The touring of such a magnificent building with an interesting past. The beauty of the construction and design is a must see

Really great time at Hotel Henry Market! While I was there I walked around the hotel a bit and the outside grounds. I wouldn't stay there - I'm too much of an Intuitive for that but I can see the appeal. The history of the place can be taken in via a self guided audio tour. I plan on doing that. It would be great if it was Docent led. read more

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It was so much fun walking around this campus. I love the Gothic architecture, the greens and the buildings. We took a walking tour on the trail around the grounds and got to do a lot of exploring. It was cool to see art installations on the grounds as well. read more

Richardson Olmsted Campus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I have marveled at this exquisite building for years and I finally had the opportunity to check out the inside this past Saturday (June 4th, 2016) as a participant on one of the Richardson Olmsted Complex in-depth tours. Yes, I got my ticket MONTHS in advance and I am so, so happy I did. I was ecstatic to have the chance to go inside and learn about the past, present, and future of the Richardson Olmsted Complex aka Buffalo Psychiatric Center. As a student of Psychology, I have been fascinated by the mental health history this building encompasses. We met at 10am and had a bit of a briefing on the exterior of the building before making our way inside the grand entrance where we were fitted with hard hats. My favorite part of the tour was going into the basement - pitch black - and using a flashlight to explore. The history was fascinating and seeing the conditions of where mental health patients once resided was amazing. Learning about their daily living/lifestyle and why the building was constructed the way it was (maximizing sunlight/natural lighting) in addition to how the building evolved as mental health treatment changed was incredible. The tour guide was very informative as were the two chaperones. I was a little disappointed that photography is only allowed on the photography tour but I was able to take everything in with my eyes :) Part of the building is being renovated for Hotel Henry (which I totally hope I have the opportunity to stay in someday!) and we had the chance to see actual progress being made as a few construction workers were there working during the tour. Truly a work in progress!! For those of you who are interested in a tour but have since realized all the tours are already sold out for this year, I highly recommend keeping your eyes and ears out for next season's information (sign up to be on the Richardson Olmsted Complex mailing address). In the meantime, check out the FREE audio tour of the exterior which is super informative as well. More information can be found here: http://www.richardson-olmsted.com/visit/audio-tour/ People are also welcome to hang out on the South Lawn of the complex... play frisbee, have a picnic, take your dog for a walk, etc. This is a destination totally worth checking out for so many different reasons. Enjoy! read more

Richardson Olmsted Campus - Pretty much obsessed with this building. The towers building. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Tour was not so awesome. There was some history mostly about the construction but it's all rather surface, like you are reading from a 5th grade text book. When specific questions were asked one of the "docents" if you ask them said the "guide" would be covering it, but they are all guides it's just your luck of the draw who you get and if they are cooperative. Another question was asked and we were told point blankly by the guide "I'm new and I don't find that interesting so I haven't reasearched that" ???????? You pay a pretty good sum to take the tour, it's totally not worth it. The garbage left around by workers definitely detracts from the experience, no one wants to see water and soda bottles laying around. read more

Richardson Olmsted Campus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Buffalo, New York

That old psychiatric hospital on Forest Ave? You know, the Harry Potter looking esque building? If you've been living under a rock and haven't heard the news, it's being re-purposed into a hotel, conference center, architecture center and event space. It is super cool. They offer very limited tours during the summer which sell out quick to see the progress that is being made. I took a tour of the Richardson Olmsted Complex last year and loved seeing the progress, walking around to the old psychiatric hospital and getting a bit of a crash course on history. I'm super excited for the building to open its doors in 2016 and I would encourage every proud Buffalonian to take a tour of the building as it's being constructed while it's still accessible. Can't wait to see what becomes of the Richardson Olmsted Complex! read more

I only recently became aware of the Richardson Complex, and it wasn't even through some local talking about it one day. The indie horror game 'Outlast' actually used this building as a model for the 'Mount Massive Asylum' featured in the game. If you google Mount Massive, you'll find that the resemblance is so uncanny. This building is incredibly cool. I've never had the opportunity to go inside, but the tours they hold are usually sold out months in advance. That doesn't mean I can't drive up to the complex and take a couple pictures once in a while, though. Right now they're in the process of restoring the building, and I believe they intend on turning it into a hotel. I know I'll be itching to stay there one day. With most former Psychiatric Wards, this place is also believed to be haunted, so I'm really itching to see some ghosts already!! Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the fact that some spirits still linger at the building, but this place is so creepy to see at dusk/night. I really appreciate that. Stay creepy, Richardson Olmsted Complex. read more

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The Buffalo Philharmonic presented "Enlighten" on the Southlawn of this iconic historical building tonight. Inspiring live music. Stunning visuals. Lovely evening in the city of Buffalo. This is why we're so proud about our city. read more

