Facilities Planning and Design
University at Buffalo The State University of New York
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Baird Hall

 Facility: BAIRD   Baird Hall
 Number: A460
 Function: Academic
 Gross Square Feet: 85,580
 Construction Cost: $6,132,000
 Completed: November, 1981
 Architect: Ulrich Franzen & Assoc.


 
OCCUPANTS

College of Arts & Sciences
         Music

Chief Information Officer
         Music Libraries

 
FUNCTION
Baird Hall houses classrooms, faculty studio offices, a music library, two multi-use rehearsal halls, and 64 practice rooms for the Department of Music. It also contains a modern recital hall--a multi-purpose performance room with three-part continuous seating and footlights, klieg lights, and a control room. 
 
NAMESAKE
Frank Burkett Baird (1852-1939) was a philanthropist and successful industrialist. He came to Buffalo in 1888, built the Tonawanda Iron & Steel Company, developed the Hanna Furnace Company, and served on the board of the Pan American Exposition in 1901. By far his greatest accomplishment was as "Father of the Peace Bridge" and was a proponent of the construction which opened vehicular traffic between the U.S. and Canada in 1927. He chaired the UB Council and was a member of the Board of the University Foundation. Mr. Baird served as trustee of Forest Lawn Cemetary and is also buried there. His son, Cameron Baird (1905-1959), a violinist in the Buffalo Philomarnic Orchestra, founded the University's Music Department in 1951 and chaired it until his death. Another son, William C. Baird (1907-1987), was chair of the UB council and an exceedingly generous benefactor of UB.
Frank Baird
 
Modified May 26, 2006 10:30 AM