Hotel Touraine

Hotel Touraine
262-274 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo NY 14202

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1922 postcard - before the four-story annex was added	Postcard - after the four-story annex was added	Gothic Revival style featuring Venetian Gothic arches	Delaware Avenue facade - detail

North side elevation	Corner quoins	Trefoils in terra cotta Gothic Revival parapet	Trefoils in terra cotta Gothic Revival parapet

Main entrance - terra cotta: Ogee arch Trefoil panels in spandrels	Main entrance - terra cotta: Ogee arch, with crockets Trefoil panels in spandrels	Foliated finial in center of ogee arch in terra cotta window surround	Corbels at bottom of ogee arch Crockets

Terra cotta window surround: Foliated finial in center of label molding	Terra cotta window surround: Foliated finial in center of label molding	Metal ancones support cornice over restaurant entrance	Corbel
			See also: 1905 photo 6 photos of Hotel Touraine in the BECHS Collection
Basement level. Diaper pattern grille work.	Stretcher bond

BUILDING MATERIAL
Stone, brick, terra cotta

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
Steel frame

HISTORY
Erected 1902. Constructed as an apartment house, but may have been a hotel from date of opening.

1903 - The hotel was leased to H.C. Griswold of New York City. The term of the lease was 10 years. Mr. Griswold was connected with the most fashionable hotels and apartment houses in NYC.

1923 - Four-story annex added

1982 - Hotel converted to 104 apartments

For history of the owners of the house that was demolished for the Touraine, see Henry Livingston and Catharine Gibson Lansing

ARCHITECTS
Esenwein & Johnson (designed the 1923 addition, also)

LOCATION
The building is situated on the southwest corner of Delaware Avenue and South Johnson Park (one block north of W. Chippewa). The Greystone Hotel, directly to the west, is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Located in the core of of Buffalo's business district, among early and mid-twentieth century commercial buildings.

DESCRIPTION
Nine-story Gothic Revival style hotel with four-story annex (added 1923). Unique example of the Flamboyant Gothic style in Buffalo as it was applied to a multistory structure, built as a residential hotel. The Hotel originally had 250 rooms.

The building has a roof line 118 feet above the street; frontage on Delaware Avenue of 64 feet, and 122 feet on Johnson Park. One feature of the building was the installation of 100 bathrooms. The rooms were finished in red polished tile work with golden oak woodwork. Each room had a modern shower attachment. The tubs used were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition and won a gold medal.

Sources:

1979 NY State Division for Historic Preservation Building-Structure Inventory
Martin Wachadlo, Consultant

web site consulting by ingenious, inc.

BUILDING MATERIAL	Stone, brick, terra cotta
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM	Steel frame
HISTORY	Erected 1902. Constructed as an apartment house, but may have been a hotel from date of opening. 1903 - The hotel was leased to H.C. Griswold of New York City. The term of the lease was 10 years. Mr. Griswold was connected with the most fashionable hotels and apartment houses in NYC. 1923 - Four-story annex added 1982 - Hotel converted to 104 apartments For history of the owners of the house that was demolished for the Touraine, see Henry Livingston and Catharine Gibson Lansing
ARCHITECTS	Esenwein & Johnson (designed the 1923 addition, also)
LOCATION	The building is situated on the southwest corner of Delaware Avenue and South Johnson Park (one block north of W. Chippewa). The Greystone Hotel, directly to the west, is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Located in the core of of Buffalo's business district, among early and mid-twentieth century commercial buildings.
DESCRIPTION	Nine-story Gothic Revival style hotel with four-story annex (added 1923). Unique example of the Flamboyant Gothic style in Buffalo as it was applied to a multistory structure, built as a residential hotel. The Hotel originally had 250 rooms. The building has a roof line 118 feet above the street; frontage on Delaware Avenue of 64 feet, and 122 feet on Johnson Park. One feature of the building was the installation of 100 bathrooms. The rooms were finished in red polished tile work with golden oak woodwork. Each room had a modern shower attachment. The tubs used were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition and won a gold medal.