Uniland Development Company is Buffalo’s largest commercial real estate developer with a history of delivering innovative and client-centered real estate solutions since 1974. Two of Uniland’s recent projects have been highlighted with Buffalo Business First’s 2025 Brick by Brick Awards, which recognize the best in real estate, construction, and development in Western New York.
Uniland’s Winning project is:
Canisius High School Madden Center for Global Learning in the K-12 Education/Small category: Uniland led the construction management of the latest educational innovation to a historic pillar of Buffalo’s academic landscape. As the flagship initiative of Canisius High School’s “Rich Tradition. Bold Vision.” capital campaign, launched in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Western New York’s only Catholic, Jesuit, college-preparatory school, the Madden Center for Global Learning is a $2.5 million hub. The 1,500-square-foot facility is highlighted by a giant interactive video conference screen, which connects students with their fellow 2,000 Jesuit institutions globally, Canisius High School alumni, and learning opportunities worldwide. The Madden Center for Global Learning enables Canisius to host global learning seminars, guest lecturers, social events, fundraisers, and extracurricular activities.
The facility was generously donated by Michael Madden of the Class of 1967. Raised in South Buffalo, Mr. Madden is an example of Canisius’ impact on its students and the broader world. He attended Canisius on scholarship as his steelworker father was on disability and could not afford the tuition. As a student, Mr. Madden helped fund his tuition by working as a delivery driver after school. After earning his undergraduate degree at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., Madden completed his MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He then worked for a Wall Street securities firm, where he ultimately ran global investment banking before founding his private equity investment firm, BlackEagle Partners.
Constructed by Uniland Development Company, the Madden Center features a modern architectural design that complements the existing campus architecture and creates a welcoming and inspiring learning environment. It is centrally located to students and faculty, strategically placed between the historic Koessler Academic Center and the Beecher Academic Wing.
Uniland leveraged its decades of experience leading key construction projects at both Canisius High School (the Montante Academic Hall and Bernard J. Kennedy ’49 Field House) and neighboring Canisius University (Canisius University Science Hall, Village Townhouses; as well as founding the Carol & Carl Montante Cultural Center). Currently, three generations of the Montante Family are alumni of both Canisius High School and Canisius University.
“The Madden Center enables Canisius to break new ground and lead the way in utilizing the diverse richness and potential of technology as the ministry of Jesuit education moves into and through the 21st century. Our students now enjoy the unique capacity to broaden their horizons far beyond the walls of this school, to interact with other like-minded individuals, especially those at Jesuit institutions literally throughout the world,” said Canisius High School President Fr. David Ciancimino, S.J. “Michael Madden’s life story is marked by hard work, perseverance, business smarts, personal integrity and a genuine and generous care for others. We recognize this loyal alumnus for his unwavering support for Canisius High School and his generous commitment to the future of our faculty, staff and students.”
Uniland’s Finalist project is:
BestSelf Behavioral Health Headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center in the Community Services category: Executing the project from site acquisition and construction management to property management, Uniland led the complete redevelopment of 899 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, transforming the existing building into a new corporate headquarters and Child Advocacy Center. BestSelf is the largest community-based behavioral health organization in Western New York, serving over 41,000 children and adults with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Click here for a full case study about this major project.
The $22 million project on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus involved significant renovations, including the addition of a third floor to accommodate BestSelf’s expanding needs. The result is a 67,000-square-foot, three-story, state-of-the-art facility providing a modern and supportive environment for both BestSelf’s administrative operations and the critical services offered by the Child Advocacy Center.
Through dozens of meetings and site visits to multiple existing BestSelf facilities, Uniland’s team learned about the organization’s diverse operations and programs. Going to the drawing board, they proposed adding a third floor, thereby expanding the size of the building to 67,000 SF in a way that could accommodate their operations with workspaces fostering collaboration as well as patient-centered treatment rooms. This became the first building-story addition in Uniland’s 50-year history and that of its veteran project team.
For many project partners, the most impactful element of the site is the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf. It strategically consolidates services previously spread across multiple locations, bringing together a multidisciplinary team under one roof for this critical casework. The team includes law enforcement, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, medical examiners, prosecutors, and mental health providers working collaboratively to provide safety, support, and healing. Being located on the BNMC enhances access for patients and their family members as well as the various case partners—including those from the neighboring John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital—with a range of mass transit options and on-site parking.
BestSelf President & CEO Elizabeth Woike emphasizes the facility’s potential: “The expanded center will enable BestSelf to serve every child in our community who needs support. This represents a monumental improvement from the CAC’s previous location, which could only accommodate one-third of the more than 3,000 annual cases of sexual abuse reported in Erie County. We are grateful to the community for helping us achieve this critical milestone.”
This is Uniland’s third industry accolade for the BestSelf project. Earlier, BestSelf Behavioral Health’s Headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center facility received the Community Impact Award for the 2025 Redevelopment of the Year for Buffalo by The CoStar Group, and it was honored as the Building Redevelopment Project of the Year by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Buffalo, respectively.
