A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
One M&T Plaza is celebrating its 50-year anniversary. It was dedicated on June 13, 1967.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Fifty years ago on Monday, employees moved into one of Buffalo's signature downtown buildings: One M&T Plaza, headquarters of M&T Bank.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The 21-story building was designed by renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki, who also was responsible for another project with a similar look: the World Trade Center in New York City. Yamasaki is shown here in a photo from M&T's archives.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
A story published in the Buffalo Evening News in 1964 showed the scale model of the building.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Yamasaki was commissioned for the World Trade Center before One M&T Plaza, but M&T's building was completed first. "We got the benefit of the early thinking of the World Trade Center, and (the World Trade Center) got the benefit of a scale model having been built in Buffalo," said Keith Belanger, M&T's senior vice president of corporate services.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
City hall is framed in the columns of the gallery at the top of M&T Bank at One M&T Plaza in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The lobby of M&T Bank at One M&T Plaza in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
M&T a few years before construction bought an entire city block to create space for its new headquarters. This photo from M&T's archives shows the M&T location before the building was constructed on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Photo of early construction of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Bethlehem Steel provided steel for M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Photo of early construction of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Early construction looking west toward old County Hall of the M&T Bank headquarters.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Early construction of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Early construction of the M&T Bank headquarters.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Construction of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The bank tracked the progress of construction of its Main Street headquarters with color photographs.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The building opened in 1967.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Signatures of dignataries that attended the dedication of the M&T Bank headquarters on June 13, 1967. Signed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, Frank Sedita, and Nelson Rockefeller.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
At first, M&T had its offices on just the first 10 floors; eight other floors were listed for lease for tenants. The other tenants eventually moved out, except for one. M&T has not only filled the rest of the floors, it has expanded into many more buildings in the region to accommodate its growth. The last tenant, Trubee, Collins & Co., is still on the 13th floor at the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
A customer desk area at M&T Bank at One M&T Plaza in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The lobby of M&T Bank at One M&T Plaza in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
An M&T Bank executive office at One M&T Plaza in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The lobby of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The main lobby of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
M&T chairman and CEO Robert G. Wilmers, who arrived in the 1980s, is meticulous about preserving the building's original appearance. When Belanger wanted to install film on the windows to make the building more comfortable for employees, he had to prove the film wouldn't alter the look of the windows from the outside before getting the go-ahead.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The main lobby of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The fourth floor of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The fourth floor of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Buffalo Evening News article about the construction of M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
The lobby of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Exterior of the M&T Bank headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Yamasaki's vision included a public plaza that would serve as a downtown gathering spot. M&T has hosted free summer concerts there since 1969.
A Closer Look: One M&T Plaza
Sculptor Harry Bertoia designed a copper and bronze sculpture that sits in a pool on the plaza. Several years ago, when the sculpture was refurbished, Bertoia's son, Val, handled the task.
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Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
