The Church & Hallwalls: Impressions From Last Night
It’s a beautiful thing done right. We’ve written about if before, and the News has covered it extensively and well. So we thought we’d just pass along a few of the overwhelming number of impressions we left with last night after tours that Ed Cardoni (Executive Director of Hallwalls) and Misha Hoffman (Performance Space Manager for The Church) were kind enough to give us. And share with you a few slideshows.
- From the configurable walls to the best-of-class gallery lighting, to the incredibly restored office spaces to the theater-quality screening room to the wonderful moments in the rhythm of the space where the modern meets the past—the Hallwalls space is amazing.
- To say that The Church is impressive is an understatement. The vaulted ceilings create a massive space that is mesmerizing. The original wood has been restored along with the stained-glass windows throughout the building. Wooden pews on the second level line the parameter of the room creating an almost operatic atmosphere. Arches and beams flow up and down the walls bringing the space to life, almost in preparation for upcoming performances that will fill The Church with fans of the many different types of acts sure to play there.
- The Church, as impressive as it is now, is still months from being finished. That said, when you stand in the space and realize that Scott Fisher and Ani Difranco had this in mind when they first saw the building 10 years ago, when it was falling down and on the brink of being demolished, you realize what genuine visionaries they are.
- When Misha Hoffman speaks of just some of the plans in the works for the venue and the space downstairs, it’s pretty clear what Ani Difrano means when she speaks of this space being an “artistic catalyst for downtown Buffalo”.
Absolutely beautiful! A victory for downtown and the region. And to think it almost became another 'shovel ready site.' Damn preservationists!
Bravo!
I can't wait for tonight!
would have been a good spot for a Rite Aid or Walgreens
I am saddened by the fact that those Obstructionist Preservationists have forced us to retain this magnificant and unique church which has attracted such unique and creative uses to this corner. Didn't they know that it was economically infeasible and that the building was structurally unsound. On top of that it is going to attract people. Where are they going to park? This would have been a perfect place for the people to park if it had only been torn down. OOOPs!
Oh well we can make some other space shovel ready.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, I am viewing this from Italy. It is incredible! congratulations to all concerned-you have done the near impossible. Francine Collier
Friday night was VERY impressive. The space is beautiful and I can't wait to see what Ed comes up with for furture programming. The artists around here are so amazing and a centralized location to exchange their ideas is much needed and will only spur more creative forces to prospure.
They have come a long way since their Essex Street days
OUTSTANDING...now THAT is the kind of architecture that's worth saving! Ani and Scot...BRAVO! Cannot wait until the performance venue opens...
As a member of the team that has worked for more than three years to get The Church to its present state, recognition and thanks should be given the companies and craftspeople who have made Buffalo a better place because of this project. Behind great visionaries like RBR and Hallwalls are great, everyday people who care about their city, respect buildings that have come before them, and take great pride in their work: historic carpentry, archaic masonry, copperwork and roofing, old-school plastering and painting, plumbing and pipefitting, electricity, lighting, architecture, design, engineering, etc.
Great job, team. Be proud. And much thanks to RBR and Hallwalls for the opportunity to display "our artwork".