Three Uniland Development Company projects spanning office, flex, and industrial space have been named finalists for Buffalo Business First’s 2022 Brick by Brick Awards. The awards recognize the best of real estate, construction, and development in Western New York. From assisting clients with site selection, planning and interior design to construction and property management, Uniland’s full-service capabilities are reflected in the projects recognized by the Brick by Brick Award judges.
“These exclusive awards celebrate not only these accomplishments but also the continued progression of Buffalo’s renaissance,” notes John M. Tebeau, Business First publisher. “This list of award-winning projects proves that the building industries represented here have persevered through the toughest and strangest years yet.”
Uniland’s projects named as finalists include:
Aero Instruments & Avionics’ New Office at 3332 Walden Avenue in the Innovation category: Established in 1968, Aero Instruments & Avionics, Inc. is a Western New York company with over 90 local employees that is an industry leader in test and repair of Instruments, Avionics and Accessories for commercial air transport and regional category aircraft. For over 50 years, Aero has been a trusted testing partner for airlines, major shipping companies, and aircraft manufacturers worldwide.
Originally based in a small office at Niagara Falls International Airport, Aero subsequently operated out of a former middle school building on Nash Road in North Tonawanda for 40 years. As Aero was expanding their service offerings, they began to explore new workspace options to support their growing needs. After scouting multiple locations across Niagara and Erie counties, Aero selected 33,000 SF of office and flex space within Uniland’s Walden Business Centre in Depew.
Uniland worked closely with Aero’s team and Nabali Electric Co. to designate the proper electrical requirements for the different testing solutions, some of which require special 400 Hz power. The facility also required a backup generator and strong HVAC systems to support their broad testing modules, which span both computer generated and manual tests. The Aero team is proud of their many employees who have been at the company for 30 years or more. As their veteran workers approach retirement age, Aero is optimistic that the enhanced office will help them retain and attract the next generation of their workforce for the decades to come.
Aither Health’s New Office at 20 Hazelwood Drive in the New Office category: Founded in 2019 by local healthcare insurance industry veterans Laura Hirsch and Lisa True, Aither Health is a healthcare solutions company and third-party administrator intent on disrupting the status quo by putting physicians back in charge of healthcare. Aither offers a full suite of innovative products and services for third-party administrators and risk bearing entities such as self-funded employers, health plans, and providers.
While Aither Health launched in Dallas, where a co-founder has a residence, they made the intentional decision to build their company in the Buffalo Niagara region. Since launching as a company with the visionary co-founders as the only employees, Aither Health has grown from a client roster of a few companies to over 15 nationwide with a workforce of over 100 employees who have been enlisted into the “Aither Army” here is Western New York.
In the spring of 2020, as COVID was raging, they were staffing up with a headcount approaching 40 employees. Ms. Hirsch and Ms. True began searching for office space that could not only house their growing workforce, but also be a haven for their nascent corporate culture. Aither Health chose 20 Hazelwood Drive in Uniland’s Audubon Business Centre in Amherst. The team is particularly pleased with the location of the office as it offers a smooth commute for their co-founders and many employees who are Niagara County residents. It has also helped their recruiting team attract a range of candidates from the Niagara Falls area as well from the Northtowns, in addition to Buffalo and Cheektowaga.
The “Aither Army” is comprised of seven platoons, the different groups based on product line. Each platoon has its own section with a huddle space at its center for impromptu meetings and collaboration as well as the group manager and team support located with an accessible desk at the entrance to the unique work area. A training room enables them to introduce their procedures and operations to new employees, two conference rooms host client meetings, and they are working on upgrading the overflow area of their breakroom into a lounge with gaming equipment and furniture for a more relaxed environment conducive for downtime and team building exercises.
Lornamead’s Industrial Expansion at 175 Cooper Avenue in the Innovation category: The Buffalo region has a rich industrial heritage, and this new chapter is one to smile about. Lornamead, Inc. is a leading personal care company with a broad portfolio of well-loved consumer brands and full turnkey manufacturing capabilities in specialty oral care. They have been a tenant since 1996 at Uniland’s Interstate Commerce Centre in Tonawanda.
In 2019, Lornamead began to assess their future plans as growing demand for their oral care products was reaching their peak capacity at their existing 66,000 SF ISO and GMP Certified manufacturing facility at 175 Cooper Avenue. According to Lornamead, the facility has delivered double-digit output growth over the past three years. Working closely with Lornamead’s local executives in partnership with Silvestri Architects, PC, Uniland was able to understand their growing facility needs and optimize the land around their existing building for an expansion, completed in 2021, which provides 26’ clearance height, 45’ x 30’ column spacing, and three deep docks.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony on July 28.
