{{short description|Skyscraper in Buffalo, New York, USA}} {{For|the building in Huntsville, Alabama|Rand Building (Huntsville, Alabama)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Rand Building | image = Rand_Building_in_Buffalo_New_York.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = | location = 14 Lafayette Square<br />Buffalo, New York 14203 | coordinates = {{coord|42|53|10.30|N|78|52|24.40|W|display=inline,title}} | status = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = 1929 | opening_date = | building_type = Office | antenna_spire = {{convert|405|ft|m|1}} | roof = {{convert|351|ft|m|1}} | top_floor = | floor_count = 29 | elevator_count = | cost = | floor_area = | architect = F. J. & W. A. Kidd (1929); James William Kideney & Associates | structural_engineer = | main_contractor = John W. Cowper Company | developer = | owner = Main Street Buffalo Properties, LP | operator = Priam Enterprises, LLC | references = }}
The '''Rand Building''' is a skyscraper and the second tallest building in Buffalo, New York. At the time it was built in 1929, it was the tallest in the city at a height of {{convert|405|ft}}.<ref>[http://library-towers.wikidot.com/rand-building Rand Building at library-towers.wikidot.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718050833/http://library-towers.wikidot.com/rand-building |date=2011-07-18 }}</ref> The building was built on the site of the 1903 Olympic Theatre and it has been suggested that the Rand Building was the inspiration for the Empire State Building.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rand Building, Buffalo|url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/126211/rand-building-buffalo-ny-usa|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027031447/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/126211/rand-building-buffalo-ny-usa|archive-date=2020-10-27|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Emporis}}</ref>
==History== thumb|left|The Olympic Theatre (1903) in Buffalo, New YorkThe building is named for George F. Rand Sr. (1864–1919),<ref name=Dunn>{{cite book|last1=Dunn|first1=Edward T.|title=Buffalo's Delaware Avenue : mansions and families|date=2003|publisher=Canisius College Press|location=Buffalo, N.Y.|isbn=0974093645|pages=555–557|url=http://buffaloah.com/h/rand/bios/bios.html|accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref> former president and chairman of the board of directors of Marine Midland Bank, who was killed in a plane crash near Caterham in Surrey, England.<ref name=buffaloah>{{cite web|last1=LaChiusa|first1=Chuck|title=Rand Building|url=http://www.buffaloah.com/a/lafsq/14/ext/index.html|website=buffaloah.com|accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref>
The Buffalo Broadcasting Company moved its stations WGR and WKBW to the building; the stations had moved out of the building by 1959. Today, the stations in the Townsquare Media cluster (WTSS, WBLK, WBUF, and WYRK) broadcast from studios in the Rand Building and have their transmitting antennas located atop its beacon.
Adjacent to the Rand Building is 10 Lafayette Square in Lafayette Square.
George F. Rand Jr. had a private dining room on the top floor of the building that he used for business lunches.<ref name=Dunn/> When the building opened, it featured an elaborate lighting system that highlighted its art deco stepped back style.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rand Building, Buffalo|url=http://www.forgottenbuffalo.com/forgottenbflofeatures/relighttherand.html|website=forgottenbuffalo.com|accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref>
A Zeppelin mooring post still in use on the Rand Building's roof.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fink |first=Jim |date=2025-12-08 |title=Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is Buffalo's zeppelin tower |url=https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/business/rand-building-home-to-buffalos-only-zeppelin-mooring-post |access-date=2025-12-09 |website=www.audacy.com |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2014, the building was sold by real estate developer David L. Sweet to Paul J. Kolkmeyer, a developer and former CEO of First Niagara Bank, for $3.89 million. Kolkmeyer's firm, Amherst-based Priam Enterprises LLC, buys, manages and develops residential apartment buildings and student housing in Buffalo and the surrounding communities.<ref name=Sale>{{cite news|last1=Christmann|first1=Samantha|title=Kolkmeyer completes purchase of 5 buildings|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/kolkmeyer-completes-purchase-of-5-buildings-20141231|accessdate=21 November 2015|publisher=The Buffalo News|date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> In addition to purchasing the Rand Building, Kolkmeyer purchased the Main Court Building at 438 Main St. (for $4.5 million), as well as the Main Seneca Building, designed by Green & Wicks, at 237 Main St., the Roblin Building at 241 Main St., (together for $2.56 million) and The Stanton Building, designed by Richard A. Waite, at 251 Main St. (for $646,569).<ref name=Sale/>
==Timeline== The site of the present day Rand Building went through various iterations before the Rand Building was constructed in 1929. * 1830s - Lumber yard<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1845 - Lafayette Presbyterian Church<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1850 - Church destroyed in fire and rebuilt<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1862 - A larger church was built to replace the previous structure<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1901-1913 - Congregation moved and the church building was sold and remodeled into a burlesque house called Lafayette Theater<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1908 - Private residence on corner demolished for new building by architects Seames and Zeitler called the Park Hof restaurant<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1914 - Sold, remodeled, and reopened as the "Olympic Theater," which showed films and vaudeville<ref name=buffaloah/> * 1929 - Rand Building constructed<ref name=buffaloah/>
==Gallery== <gallery mode=packed heights="170px"> Image:10 Lafayette Square and Rand Building.JPG| Image:Parade held to raise money for the cruiser Buffalo8d16698v.jpg| Image:TishmanBuildingandRandBuilding.jpg| </gallery>
==See also== * List of tallest buildings in Buffalo, New York {{Commons category|Rand Building (Buffalo, New York)}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{Buildings in Buffalo timeline}}
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Buffalo, New York Category:Office buildings completed in 1929