Seneca One Tower
{{Short description|Skyscraper in Buffalo, New York, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Seneca One Tower
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = SenecaOneTower1.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption =
| former_name = One Seneca Tower, One HSBC Center, Marine Midland Center
| highest_prev = Buffalo City Hall
| highest_start = 1970
| highest_region = Buffalo
| location = Seneca One Tower, Buffalo, NY, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|42.8795|-78.8757|display=inline,title}}
| status = Complete
| start_date = 1969
| completion_date = 1972
| opening =
| inauguration_date =
| renovation_date =
| launched =
| established =
| building_type = Class "A" Office
| roof = {{convert|529|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| top_floor =
| floor_count = 40 (38 occupiable)
| elevator_count = 27
| parking = 808 spaces in attached Seneca Ramp and 465 spaces on 2 levels below the building
| cost = $50 million US$(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|50000000|1969}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| floor_area = {{convert|1200000|sqft|m2|1|abbr=on}}
| architect = Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
| structural_engineer=
| main_contractor =
| developer = Douglas Development Corporation, Washington, DC
| owner = Douglas Development Corporation, Washington, DC
| management = Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation
| references =
|website = {{URL|https://senecaonebuffalo.com/}}
}}
Seneca One Tower is a {{Convert|529|ft|m|adj=on}} skyscraper located in downtown Buffalo, New York. The building was formerly known as One HSBC Center (1999–2013) and prior to that, as Marine Midland Center (1972–1999), its name was changed in 1999 shortly after Marine Midland's parent company HSBC re-branded the bank as HSBC Bank USA.{{cite web |title='Marine Midland' no more|author=Hartley, Tom|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/1998/12/07/story1.html|publisher= Buffalo Business First|year=1998|accessdate = 2011-05-14}} The building was constructed at a cost of $50 million between 1969 and 1974, and contains over {{Convert|1200000|sqft|m2}} of space. Today, the 40 story building still dominates the Buffalo skyline. It is an example of modern architecture.{{cite web |title=One HSBC Center|url=http://www.emporis.com/building/1hsbccenter-buffalo-ny-usa|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729063639/http://www.emporis.com/building/1hsbccenter-buffalo-ny-usa|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 29, 2012|publisher= Emporis|access-date = 2011-05-14}} The building's design is similar to that of the 33 South Sixth building in Minneapolis, which was designed by the same architectural firm.
In 2021, the entire tower and four mezzanine floors were finished being renovated as part of a $150 million renovation by Douglas Development, which included adding over 200 prime rate apartments.
Building facts
- The building was designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) and completed in 1972, with the interiors completed in 1974. The lead architect was Marc Goldstein; John Merrill was partner-in-charge. The interiors were designed by Davis Allen and Margo Grant Walsh.{{cite book |last1=Slavin |first1=Maeve |title=Davis Allen : forty years of interior design at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill |date=1990 |publisher=Rizzoli International Publications |location=New York |isbn=0-8478-1255-3 |pages=76–81}}
- The tower was the world headquarters of Marine Midland until 1998, and served as the headquarters of HSBC USA until 1999, when it moved its U. S. headquarters to New York City.
- Seneca One Tower is the tallest privately owned office building outside of New York City within New York state. The tallest publicly owned building outside of New York City is Erastus Corning Tower in Albany.
- The building's plaza hosts Ronald Bladen's 1973 work titled "Vroom, Shhh."
- The building spans the southern end of Main Street, along which the Buffalo Metro Rail passes beneath the building.
- The building was renovated by the Buffalo-based architecture firm, Antunovich Associates.
- M&T Bank Tech Hub, also designed by Antunovich Associates, moved into Seneca One in November 2020.
