Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In the greater financial scheme of things, the restoration of Kleinhans Music Hall's reflecting pool was not that deep of a project.
The total cost: Approximately $450,000 in a total $18 million capital campaign, with $15 million of the campaign allocated for a series of repairs and upgrades to the iconic West Side music hall. The remaining $3 million is being set aside for a continued repair and maintenance endowment fund.
But the real story behind the pool - now called the Stenclik Family Reflecting Pool - is how its fits into the architectural legacy of the 85-year-old Kleinhans Music Hall.
To be sure, the biggest draw is the Joanne Falletta-led Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, who call Kleinhans home.
However, Kleinhans plays a central role in Buffalo's still-emerging architectural and cultural tourism attractions.
"People are drawn here, and that can't be under estimated," said Bonnie Kane Lockwood, Western Regional Director for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Dan Hart, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Kleinhans Music Hall executive director, said finishing the reflecting pool and restoring Kleinhans to the vision designers had for the building in 1938, is not to be understated.
"It is an important milestone," Hart said. "We know what Kleinhans means to the community."
Most of the renovations were not sexy or headline grabbing, Hart said. Roof repairs alone cost $2.3 million.
"But the [reflecting] pool may be the most visible thing that people will see," Hart said.
Kleinhans has a deep musical and architectural history. It has been studied and been the subject of architecture textbooks and articles.
In addition to the BPO, it has welcomed speakers such as Dr. Martin Luther King in 1967 and concert performances by the likes of Bruce Springsteen (1975), the Grateful Dead (1970), Derek & the Dominoes (1970) and Elton John (1971).
Kleinhans has been home to countless high school and college graduation ceremonies, weddings and other special events.
Yet, it's architecture and design remains one of its biggest draws outside of the BPO.
"It is much more than just an architectural treasure," said State Sen. April Baskin. "It is all the special stories that makes it so very unique."