It is that time of year in Buffalo. Spring is finally here, and so are the Food Trucks! They are ready to serve you lunch all spring and summer long. The trucks will be parked in the Pocket Park at 589 Ellicott on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus from 11:30 a.m. to noon every Tuesday through Friday. The August schedule is below. We look forward to seeing you here!
It was great to see everyone at Buffalo Bike To Work Day @ BNMC yesterday. The sun was shining, the coffee was good, and the energy was amazing. Congratulations to our friends at NFTA, winners of the 2026 Bike Battle for the most miles travelled using sustainable transportation options during the month of May.
Thanks to Evolve Fitness, Go Buffalo Niagara, Go Bike, and Reddy Bikeshare for making the event extra special. Here are a few photos to enjoy. Happy biking all summer long, Buffalo!
Thanks to all who joined us for Campus Connect yesterday evening. It was a fun time and great to see so many of you from our campus community! The puppies from Queen City Pitties came to say hi, and our friends from Jack Rabbit served some delicious food and drinks. Special shoutout to Shared Mobility, Inc., Reddy Bikeshare, and GoBuffalo Niagara. You guys are the best.
We can’t wait to see you again on the last Thursday of June and all summer long.
The sunshine arrived just in time, and it was all smiles at Happy Campus, July edition. Thanks to all who shopped in the market, enjoyed the delicious food from Half Luna Empanadas and Chef Paolo Bettini, and drinks from Jack Rabbit—special thanks to Scoop Shop Consignment, Bee Sweet Cup Cakery, Awesome Paws Animal Rescue, and our amazing musical guests Wind and Wire. We had a great night! Here’s a photo gallery for your enjoyment. We can’t wait to do it again in August!
Thanks to all the people and puppies that joined us for our Happy Campus Happy Hour event yesterday evening. Special thanks to Fattey Beer Co., Second Chapter Bookstore, MenalynSkyn Co., Collegiate Village, and last but by no means least, the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter. The puppies made our night! Here are a few photos of the fun and festivities.
Thanks to everyone who came out for Buffalo Bike to Work Day @ BNMC and joined us for Breakfast in the Pocket Park. It was great to see you all! What a fun and energizing start to the day! Special thanks go to GOBike, Reddy Bikeshare, Independent Health, NFTA, Unapolegitic Coffee, and Evolve Fitness, who joined to celebrate with us.
For lunch, we enjoyed a lunchtime ride to @GOBike over on Broadway. Here are a few photos of the events. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our Happy Campus event last night! Beautiful weather joined us for the evening too, and a great time was had by all.
Special thanks to Fattey Beer Co, and all of our vendors in food, fashion, olive oils, and Bee Sweet Desserts.
Stay tuned for news about the next one on the last Thursday of June, and we will see you at the same time, same place for another great evening.
Welcome to Buffalo Spring and Food Trucks 2025! Beginning May 1st, lunch will be available every Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pocket Park at 589 Ellicott. The schedule for the month of May is below, and we look forward to seeing everyone! On Tuesdays, Dimples Pancakes will be serving breakfast from 9 am – 1 pm.
The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus institutions and partners have announced their STEM Summer Programs for the coming year. The schedule features an array of science and technology programs for Western New York High Schoolers, offering area teens a host of hands-on learning opportunities at the area’s leading centers of medicine and research.
Students can view the full schedule, check registration deadlines, and apply for all programs using the button below.
BNMC’s Health and Well-Being team announced a full schedule of programs for all to enjoy this year. There will be an array of fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, guided walks, workshops, and more.
Beginning this month, and continuing throughout the year, fitness classes will take place every Wednesday from 5 – 6 pm at the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott. Sessions include yoga, a fitness boot camp, dance therapy, and cross-training. Once spring arrives, classes will move outside to the Pocket Park at 589 Ellicott.
The team will also host a series of workshops focused on nutrition, mental health, cooking demonstrations, and guided walks on Campus throughout the summer months. Workshops are monthly from 12 – 1 pm in the Innovation Center.
All programs are free and for everyone, regardless of fitness level or experience. You can download the full calendar here.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the BNMC Block Party at Kaminski Park yesterday! The weather was beautiful and gave us the perfect backdrop to come together, eat, laugh, and dance.
Thanks also to our amazing partners and collaborators who made it all happen.
Special thanks to NFTA, the Buffalo AKG, and all the amazing vendors who came to showcase their businesses and work in our community. Here’s a photo gallery by photographer Jean Rios to enjoy!
The Food Trucks are back for 2024. Beginning May 7th lunch will be available every Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 am – 2 pm at the Pocket Park at 589 Ellicott. The schedule is below and we look forward to seeing everyone!
Schedule is subject to change.
