Bethune Lofts

Owner: Ciminelli Real Estate

Project Value: $15.6 million

Completed: August 2013

Architect: Carmina Wood Morris

No. of Keys: 87

Built in 1915 by distinguished industrial architects Lockwood, Greene, and Co., this building was a “daylight factory,” a rectangular, exposed concrete structure punctuated by large glass openings. The building was named after Louise Blanchard Bethune, who became the country’s first female architect.

This $15.6 million renovation to the six-story, 87-apartment building features two-story lofts and a penthouse. The lofts have one or two bedrooms and many different configurations, based on the unique components of the building.

The apartments have hardwood flooring in the living areas, carpet in the bedrooms and tile in the bathrooms. The 14-foot ceilings and exposed ceilings showcase the original character of the building.

The exterior of the building consists of 70 percent glass, allowing natural light to pour into the units.

Also included are a lounge, bike storage room, fitness facility and 148-car parking lot. The on-site laundry facility includes smart technology that allows the tenant to check on machine availability from their cell phone, as well as receive an alert when their wash or drying is complete.

Energy efficient windows, water use reduction through low flow water fixtures and a green roof ensure that this LEED-certified facility will operate with the most advanced technologies available.

The building has been added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places as an excellent, intact example of a daylight factory in the City of Buffalo.