You can help save this National Historic Landmark
Restore the Floor Project
Have you ever walked the halls of the Richardson Olmsted Campus and noticed the beautiful tile floors? With their stunning reds, blues, and yellows, you’re not alone in admiring these beauties. They may look like they were installed just recently, but they’re actually almost 150-years-old and original to the site!
They are encaustic Minton tiles from England, meaning their beautiful colors are due to the color of the clay itself, rather than a glaze on top. Minton tiles are found in other important buildings such as the New York State Capitol and the United States Capitol.
Thousands of visitors tread the tiles at the Richardson every year – that’s a lot of foot traffic for an antique! While much of the original tile remains intact, some of the tiles have begun to crack and detach from the floor.
To replace the broken tiles, $15,000 is needed. With $26,000, the mud set beneath the tiles could also be replaced to prevent ongoing deterioration. On Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2019, almost $6,000 was raised for the repair and preservation of these historic tiles.
Choose an option below to contribute to the cause!
You can also donate by sending a check made out to the Richardson Center Corporation to 444 Forest Avenue / Buffalo, NY / 14213.
Rest of the Richardson Project
The reuse of the Richardson Olmsted Campus is part of Buffalo’s resurgence as a premier destination for art and culture and a mecca for architecture enthusiasts from around the nation.
In 2017, after a massive $102.5 million effort, we completed the successful rehabilitation of the first three buildings; however it represents only one-third of the plan for the 500,000 square feet and 42 acres of the Richardson Olmsted Campus.
Your support is crucial to continue saving this iconic site. Take advantage of the opportunity to leave your mark on one of the world’s most celebrated architectural masterpieces—and help keep the property full of life for generations to come.
Together, we saved this famous landmark from abandonment; together, we created a reuse plan; together, we celebrated the opening of the Olmstedian South Lawn landscape; and together, we will renew this masterpiece of American architecture. Please donate today.
The Richardson Center Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deducible to the fullest extent of the law.