Richardson Olmsted Campus

09/30/2026

Didn’t have a chance to take a tour of Campus this summer? Not to worry: we are adding more dates to the calendar! Tours will now be offered on 10/10, 10/11, 10/17, & 10/18. Visit our website or Explore Buffalo to sign up.

https://explorebuffalo.org/richardson-olmsted-campus-tours/

09/24/2026

Throwback Thursday: Here is a recently uncovered photo of one of the female wards from the 1890s. Did you know that the western wards were actually designed by local Buffalo architect E.B. Green? By the time construction started on this portion of the asylum in 1890, Henry Hobson Richardson had passed a few years prior in 1886. E.B. Green did his best to replicate Richardson’s original plan with slight changes that included tin ceilings, fire places, and communal bunking areas in anticipation of a rising patient population.

09/17/2026

Campus was happy to welcome members of Explore Buffalo’s Louise Bethune Circle for a special tour followed by refreshments at the recently opened Richardson Hotel patio. We are thankful for our partnership with Explore Buffalo and are looking forward to collaborating with them in the future on more Campus activities!

08/18/2026

The Richardson Olmsted Campus recently received a new historic marker sign at the corner of Forest Avenue and Richmond Avenue. This is another step in preserving the historic character of the site, and providing the community with information on one of Buffalo’s most important buildings. A special thank you to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Erie County, and the city of Buffalo for making this initiative possible.

Stay tuned for information on a formal dedication ceremony!

08/12/2026

A reminder that this Sunday on the South Lawn is Buffalo in Full: A Celebration of Erie County! Check out the full schedule of events 👀 🦬

As part of the Erie County NY250 Commemoration, we’re coming together to celebrate 250 years of the United States by honoring the people, cultures, and stories that make our community so vibrant.

Bring your family and friends for an afternoon filled with music, food, cultural performances, history, fashion, art, and hands-on family activities as we celebrate the rich diversity that defines Erie County.

📅 Sunday, August 16
🕑 2:00–8:00 PM
📍 Richardson Olmsted Campus, 444 Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY

This community celebration is presented by the Unfinished Revolutions Committee in partnership with Lipsey Architecture Center, Arabesques, APAPA Buffalo- Niagara, Richardson Olmsted Campus and our supporting organizations.

Let’s celebrate our shared history while embracing the many cultures that continue to shape the future of Western New York. We can’t wait to see you there!

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

The footprint is just about complete 👀

The Lipsey Architecture Center Buffalo’s foundation has been poured and the steel frame has been constructed. The next step is the installation of the unique scalloped glass this fall. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to aim for a spring 2027 opening.

For a closer look at how construction is coming along, click the following link to see our latest 3D scan: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=9HKXQaznjuN

📸:

08/03/2026

🎉 Join Us for Buffalo in Full: A Celebration of Erie County! 🇺🇸🌍

As part of the Erie County NY250 Commemoration, we’re coming together to celebrate 250 years of the United States by honoring the people, cultures, and stories that make our community so vibrant.

Bring your family and friends for an afternoon filled with music, food, cultural performances, history, fashion, art, and hands-on family activities as we celebrate the rich diversity that defines Erie County.

📅 Sunday, August 16
🕑 2:00–8:00 PM
📍 Richardson Olmsted Campus, 444 Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY

This community celebration is presented by the Unfinished Revolutions Committee in partnership with Lipsey Architecture Center, Arabesques, APAPA Buffalo- Niagara, Richardson Olmsted Campus and our supporting organizations.

Let’s celebrate our shared history while embracing the many cultures that continue to shape the future of Western New York. We can’t wait to see you there!

07/29/2026

Spots are still available for the Architectural Icons tour on August 14th am& 15th!

This two-day event will feature photography tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the Richardson Olmsted Campus, the Buffalo Savings Bank, the Electric Tower, The Market Arcade Building, Lafayette Hotel, the Guaranty Building, and the Ellicott Square Building.

The program starts on Friday August 14th with an interior and exterior photo tour of the Martin House.

On Saturday August 15th, join us for a hard hat tour at the Richardson Olmsted Campus. Explore and photograph sections of the former Buffalo State Asylum that have been vacant since the 1970s. Afterwards, travel by trolley downtown to visit several landmark buildings throughout the city, before concluding the day back at the Richardson Olmsted Campus bar and restaurant for refreshments.

To secure your tickets, use the following link: https://www.cepagallery.org/product/architectural_icons/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleATXCLFwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp3x0clCNF1j8Yluj9xX0DQ6hMLxqFThQ-oDvL3XPKD08tLq7dw0yJTJMAoZx_aem_pcjCQh64CbLa6yxUA3Vv-Q

07/23/2026

Throwback Thursday: Most people are very familiar with the historic HH Richardson-designed asylum wards, but did you know that over 60 additional outbuildings were constructed across Campus during the 20th century? While most of them are gone, check out this junior photography project from 1966 featuring many of these now-lost structures!