Richardson Olmsted Campus - Hauntingly beautiful - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Richard Gere has a son. His son was in intensive care... he was almost dead. The story was complex. So they named this place after the shorthand version of incident. "Richard-son, alms-ded, complex." So now you know. I've toured around the grounds a few times, often just walking with friends, and once with a relative of a patient. I love this place a little bit too much. I wrote a review awhile back of the psychiatric hospital part of this complex, and I must have been living under a rock because I hadn't heard the news, that as Alex said, it's being re-purposed into a hotel, conference center, architecture center and event space. It is super cool. Very happy to hear that. So I will update this review when I get the chance to tour the facility during construction, and then again when it opens up in 2016, since it's one of my fave things in Buffalo. It's just so haunting and imposing and beautiful. But then I love Gothic things. In the meantime, you can re-read my Buffalo Psychiatric Center review from before, and hopefully you'll find it as entertaining as I do. Yes, it's true. I please myself. Cyndi Lauper style. DiVinyls style. Britney Spears style. "The Touch Of My Hand" I think is Britney's one, in case you're wondering. ******************** The Buffalo Psy Center is where top specialists study the song "Gangnam Style" and its cultural implications and the reasons behind its success. This place is not that. I've never been in the actual hospital part, and I don't think I ever want to. I imagine people screaming and lots of drugs and electric shock therapy (OK I know that doesn't happen, but leave me and my imagination to our delusions, ok?), so why on earth would I give such a horrific place a 5? But I've seen the grounds from the inside and the outside on multiple occasions. It's the most beautiful building in Buffalo. It's even more amazing than the Grand Central Terminal, or City Hall, or the Walmart Supercenter on Transit Road. Well, maybe not that last one, but it's definitely at least in the same league as Walmart. It's stunning, and creepy, and spectacular, especially at night when it is all lit up. I drove on to the grounds the other night at 3am or 5am or 1am or something, and there were police cars all over the place. I thought I was going to be pulled over and then escorted into the building. I've been wondering how long it would take for Buffalo to realize I was clinically insane. But no, not yet. I got away with it. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA MWAHAHAHAHAHA MWAHAHAHA MWAH HAH HEE HO HO HO So anyway. I would recommend this as a stop (at night) to every single person visiting Buffalo. It is that scary. It is that striking. It is that creepy. Just don't drive through here blasting Gangnam Style. Otherwise you'll end up on the inside looking out. And you don't want them to go all lobotomy on your ass, do you. Although technically those aren't done on your posterior. Although if they were, it would probably by now be a niche of adult movies. Come to think of it, it probably is. (Goes off to search). read more

The Richardson Olmsted complex is the result of decades of tireless work by Buffalo preservationists to ensure that this monumental structure and grounds were saved and repurposed. From their web site: "The Richardson Olmsted Complex, the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, was a partnership between noted American architect H.H. Richardson and best known American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The complex of buildings and grounds, with its signature Gothic towers, is a National Historic Landmark." That designation is more well-deserved than ever, with the most recent project that resorted Olmsted's original design to the grounds. Instead of a parking lot, a tranquil park one fronts the Forest Avenue side of the extensive property. Likewise, the main buildings have been stabilized and are undergoing restoration that will transform them into a boutique hotel, conference space, and architectural museum. This massive structure, with copper-roofed towers visible for miles, is an iconic part of Buffalo's rich architectural landscape and the signature building of one of America's most revered architects. For years, I've encountered European tourists in the parking lot, come to admire Richardson's master work. It's great to see Buffalo taking notice of this gem as well. The foundation in charge of the restoration has big plans that will be implemented over the next few years and it will be great to see this amazing site come back to life as a vibrant part of our city! read more

I'm actually not in the building this time but right outside there's a park and it's awesome. I bike to work on nice days and bike home. Today I decided to stop at the building and check it out from the outside and then decided to enjoy the park bench and lie down for a minute or ten . It's so relaxing and peaceful. I almost fell asleep. It's full of rock filled paths, flowers and beautiful trees. If you decide to walk your dog the park is dog friendly and they provide bags for waste and there's trash cans all along the paths. It's quite convenient. read more

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Came here with Tour of this place with the Buffalo Under Meetup group. The place is beautiful inside. The basement is kindly spooky. Its dark and cool thst we got to used flashlight. They doing a lots work on it. Part of it going into big hotel with 80's rooms. Cant wait when its done to go see it. This place once a mental hospital up to 1979. Was built in the late 1800's. Show you there alots history in Buffalo. When you take this tour you wear hard hat. Its worst it if love old building. read more

Richardson Olmsted Campus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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We had a terrific 2-hour tour of the "behind the scenes" at the Richardson Complex. Tours of the unrestored women's and men's wings of the complex were fascinating. It was well worth the cost and would be of interest to anyone with an interest in architecture or mental health. read more

When I was younger like around 2005-06 me and my friend would always walk around it. Well on day I decided to get curious and pull on doors.... Nothing I wasn't tall enough to see in the windows but the wonder boggles my mind. I could see beds chairs wheel chairs cabinets.... Things that have been left for dead sadly such as many ppl way back in the day. Its like time stopped and all was silent. I thought may be I'd hear a sound but nothing. The next say I did the same thing and two officers on a golf cart drove up and question us. They said you been pulling on the doors? Maybe.. What if it opened? Idk, I might of gone in .. Then they officer said their was holes in the floor especially in the grounds keeper buildings the houses on the lawn of the facility. He went on by saying the floors are hollow because their old and the facility use to bury body's in the floor. Idk if be was lieing but when I'm by saying if we got into any of the buildings with fallen and never be found kinda crazy so I just know I didn't do anything I don't want to fall into the floor never be found but on the other way I was like how could they mistreat ppl like this Anyways that my experience and turns out they do deff monitor the place bc they knew we were their the day before as well but couldn't get anyone out in time to confront us. So don't pull on the doors read more

Excellent place to take a tour (if you can nab one because they get booked really fast!) if you're a Buffalo history buff or simply love exploring historical spaces. I learned a lot on this tour about the vast plans they have for this space. They are currently working to turn this old mental hospital into a conference center, hotel space, and several classy restaurants all in one. Wow! Now I won't lie as of July 2105 it appears they still have a lot of work to do before they reach completion but they're definitely getting there. I must admit that my main motivation for coming here was the history part of it. I was very excited to see the interior of what remains of more than a century old mental hospital. It was definitely interesting to hear what life was like for the patients and staff back when this place was a functional mental health facility and being in the actual spot made it easy to identify with what you were hearing. It was also extremely interesting to hear the plans for the future, see blueprints, and see the progress. The tour is great for mixing the historical information of this astounding and iconic Buffalo property with the information regarding present and future plans for its use. read more