Financial Services Firm HQ
1 M&T Plaza, Buffalo, NY
Involved from May 2019 - Jan 2020
2500 sqm (26,900 sf)
Industry: Financial Services
For: Gensler, NY
The headquarters for this financial services firm is located in the eponymous, landmarked building by Minoru Yamasaki (1966). Yamasaki’s modernist language and details informed the design decisions in the space. We connected the 19th and 20th Floors to reflect the bank’s shifting culture towards increased transparency.
I created design options, renderings and prepared four major presentation decks. I prepared spiral and rectangular stair designs as well as railing details to help inform the team and client’s decision making. I designed the lacquer panel portals and specialty ceilings in the dining rooms. I also helped prepare diagrams for value engineering exercises. I documented the elevations, bathrooms, plans and assisted with detail drawings. I reviewed submittals, RFI’s and issued construction sketches.
Team: Marc Bruffett (Principal in Charge), Susan Clamage (Project Manager), Li-Pei Schweder (Lead Designer), Kirby Davis (Project Architect), Michelle Hogue (Intermediate Designer), Stephanie Cheung (Architectural Assistant)
Left: I worked with the lead designer to create the look and feel material palette for the project. I tried to create a variety of warm and cool textures and colors that go with the bank’s signature green color palette. | Right: Details and close up photos of other examples of Yamasaki’s work that helped inform the design decisions of the project.
Rendered floor plans of the 19th floor. I created test fit options and the material options for the project.
Rendered floor plans of the 20th floor. I created test fit options and the material options for the project.
Left: Spiral staircase options. The rectangular stair option was selected because of cost and schedule constraints. | Right: Rectangular staircase options. The designs are listed chronologically from top to bottom, left to right. The designs were changed during the construction phase due to cost constraints. I created cost saving options to help inform the team and client’s decision making.
Images & Renderings
Professional renderings: Shimahara Visual (I created the working renderings for design development using Revit and Enscape. I assisted with rendering coordination with Shimahara under the supervision of the lead designer)
Courtesy of Gensler, NY
Main Entrance (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Elevator Lobby (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Chairman's Lounge (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
20th Floor Entrance (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Dining Room (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Board Room (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Decision Room (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Library (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Private Office (Courtesy of Halcon)
Decision Room Configuration (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Admin Desks (Courtesy of Shimahara Visual)
Executive Lounge (Rendering created using Enscape for Revit)
Dining Room A (Rendering created using Enscape for Revit)
Dining Room B (Rendering created using Enscape for Revit)
Dining Room C (Rendering created using Enscape for Revit)
Technical Drawings
I worked on plans, elevations, millwork details, material transitions under the supervision of the lead project Architect. I assisted with redlines for door details, reception desk details, hardware schedule, ceiling details and sheet notes. The drawings that I developed are uploaded below.
