Q. What is Doors Open Buffalo?
A. On June 15, 2019, Explore Buffalo will present Doors Open Buffalo. This event grants FREE public access to the interiors of downtown Buffalo’s most significant buildings. Whether it’s your first time touring downtown or you’re a seasoned Explore Buffalo tour-goer, this will be a unique occasion to see downtown as you’ve never seen it before: beyond the doors! Behind the scenes tours, access to floors with a birds eye view, and buildings you may not have known that you can visit: and it’s all free!In recent years, Buffalo has become an architecture destination city. It has received national media attention with articles in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2018, Explore Buffalo hosted more than 23,000 visitors from all over the world on its tours and programs. We hope to mirror the success of other cities’ Doors Open events like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Denver.
Q. When is Doors Open Buffalo?
A. Saturday June 15, 2019Public hours: 10am – 5pm*
VIP Passholders Access starting at 9am
*Be sure to check each building’s event guide listing for specific hours and final admittance times. Not all buildings will be open for the entirety of the event.
Q. How do I get VIP Access? What does VIP Access include?
A. Explore Buffalo Explorer Pass holders at any level will have access one hour earlier than the public (9am – 10am). Simply show your current pass at the participating buildings. **Please note the opening times of each building in the guide or on the website, as a few will not be open during VIP hour.**To learn about the year-round benefits and to purchase an Explorer Pass, please click here. Or you can email explorerpass@explorebuffalo.org with any questions on how to purchase or renew your pass.
Q. Where is Doors Open Buffalo? How do I navigate the tour?
A. Doors Open Buffalo is a self-guided and self-paced tour of 35 downtown Buffalo buildings. Visit 3 buildings or visit all 35! Begin your day at our main information hub at the Central Library or choose any of the participating buildings as your starting point! You can pick up a map at any of these locations, or you can use the Buildings On Tour section of this website as your guide! All participating buildings are within a one-mile radius of the Central Library. Be sure to check back often on our Where to Begin page to learn about parking and different options for getting around downtown.Doors Open Buffalo is generously funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, the Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, the Seneca Gaming Corporation, the CSAAHN Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; administered by Arts Services Initiative of Western New York.