Our Vision
Everyday gathering in a historic place
The DL&W project is a 120,000-square-foot public market, event venue, and gathering space opening on the second level of Buffalo’s historic DL&W terminal. With food, fun, culture, and community at its heart, this national landmark is being reimagined and designed for everyday use — by everyone.
A regional anchor, then and now
The DL&W is located at the foot of Buffalo’s Main Street, set beside Canalside along the Buffalo River at its confluence with the Niagara River, the Erie Canal, and Lake Erie. This project transforms 120,000 square feet of an underused iconic structure into a new civic hub — linking its past to its future, its city to its increasingly accessible waterfront, and its citizens to each other.
The DL&W terminal opened in 1917 amid Buffalo’s industrial era. It served as a central transit hub, welcoming rail and steamship passengers from across the region for decades. Though passenger rail service is long gone, the station can still serve the community as a public transportation link and a community asset.
A transporation hub
The DL&W project is deeply tied to Buffalo’s movement: past, present, and future. It sits atop the southern end of the expanding Metro Rail line, with connections via the transit system to Canalside and the Shoreline Trail, which is part of the larger Empire State Trail.
Inspiration, near and far
We’ve spent time studying markets, public spaces, entertainment venues, food halls, and civic hubs around the world—places that bring people together through food, culture, and shared purpose. Some are in our backyard, others are oceans away, but each one has offered insight into what makes a public space work. The projects featured here have helped shape our thinking as we plan for a place that’s distinctly Buffalo, built with care and curiosity.
Armature Works — FL
Armature Works is a historic mixed-use building featuring eateries, a public market, and event spaces for free and ticketed events.
Chelsea Mkt + High Line — NY
A renowned food and retail marketplace, Chelsea Market is adjacent to the High Line, NYC’s notable transformation of an unused rail line into public green space.
Pier 17 — NY
Looking over the East River, NYC’s Rooftop at Pier 17 is an iconic outdoor concert venue.
Cobblestone Live — Buffalo
A medium-scale outdoor music event with multiple stages is hosted in the DL&W’s neighborhood.
Mercato Metropolitano —UK
An adaptive reuse of an abandoned paper factory, leveraging a mix of market stalls, community tables, a food incubator, and cooking classes.