A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Originally built in 1901 as a U.S. Post Office, the building came close to being demolished in the 1970s when when it was saved by a deal for Erie Community College to take it over as its City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Erie Community College City Campus. The former downtown post office opened in 1901. The massive example of a Gothic style was the work of James Knox Taylor, supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury. The building was saved from demolition in the 1970s.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of a bison on the exterior of ECC's city campus. The old post office came close to being demolished in the 1970s but Erie County Legislators Joan Bozer and Minnie Gillette spearheaded the campaign to make it the city campus for Erie Community College.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A "post office" sign at the western entrance to ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A look down the hallways on the first floor at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A view through an archway overlooking the main atrium at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A student looks out from the hallway above the atrium at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The glass roof over the main atrium at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A transom window frames students walking in the hallway at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A student walks down the hallway on the first floor of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A tunnel beneath Oak Street connects ECC City Campus with the Flickinger Center.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
In a storage area inside the security office at ECC City Campus, a memo from the Post Office Inspector in Charge from the 1910s remains posted to the wall.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The tower of ECC City Campus. Among those arguing for demolition in 1969 was former Erie County Democratic Chairman Peter Crotty, who called the building u201ca monstrous pile of death-like stone.u201d
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A stairwell at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The glass roof over the atrium at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Student Mohmed Balde checks his phone while relaxing in the third floor view over the grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of SUNY ECC's city campus will be named for the late former Erie County Legislator Joan Bozer, who fought to preserve the building in the 1970s.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A mobile hanging from the skylight ceiling over the atrium at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
An arched transolms echo the repeating shape of the arched hallways inside an office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A student walks past a classroom door on the fourth floor of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of a face in the elaborate molding atop the grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The brass letter box on the first floor of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A remnant from the days as a post office, a metal spiral staircase leads down from a storage area in what is now the security office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Inside the marketing office at ECC City Campus, an old safe is now used as a closet.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of art glass at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of a beast guarding the western face of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
An elaborate archway outside an entrance to ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A series of towers on the southern roofline mirrors the shape of the main tower at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The western entrance to ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Hallways overlook the main atrium at ECC City Campus on every floor of the north and south sides of the building.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of the elaborate molding atop the grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of the elaborate molding atop the grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus, Wednesday.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Students walk in a hallway on the fifth floor at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The grand atrium at the center of ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The first floor hallway is lined with arched ceilings at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of art glass in the doorway of the president's office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
The glass entrance to the president's office at ECC City Campus is decorated with the seals of federal branches represented in the building when it was a post office. During its time as a post office, this office would have belonged to the postmaster.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
An arched transolm echoing the repeating shape of the arched hallways inside an office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of a massive wooden door at the south entrance to ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A marble mosaic in an office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Elaborate marble molding in an office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A mosaic artwork in the admissions office at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A bulletin board in what is now an office in ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Inside the marketing office, a safe door is on a mezzanine level that no longer exists at ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Inside the marketing office at ECC City Campus, an old safe is now used as a closet.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
An old customer service window from the old post office remains as a decorative touch in ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Students walk through the arched hallways on the first floor of the ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
A lion's tongue doubles as a downspout at the western entrance to ECC City Campus.
A Closer Look: ECC City Campus
Detail of a bison on the exterior of ECC City Campus.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