{{Wikinews|Fire reported at One HSBC Center in downtown Buffalo, New York}}
=Broadcast towers atop the building=
- WBXZ-LD (TV 56)
- W275BB (FM 102.9), relays WECK{{Cite web|url=https://www.fybush.com/site-20160506/|title=Site of the Week 5/6/2016: A Few Stops Near Home|first=Scott|last=Fybush|date=May 6, 2016|accessdate=Sep 24, 2020}}
- W227BW (FM 93.3), relays WZXV
Current tenants
The following is a list of significant tenants {{as of|lc=y|2025}}:
- M&T Bank{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Jonathan D. |title=More than two-thirds of Buffalo's tallest building is spoken for. Here's who's moving in. |url=https://buffalonews.com/business/local/more-than-two-thirds-of-buffalos-tallest-building-is-spoken-for-heres-whos-moving-in/article_db93a4c2-6bd5-11eb-bf8a-5f3c27afc796.html |website=The Buffalo News |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |date=February 28, 2021}}
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield{{cite web |last1=Plants |first1=Ron |title=Inside Highmark's new home at Seneca One |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo/highmark-blue-cross-blue-shield-seneca-one/71-b351e779-bd7f-4cc7-9e01-14d0b2c5a83e |website=WGRZ |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en |date=July 25, 2024}}
- 43 North
- Serendipity Labs
- Other Half Brewing {{cite web |last1=Drury |first1= Tracey |title=Other Half Brewing Co. triples space with Seneca One expansion |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2024/12/19/other-half-brewing-seneca-one-expansion.html |website=Business First |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en |date=December 19, 2024}}
- Twipes {{cite web |title=Jobs in Cleantech - Find your career at Twipes |url=https://www.twipes.us/jobs.html#services-7 |website=Twipes |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en}}
- Hounds & Hops {{cite web |title=Hounds & Hops prepares to launch a Dog Daycare @ Seneca One, and then a boarding program. |url=https://www.buffalorising.com/2024/03/hounds-hops-prepares-to-launch-dog-daycare-seneca-one/ |website=Buffalo Rising |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en |date=March 26, 2024}}
- Douglas Development Buffalo
- Lighthouse Technology Services
Significant former tenants
- HSBC Bank USA
- Odoo{{cite web |last1=Petro |first1=Michael |title=1,000 employees in Buffalo: It's not an unrealistic goal for Odoo, top local executive says |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/business/employment/odoo-inc-buffalo-job-creation-new-york-state/article_5112f8ae-6184-11ef-80d8-63e973f29587.html |website=The Buffalo News |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en |date=August 26, 2024}}
- Pegula Sports and EntertainmentFink, James. [http://m.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2014/07/24/pegula-sports-entertainment-leases-floor-in-one.html?r=full Pegula Sports & Entertainment leases floor in One Seneca Tower]. Business First. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- Consulate General of Canada in Buffalo
- Phillips Lytle {{cite web |last1=Fink |first1=James |title=Phillips Lytle at home in One Canalside |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2013/11/25/phillips-lytle-at-home-in-one-canalside.html |website=Business First |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=en |date=November 25, 2013}}
History
On December 5, 2012, HSBC Bank USA announced that they would vacate the space it leased in the tower by the time their lease expires in October 2013. Paired with the departure of Phillips Lytle LLP, and the recent closing of the Canadian Consulate, the tower was 90 percent vacant as of 2014.{{cite web |title=Tower owners see strong future despite HSBC's move to vacate building
|author=Epstein, Jonathan|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121205/CITYANDREGION/121209549/1005|work=The Buffalo News|year=2012|accessdate = 2012-12-10}}{{cite web | url=http://www.buffalonews.com/business/seneca-tower-mortgage-transferred-to-firm-handling-high-risk-loans-20131106 | title=Seneca Tower mortgage transferred to firm handling high-risk loans | work=The Buffalo News | accessdate=24 November 2013 | last=Epstein | first=Jonathan D. | date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014148/http://www.buffalonews.com/business/seneca-tower-mortgage-transferred-to-firm-handling-high-risk-loans-20131106 |archive-date=3 December 2013}} In August 2016, it was announced that Washington, D.C.–based Douglas Development will buy One Seneca tower.{{cite news|last1=Epstein|first1=Jonathan D.|title=No wrecking ball for One Seneca Tower|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/business/real-estate/no-wrecking-ball-for-one-seneca-tower-20160816|accessdate=16 August 2016|work=The Buffalo News|date=August 16, 2016}} On September 29, 2016, Buffalo Business First reported that Douglas Jemal of Washington, D.C. had completed the purchase of One Seneca Tower and an adjacent parking ramp with plans to redevelop the tower and plaza into a mixed-use complex including retail, restaurant, hotel, office and apartment components.
In June 2019, M&T Bank announced it would occupy 15 of the tower's floors as the bank's "technology hub."{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/money/business/mt-officially-announces-move-to-seneca-one-tower/71-449ab3ab-6bf7-4a28-a284-cad4a6a9c143|title=M&T officially announces move to Seneca One Tower|website=wgrz.com|accessdate=Sep 24, 2020}} In 2020, the building gained a paint scheme of terra cotta and gunmetal.{{cite web |title=Why terra cotta and gun-metal gray work for Seneca One Tower |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo/why-terra-cotta-and-gun-metal-gray-work-for-seneca-one-tower/71-20b5f17e-d130-4f63-a92c-5535d0aea5e9 |website=wgrz.com |accessdate=31 July 2020}} In early 2021 an illuminated M&T Bank sign was added to the top of the building, replacing a Buffalo Bills pennant (a promotional courtesy of the local Oxford Pennant Company) that was temporarily introduced for the team's 2020 season playoff run between the AFC Wild Card and AFC Championship rounds.
Gallery
File:One HSBC Buffalo.jpg|View from Canalside with previous HSBC branding and façade.
File:Ellicott Square Building.JPG|Seneca One Tower (then named One HSBC Center) behind Ellicott Square Building
File:DOWNTOWN BUFFALO LOOKING NORTH - NARA - 549477.jpg|Downtown Buffalo in 1973, shortly after the skyscraper (on the left) was completed
File:Seneca one tower with M&T sign .png|Seneca One Tower pictured in April 2021 after M&T bank sign was added. The Buffalo Bills pennant can also be seen.
File:Seneca One Tower in 2023 - Quintin Soloviev.jpg|The tower from a drone with Lake Erie in the background, December 2023
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=2983 Skyscraperpage building page]
- {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120729063639/http://www.emporis.com/building/1hsbccenter-buffalo-ny-usa Emporis building page]}}
{{Buildings in Buffalo timeline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seneca One Tower}}
Category:HSBC buildings and structures
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Buffalo, New York