairs, making future layout changes easier.

Central lobby with atrium skylight and mezzanine corridors that create a strong sense of place.

Original energy-efficient lighting and acoustic drop ceilings, showing early attention to occupant comfort and systems performance.

These elements reflect 1980s ideas about efficiency and provide a good foundation for a residential conversion that values daylight, comfort, and flexibility.

Context within Buffalo’s downtown revival

The Norstar Building played a key role in 1980s downtown Buffalo revitalization efforts, including the Main-Genesee Task Group, Fountain Plaza, and the NFTA metro rail.

It was part of a coordinated effort to bring investment and public activity back to the central business district.

This strategy is now continued in Buffalo’s shift toward a Central Connectivity District that focuses on living, culture, and collaboration.

Current condition and next steps

At the time of nomination, the building is roughly half-occupied, primarily by Bank of America. Cannon Design occupies the adjacent Key Center.

Skywalk additions were made after the building’s defined period of significance. These are not included in the nomination, which focuses on original design intent and early innovations.

The nomination reminds developers, preservationists, and city planners that mid- to late-20th-century buildings can have architectural and technical merit. An adaptive reuse that uses historic tax credits and preserves the building’s energy-smart features can support Buffalo’s downtown transformation.

Here is the source article for this story: That’s Historic: Norstar Building