Tour of the Richardson – Olmstead Campus

The conference includes two alternative tour options. Conference attendees may attend one tour but not both, because the tours occur simultaneously. Conference attendees should select the tour they desire to attend at the time they register for the conference. The number of people that can be accommodated on each tour is limited. Transportation to each tour site will be via separate busses, each boarding at the conference venue starting at 8:15 am on Friday, and departing for the tour site at 8:30 am. Each tour will require standing and moderate walking for approximately 75 to 90 minutes. Portions of each tour will be outdoors, so tour participants should be properly attired for the weather, which may have potential to be cool with possible rain. Tours will be held regardless of the weather. Conference organizers are submitting the tours for accreditation for AIA Learning Units. Immediately below is the description of the second tour; the first tour is described above.

Tour Site: Richardson-Olmstead Campus

Address: 444 Forest Ave, Buffalo

Website: richardson-olmsted.com/

The Richardson‑Olmsted Campus in Buffalo, New York, is one of the most significant architectural landmarks of the nineteenth century, conceived as a progressive response to mental‑health care reform. Designed by Henry Hobson Richardson beginning in 1870, the complex embodied the ideals of the Kirkbride Plan, which emphasized natural light, fresh air, and therapeutic surroundings. Its monumental stone towers and Romanesque Revival massing marked a turning point in Richardson’s career, influencing his later work and American architecture more broadly. The surrounding, 42-acre landscape was crafted by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, whose curving paths and pastoral plantings softened the institutional setting. For decades, the site operated as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane and later as the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. As treatment philosophies evolved and the campus became underused, many buildings fell into disrepair, prompting growing concern for the future of this nationally important historic resource.

Preservation of the Richardson‑Olmsted Campus has involved a multi‑phase effort to stabilize, restore, and adapt the historic structures for contemporary use. Work has included extensive masonry repair, roof replacement, and window restoration to protect the buildings from further deterioration. Interior rehabilitation has focused on retaining significant architectural features while introducing modern systems that meet current safety and accessibility standards. Landscape renewal continues to reestablish Olmsted’s original design intent. The campus now serves as a model for adaptive reuse, with ongoing planning aimed at activating additional buildings for cultural, educational, and community purposes while ensuring long‑term stewardship of the site.

A 75‑minute docent‑led tour introduces visitors to the architectural and cultural significance of the campus through access to restored and historically preserved spaces. Guests typically explore the iconic Towers Building, learning how Richardson’s design shaped patient experience and influenced American architecture. Docents interpret original corridors, patient wings, and communal areas, offering insight into nineteenth‑century mental‑health treatment and the evolution of the site over time. Visitors also see areas that reveal the challenges of large‑scale preservation, including unrestored sections that illustrate decades of decline. The tour provides a compelling blend of architectural history, social context, and behind‑the‑scenes restoration stories.

Tour participants must wear closed-toe footwear. Hardhats will be furnished by the Richard-Olmstead Campus and must be worn by tour participants. Photography during the tour is allowed.

Also of Interest for Frederick Law Olmstead Fans: Fans of famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead will be interested to note that the Richardson- Olmstead Complex is adjacent to the southern boundary of Buffalo’s 350-acre Delaware Park, which was also designed by Olmstead. Buffalo’s Delaware Park, part of Buffalo’s extensive Olmstead Parks System, was essentially Olmstead’s warm up for designing the 800-acre Central Park in New York City. Indeed, Delaware Park and Central Park share numerous design features. Conference attendees interested in visiting Delaware Park will need to do so on their own; the conference does not include any organized tour of, or transportation to, Delaware Park.

Also of Interest for Henry Hobson Richardson Fans: The William Dorsheimer House, located at 434 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo NY, is a private residence (not open to the public) that was also design by Henry Hobson Richardson. This residence is one of Richardson’s early works and an important example of his transition toward the Romanesque style. The house remains intact and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.