Educational opportunity Center

The success of the UB EOC building was seen in its ability to visually represent the EOC’s mission of providing an attainable and seamless educational opportunity to their students. The architecture provides EOC with a strong, unique, independent identity along Ellicott and Oak Streets, while also making a connection to the adjacent M. Wile building. The signature form of the building is that of a window frame, which seen from the main street offers views of the academic core. This view is intended to inspire and encourage prospective students to look in and imagine attending the center.

A major design element of the Ellicott Street façade is a glass enclosed stairway. This stairway is a visual symbol of the student journey of education and their ascension to success. It provides a unique experience with dynamic view of Buffalo along the way, encouraging its use and also bringing daylight into the core of the building.

HOLT worked closely with an integrated design team to test various construction methods and building systems to determine the highest value and greatest sustainability potential for the clients, users, and the environment.

HOLT started the process with a vision meeting with all of the building steering committee members to understand the building’s mission. The team then prepared three separate and distinct conceptual designs that incorporated the clients’ vision, each placing emphasis on different characteristics. The client chose desirable aspects from each of the three conceptual designs and HOLT was able to integrate the ideas and elements into a coordinated project. The final design has become a significant building for the University and the City of Buffalo.