Electric Tower
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 8:51AM 
535 Washington Street
It’s been 100-years since the Buffalo Electric Tower first turned on its lights in 1912, but now it has become as much a part of Buffalo’s history as it has its skyline.
Each night for almost 100 years its 300-foot tower has lit up the sky, making it one of the most recognized buildings in the city. Similar to the Empire State building in New York City, Buffalo’s Electric Tower celebrates holidays and special events along with the city by lighting up in colors. It even lit up in blue and gold during the NHL playoffs. The building also hosts Buffalo’s New Year’s Eve “Ball Drop” each year, in which tens of thousands of Western New Yorkers turn out for the event.
The tower itself was modeled after the electric tower at the Pan-American Exposition and designed by local architects Esenwein and Johnson. The building’s façade was done in white terracotta and featured a cupola, or dome inspired by the Pharaohs lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt.
Since its purchase in 2004, Iskalo Development restored its two-story lobby space and tenant office suites. Part of the renovation included removing a drop-ceiling to reveal the 2-story lobby again. Wood, stone, lighting and inlay floors dazzled visitors when the building was rededicated in August of 2007. These renovations cost approximately $18 million.
“The Electric Tower is a highly visible piece of Buffalo’s history and we take pride in being good stewards of this important community asset,” says president and CEO Paul B. Iskalo.
In 2008 the tower was named “Building of the Year” by the Greater Buffalo Building Owners and Managers Association and recipient of the 2008 Brick by Brick award for “Best Historic Restoration”.
This coming January the Electric Tower will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
