Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Casino Restoration and Renovation
Buffalo, New York
Located in the middle of MLK Park is the 1926 Casino building, which had suffered deferred maintenance and some unsympathetic renovations over the years. Through commitments of funding from the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy the building has begun a multi-phased project to restore the exterior and renovate the interior, restoring some of its key original features, such as the open truss roof of the magnificent open 2nd floor space.
AOJ worked with Flynn Battaglia Architects on all three phases of this multi-year project. He carried out historic paint research to determine the original colors, which included two different greens that very nicely complement the park surroundings. He also designed window guards and exterior railings, working with the State Historic Preservation Office and Flynn Battaglia, that, while not imitating any historic window grilles or railings, complement the historic character of the building.