22. One M&T Plaza
 One M&T Plaza was commissioned by M&T Bank Corporation for use as a headquarters in 1965 and the structure continues to serve that purpose, with other tenants currently occupying space as well. The land for the structure was acquired at a cost of $1.75 million, the largest real estate transaction ever recorded in the City of Buffalo at that time. Construction required the demolition of the entire city block bordered by Main, Washington, Eagle, and North Division streets. The construction cost for the 261,000-foot, 20-story structure totaled approximately $16 million. Noted for his arched column design, architect Minoru Yamasaki also designed the St. Louis Airport in 1956, a 20-story IBM Office Tower in Seattle, the Dharan International Air Terminal in Saudi Arabia, and the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. The promenade facing Main Street has been host to lunchtime concerts during the summer season for over 30 years. A farmers market is held in the block of Main Street between M&T Plaza and Lafayette Square on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. during the late spring, summer, and early autumn.
Text courtesy of Chuck LaChiusa
Credits
Scripts: Denise Prince and Jane Kwiatkowski
Voice: Christopher Jamele of Jamele Freelance Services
Audio production: John Davis of Eclectic Electric
This project was made possible in part with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.
Tour content courtesy of Buffalo Tours.
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