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The dome has been gilded three times — in 1954, 1979, and 1998. The last restoration required 140,000 paper-thin sheets of 23.75-carat gold leaf and cost $500,000 — more than the initial cost of the building.



Architect

Date Built

This granite Neoclassical, Beaux–Arts style building opened in May 1901 as the Buffalo Savings Bank. It was constructed at a cost of $300,000, though its majestic interior, complete with elaborate painting and murals, was not finished until 1925. The tiles on the dome were originally covered with copper, which took on a greenish hue.

Inside, the artistry begins at the top of the dome, with ancient Roman buildings set against a deep blue background and the Confucius saying, There are also four triangular supports shadowing a Renaissance background, each depicting one of the City's strengths: commerce, industry, power, and the arts. The building currently serves as a branch of M&T Bank, which sponsors holiday concerts on the first floor throughout the month of December.

Continue South on Main Street and take a left onto E. Huron Street. The Niagara Mohawk Building is down one block.

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