Today the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) shared its final report to the US Department of Agriculture on a multi-year Farm to Hospital project. Nine years ago, BNMC brought partners Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Kaleida Health together with a shared vision for what a culture of fresh, healthy, local foods in healthcare systems could look like. To advance this vision, BNMC applied for and received three rounds of grant funding from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Together the partners worked to:
As a direct result of their efforts, local procurement at Campus hospitals has increased by 333%. This matters, because for every dollar spent on local procurement (small to midsize farms, aggregators & distributors operated by our neighbors), 75-85 cents stays in the local economy when compared to conventionally sourced produce (largescale corporate food chain) where the revenue share to local farmers hovers around 14.9 cents. More data highlights are included on page 14 of the report.
The increase in local procurement meant that 42 local farmer entrepreneurs directly benefitted from the effort and grew their businesses. A further 10 local producers were able to expand their ability to sell into healthcare food systems by becoming USDA-certified in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Several other local businesses in processing and procurement also benefitted greatly from this work.
While the impact on local entrepreneurs in our healthcare food system is significant, campus hospitals have been able to greatly improve the quality of their procurement practices for the benefit of patient and visitor health. With new policies and operations templates in place, these practices will continue to grow well into the future.
You can read a full copy of the report here. Meet the partners, growers, and distributors in a short video here.
About Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
For more than twenty years, The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus organization (BNMC) has been a driving force in Buffalo’s economic renaissance. Throughout its management of the growth of Buffalo’s premier innovation district, the BNMC has foregrounded smart economic, social, and environmental development, prioritizing health & well-being and sustainability. Today, the BNMC is focused on the next phase of Buffalo’s ongoing resurgence, cultivating inclusive innovation in partnership with our community, and launching the IC Success (Innovation Community Success) program to support aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to help them start or grow a business. Program graduates will form the heart of Buffalo’s growing Innovation Community comprised of businesses large and small in an array of disciplines leading the region’s next wave of economic development and growth. www.bnmc.org
Buffalo, New York – Buffalo All Access: In and around BNMC, a new initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) under the ITS4US Deployment Program, will use technology to improve transportation options for travelers in and around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), regardless of ability, age, or income. The initiative aims to make it easier for people of all abilities to utilize public transit and access the many essential services and destinations on and around the medical campus. The initiative focuses on providing:
The project is led by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in partnership with BNMC, the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC), the University at Buffalo (UB), City of Buffalo, NITTEC, Kaleida Health, Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, VIA, Heart of the City Neighborhoods, and FruitBelt Coalition, Inc. aka Fruit of the City. Consultant partners on the project include ICF, ETCH, RSG, and the Open Doors Organization. The project team has just produced an overview video that showcases more details about this project. For more information, please watch the video on the website (https://bnmc.org/allaccess/).
Speaking about the project, Jamie Hamann-Burney, Director of Planning & Implementation for BNMC, said: “The lack of safe and inclusive trip planning and travel options for people of all abilities can be a major barrier to employment, healthcare, and other quality of life essentials in our community. We’re thrilled to be a part of this initiative that will help break down these barriers.”
The ITS4US Deployment Program (https://its.dot.gov/its4us/) is a $40 million multimodal effort, led by the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office (JPO) and supported by the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration, to identify ways to provide more efficient, affordable, and accessible transportation options for underserved communities that often face greater challenges in accessing essential services.
The U.S. DOT launched Phase 1 of the program in January 2021 and supported the concept development efforts of select sites, including Buffalo All Access. In June 2022, Buffalo All Access was selected to continue Phases 2 and 3 of the program, which includes the design, testing, operation, and evaluation of the deployment.
About Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
For more than twenty years, The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus organization (BNMC) has been a driving force of Buffalo’s economic renaissance. Throughout its management of the growth of Buffalo’s premier innovation district, the BNMC has foregrounded smart economic, social, and environmental development, prioritizing health & well-being and sustainability. Today, the BNMC is focused on the next phase of Buffalo’s ongoing resurgence, cultivating inclusive innovation in partnership with our community. BNMC launched its flagship program, IC Success in 2021 to provide support to aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to help them start or grow a business. Program graduates form the heart of Buffalo’s growing Innovation Community comprised of businesses large and small in an array of disciplines and leading the region’s next wave of economic development and growth. BNMC www.bnmc.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Adriana Viverette
Digital Communications Manager
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
640 Ellicott, Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 348-4126 aviverette@bnmc.org
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The Food Trucks are back! This year we have partnered with our friends at Roswell Park to have food trucks conveniently located throughout the Campus every Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 2 pm all summer long.
BUFFALO NY– The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental (IDEA) at the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning, and Touch Graphics, Inc., collaborated to create a multi-sensory interactive 3D touch model to assist with orientation and wayfinding on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC).
The IDEA Center received a generous gift from the Chur Foundation in January 2021 and used the funds to design, develop, and install the model.
The recently unveiled interactive model is located at the BNMC’s Innovation Center, a home base for campus tours, and a site providing services for over 100 start-up companies and serving as a hub for research and knowledge exchange. The touch model allows users to preview the campus layout, locate buildings, and identify travel routes prior to setting out for their destinations. A user-friendly touch interface that includes visual, auditory, and tactile outputs allows visitors to simply hear or see information related to both the campus and individual buildings.
