WUSF: Buffalo is Wright Place for Boathouse (2007-09-26)

Buffalo is one of the cities fortunate enough to have buildings designed under the watchful eye of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. But on Friday, another Wright masterpiece will be unveiled on the Buffalo waterfront - nearly half a century after his death.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse was built from long-abandoned plans intended for another city. It is a shared venture between local Wright promoters and the West Side Rowing Club. They say Wright would likely approve of the posthumous project that beautifully combines form and function.

Some might call it penance for tearing down Wright's magnificent Larken Building. Or, it might simply be called shameless promotion. Regardless, Buffalo is gradually expanding its tourism draw with some brand new Wright designed buildings - the most recent one he never even envisioned for this city.

The soaring, elegant boathouse is perched at a prime vantage point along the Black Rock Canal. It is a new companion for the West Side Rowing Club. But it was actually designed for the University of Wisconsin's Rowing Club.

Longtime rower, Ted Marks is President of the Wright Boathouse Corporation. He shows off finishing touches to the plans that were shelved nearly a century ago when Wisconsin lost interest.

Buffalo saw no reason they should go to waste.

Marks said acquiring the plans really wasn't that difficult. The fee is $1,500, plus 15 percent of construction costs, and a fee for intellectual rights. Marks said the total cost for the Boathouse is about $5.5 million. But there is good reason for the steep pricetag.

Wright Boathouse Corporation Executive Director Sharon Courtin points out some of the finer details of the opulent boathouse, including the skylights, leaded glass windows, the quarter-sawn oak, heated floors and double decks overlooking the canal.

Courtin said the lavish details are straight from the original design. The Wright legacy foundation required the boathouse be built according to those specs. Courtin said such detail is what Wright officianados, who travel here to see the boathouse, will expect.

And she said they will be coming. Courtin said she is already getting callls and emails asking when the boathouse will be open for tours.

Back down at the docks, volunteers were busy getting the boathouse ready to receive visitors.

Bill Flemming has been a member of the rowing club for more than 50 years. He was a crew member on some of the most winning teams in the club's history. Flemming said there is a pretty good crew steering this project too. He is connfident it will be a successful partnership.

Still, there are some Frank Lloyd Wright scholars who oppose docking Wright buildings where they weren't intended.

But Wright's foundation and local Wright promoters say they remained true to Wright's vision with this project. For the new boathouse, in some cases though, that has meant that form doesn't necessarily follow function.

The West Side Rowing Club will be using the new boathouse. But as Marks explains, the Club will have to adapt to Wright's aesthetic.

Racing shells will have to be carried into the boathouse sideways to acccomodate the smaller doors that were designed by Wright at a time when the boats were smaller.

That is hardly a big obstacle for the nearly one hundred year-old rowing club. President Bill Maggio said they have weathered far worse over the years. The biggest came in 1975 when the original boathouse burnt to the ground.

Over the years they have rebuilt into one of the largest and most prestigious rowing clubs in the country. Maggio said the new boathouse adds to that prestige and gives them much needed space for their growing club.

Although he admits there will be a few adjustments to their fancier digs. But he said club members will take good care of the building.

Maggio said everyone recognizes the importance of the boathouse to the Wright legacy in Buffalo, and the vital role it will play in Buffalo's efforts to boost tourism. He said the beeautiful Wright building, situated at the doorstep of the Peace Bridge is tangible waterfront development.

The grand opening of the Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse is Friday. Tours are expected to begin in the near future.