As the largest commercial real estate developer in Western New York, Uniland has been supporting clients of all sizes since 1974. Our work is guided by Uniland’s mission to improve the lives of our customers, associates, and the communities in which we serve, through the commercial real estate services we provide.
One of Uniland’s most significant projects in recent years, BestSelf Behavioral Health’s Headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center, has received the Community Impact Award for the 2025 Redevelopment of the Year for Buffalo by The CoStar Group. The awards highlight the commercial real estate transactions and projects that have transformed CoStar’s markets over the past year. CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a global leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, online marketplaces and 3D digital twin technology.
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.
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 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. Click here for a full case study about this major project.
Bringing Client Service to New Heights
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 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 with a range of mass transit options and on-site parking.
Enhancing Support Services for Children
BestSelf President & CEO Elizabeth Woike emphasizes the 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.”
Reflecting on the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf being named in his honor, local business and philanthropic leader Scott Bieler, President & CEO of West Herr Automotive Group, notes, “This building will continue to symbolize hope, a sanctuary for those seeking support, and a place where healing and growth are possible. I am honored to be part of BestSelf’s incredible journey and look forward to witnessing our partnership’s impact on countless lives.”
Uniland CEO Michael J. Montante adds, “Uniland congratulates BestSelf Behavioral Health on the grand opening of their new headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. This completely redeveloped, world-class facility will provide Western New York’s largest community-based behavioral health organization with the space and resources it needs to enhance the lives of children and adults throughout our region. Uniland is proud to partner with BestSelf to realize their important mission here at 899 Main Street.
Strengthening the Community
CoStar congratulates Uniland and BestSelf on this major project:
“Each year, the CoStar Impact Awards celebrate commercial real estate professionals that are introducing innovative and transformative projects and transactions in the industry,” said Lisa Ruggles, Senior Vice President, Global Operations at CoStar Group. “We received an incredible number of submissions this year and enlisted a diverse panel of judges across each market to identify the most impactful projects shaping the commercial real estate landscape. Congratulations to all the winners for their efforts to transform the industry and the communities they serve.”
Reflecting on the award nomination, CoStar Impact Award judge Brandye Merriweather, President of the Buffalo Urban Development Corp., noted, “The project provides centrally located and accessible services to young people within an urban area. The location is clustered near other healthcare and educational centers and close to transit. The incredible amount of investment in this project will have a major impact on our urban center and Buffalo’s Main Street.”
This is Uniland’s second industry accolade for the BestSelf project. Earlier, BestSelf Behavioral Health’s Headquarters and Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center facility were celebrated as the Building Redevelopment Project of the Year by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Buffalo. Additionally, Uniland’s work with Retech Systems on their expanding industrial operations in Western New York was touted as the 2024 Lease of the Year for Buffalo by CoStar’s Impact Awards.
