257 Lafayette Center
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The 257 Lafayette Center is a conversion of an old historic school building into a mixed-use center featuring loft living, an early childhood & daycare center, and professional incubator offices.
The renovation followed LEED (Leader in Environmental & Energy efficient Design) standards and is a certified Energy Star building with multiple green and environmental benefits (see Building).
The building is located in the emerging walkable Lafayette and Grant Street neighborhood adjacent to the vibrant Elmwood Village neighborhood.
The building was built in 1928 as a school and included state of the art features such as:
* Large windows to 12-foot ceiling for maximum daylight harvesting in all classrooms;
* Natural centralized ventilation system through attic atrium and roof ventilators;
* Built with all non-flammable fire-resistant materials;
* Sound separation between all rooms.
The school was occupied until 2005 and the last tenant was the Catholic Academy. The building was purchased in 2008 by 257 Lafayette LLC which is co-owned by Karl Frizlen, Architect and Paul Johnson, General Contractor.
The building was converted into:
* 20 Loft-style apartments (each classroom is one apartment);
* Rosegarden Early Childhood Center;
* Professional Office Incubator Space.
The building's environmental features are:
* Photovoltaic solar panel system to provide approximately 33% of the building's electrical demand;
* Energy Star rated building: 25% increase of energy performance above building code requirements;
* High efficient radiant heating system;
* High efficient electrical fixtures & Energy Star rated appliances;
* Insulated building envelope and window restoration;
* Recycling of construction waste material: 50% diversion from landfill;
* Reuse and restoration of windows, doors, hardware, etc.;
* Purchase of low-emitting construction materials for enhanced indoor air quality;
* Daylight harvesting;
* Rainwater collection and bio-retention System, to collect and purify parking lot runoff water to irrigate native plant rain garden;
* Household waste recycling center in basement.
The building's contribution to the neighborhood:
* The developer was seeking the neighbors input to shape the design of the project;
* The development will assist stabilizing the neighborhood and the emergent Grant Street commercial corridor;
* The building is certified as a national historical landmark.
Info found at:
www.257lafayette.com/
257 Lafayette Center
257 Lafayette Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14213
716.836.6686
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