Upturned Soil

Upturned Soil.

"Upturned Soil":  A still from the film, of the Northland Workforce Training Center, emerging in a former industrial building on Buffalo's East Side.

While a great number of Buffalo's vacant industrial buildings still languish in stagnation, a recent economic upturn and the enactment of historic preservation tax credits have given rise to reuse. Vacant for the last 20 years, the 240,000-square-foot (22,000-square-meter) complex of the former Niagara Machine and Tool Works will see new life as a site for advanced manufacturing and workforce training, serving the surrounding community of the East Side.

Visions and Works

  • Developing cities for the old and young
    10/11/17

    Urban planning students have developed a plan to help Erie County prepare for rapidly aging population.

  • Design-build program targets affordable housing
    4/6/18

    A new initiative within the School of Architecture and Planning will begin addressing one of the largest needs facing U.S. cities today: affordable housing.

  • Compiling regional economic assessment a labor of love for UBRI
    2/20/17

    Despite an aging workforce, Buffalo's economy continues to grow, according to an exhaustive analysis of the region's economy, labor force and wages. The research was conducted by the UB Regional Institute and commissioned by Invest Buffalo Niagara.

  • Curricular connections: MS in Real Estate Development
    12/10/25
    This program provides a fusion of academic rigor and real-world applicability that not only positions graduates for success, but also underscores our commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in the ever-evolving realm of real estate. Students explore complex trends including place-making and urban design, mixed-income housing and community development, suburban transformation, sustainable development, energy innovation, and the effects of technology in the workplace.