Uniland Development Company has been recognized as the 2025 Company of the Year for Development by Buffalo Business First. This annual selection by the publication’s editorial staff recognizes individual companies in categories ranging from banking to transportation for their work in the preceding months, including achieving notable goals, overcoming market challenges, and achieving broad recognition.
In Buffalo Business First’s feature on Uniland, the region’s leading business publication notes, “As the region’s largest commercial real estate developer, Uniland Development Co. is involved in a lot of different types of local projects. Those include a public-private partnership with the City of Buffalo and D’Youville University’s new medical school building. The 51-year-old, family-run local company continues to adjust to changing market needs, including this year converting two floors of its Embassy Suites Buffalo into the Vistas at Avant furnished apartments in response to demand for more upscale living options downtown. The business also recently launched flexible warehouse and storage suites at Eastport Commerce Center in Lancaster.”
In 2025, Uniland developed 517,000 square feet of commercial space across Western New York, valued at more than $240 million. Uniland’s impactful third-party construction management projects with FeedMore WNY, Evergreen Health, D’Youville University, and BestSelf Behavioral Health are cited, along with the Eastern Hills Town Center’s SEQR approval milestone.
Uniland leadership is also quoted in the piece with optimism heading into 2026 and emerging opportunities across Buffalo and Western New York:
“For the regional market, I would say we’re still seeing a very healthy industrial market,” notes CEO Michael Montante. “We’re seeing a healthy residential, mixed-use market and even office. Everyone thinks office is so soft, things have changed since Covid, and there is some of that, but we don’t have enough Class A office in the City of Buffalo.”
“We are versatile, figuring out what is needed in the community,” adds Laura Zaepfel, Vice President of Corporate Relations. “We have the land, so we come up with a product that will suit that need.”
Buffalo Business First’s Company of the Year accolade caps off an active 2025 at Uniland. Additional industry recognition included (in chronological order):
- Uniland Account Executive Charlie Callahan receiving both the 2024 Transaction Volume Award – Affiliate and Largest Affiliate-Assisted Transaction of the Year Award from the New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS® (NYSCAR) Western New York Chapter
- Uniland Executive Chairman Carl J. Montante, and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Montante being cited on the Power 250 by Buffalo Business First
- Uniland being named Western New York’s Largest Commercial Real Estate Developer by Buffalo Business First
- Uniland’s BestSelf Behavioral Health’s Headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center earning the Community Impact Award for Redevelopment of the Year for Buffalo by The CoStar Group
- Uniland’s Laura Zaepfel being named to the Power 200 Women by Buffalo Business First and being presented with the She Believed She Could Award from BestSelf Behavioral Health
- Uniland’s Madden Center for Global Learning project at Canisius High School winning the Brick by Brick Award in the K-12 Education/Small category from Buffalo Business First
- Uniland CEO Michael Montante receiving the C-Level Executive Award from Buffalo Business First
- Uniland’s Laura Zaepfel being recognized with the Distinguished Service Award and Uniland’s Flex Warehouse & Storage Suites at Eastport Commerce Center as Best New Industrial Property by BOMA Buffalo
How can Uniland transform your New Year’s resolution for an elevated workspace for your business into reality? Explore our available space for lease here or call our Sales & Leasing team at 716.512.6407.
