Stephen Brockman was invited to speak at Parsons School of Design to present the firm’s work repurposing the abandoned Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, built in 1881, into the Henry Hotel, with a design that respectfully acknowledges the history of the building and the people who spent time there. The renovations aimed to retain the grandeur of the original project by HH Richardson, Thomas Kirkbride, and Frederick Law Olmsted, while placing existing features in dialogue with modern additions.

“Perhaps, the most satisfying element is that we have been able to turn an abandoned building with a complex history from a liability to a point of pride for the people of Buffalo. We’ve been able to create a one-of-a-kind hotel that welcomes the public in to explore this architectural marvel.”
—Stephen Brockman