Guaranty Building
A 1896 masterpiece by Louis Sullivan, the 'Father of the Skyscraper.' Its terracotta exterior is covered in intricate ornament, making it a classic of early skyscrapers.
The Guaranty Building (also known as the Prudential Building) was designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler and completed in 1896. Its 13-story steel frame is clad in reddish-brown terracotta panels, decorated from base to top with plant and geometric patterns. It embodies Sullivan's principle that 'form follows function.' It is a milestone of early American skyscrapers and is designated a National Historic Landmark. The building is now an office building. A free small exhibition on the ground floor introduces Sullivan and the building's restoration. The lobby's mosaics and stained-glass skylight are worth seeing. It can be explored on foot together with City Hall and Shea's Theatre.
Opening hours
Lobby exhibition hall open on weekdays
Nearby sights
- Buffalo City Hall Observation Deck
- Canalside
- Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
- Shea's Performing Arts Center
- Buffalo RiverWorks
- Elmwood Village
- Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
- Anchor Bar