All features of the model are touch responsive, including roads, parks, parking lots, and Metro stations. Additional features for accessibility and legibility include braille labels and aerial photographs of building rooftops printed on the 3D buildings.
Jamie Hamann-Burney, Director of Planning and Implementation at BNMC said “We are so grateful to our colleagues at the IDEA Center for bringing this project to us. The model unites a range of technologies being developed at the Center that will speed the creation of more inclusive environments for everyone.”
The design of the model was developed by first documenting the campus, drawing digital models of the campus’ buildings and landscape, 3D printing the buildings, and laser printing a tactile skin of the landscape. The 3D buildings were treated with a conductive layer and then both tactile skin and the 3D buildings were adhered to the large touch screen. The model works by simple touch commands including tapping once to hear the name of the building and a second time to hear descriptive information. An application was developed to listen to finger touch and provide a corresponding audio description.
“The touch model is an excellent example of how inclusive technology benefits a broad range of users. We’re hoping that this touch model is not only useful for the visitors and staff of the BNMC, but also inspires the thought leaders and tech developers at the Innovation Center to consider the needs of individuals with disabilities in their own work.” Heamchand Subryan, Director of Interaction Design at the IDEA Center.
In addition to the BNMC, similar touch models have been installed at large tech companies, museums, and a national park. The BNMC touch model demonstrates how integrating universal design into wayfinding technology can benefit all visitors and serves as a best practice for similar maps at other medical campuses.
About the IDEA Center
Aside from this project, the IDEA Center, part of the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning, is also collaborating with colleagues at the Toronto Rehab Institute/University Health Network and the U. of Pittsburgh on a National Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Universal Design in the Built Environment and partnering with Carnegie Mellon University on a five-year RERC project to advance public transportation for people with disabilities. Both initiatives are funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.
About Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
For more than twenty years, The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus organization (BNMC) has been a driving force of Buffalo’s economic renaissance. Throughout its management of the growth of Buffalo’s premier innovation district, the BNMC has foregrounded smart economic, social, and environmental development, prioritizing health & well-being and sustainability. Today, the BNMC is focused on the next phase of Buffalo’s ongoing resurgence, cultivating inclusive innovation in partnership with our community. In 2021 BNMC spearheaded the initiative to bring the national programs EforAll and Eforever to Buffalo. These proven programs support aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to help them start or grow a business. Program graduates will form the heart of Buffalo’s growing Innovation Community comprised of businesses large and small in an array of disciplines and leading the region’s next wave of economic development and growth. BNMC www.bnmc.org.
When: Thursday, October 21st from 4:30 to 7 PM.
Where: The Lot at 589 Ellicott.
Space is limited for this free event, so pre-registration will be required.
Stop by and say hi!
On September 30, BNMC will present a second special pop-up event and we invite you to join us. We’ll be transforming the parking lot at 589 Ellicott into an outdoor beer garden and we’ll gather for some food and exceptional brews provided by our friends at Big Ditch. The Leroy Towns Band will provide the tunes.
When: Thursday, September 30 from 4:30 to 7 PM.
Where: The Lot at 589 Ellicott.
Space is limited for this free event, so pre-registration will be required.
Stop by and say hi!
On August 26, BNMC will present a special pop-up event and we invite you to join us. We’ll be transforming the parking lot at 589 Ellicott into an outdoor beer garden and we’ll gather for some food and exceptional brews provided by our friends at Big Ditch. DJ Mr. Illmatic will provide the tunes.
When: Thursday, August 26 from 4:30 to 7 PM.
Where: The Lot at 589 Ellicott.
Space is limited for this free event, so pre-registration will be required.
Stop by and say hi! You can register to join us here.
Welcome to summer 2021! After everything we have been through this past year, we are delighted to invite you to join our BNMC Summer of Wellness, our healthy, fun program of events and hwp-contentenings that will help all of us reinvigorate and recharge. We have an array of events that will allow us to safely gather together to bike, walk, or practice restorative yoga. Join us for one, for some, or for all. These programs are open FREE to all who live and work in our community and on our campus. They will be safely socially distant, and facemasks are recommended. You can register for everything here. Here’s what’s on the schedule this year:
Special thanks to our event partners, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Once again this year, every Monday – Friday during the summer we will feature a variety of Buffalo’s best food truck vendors. The trucks will be located on the lawn at the corner of Washington and Carlton Streets. Lunch begins at 11:30 am every day and runs until 2 pm.
Here’s what’s on the menu for 2021:
Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure a healthy and safe environment for everyone.
Many thanks to all of you for helping ensure a safe and delicious Food Truck Rodeo this summer. We will be wrwp-contenting up the FTR at Washington & Carlton this season on Friday, October 2nd. We look forward to seeing everyone back again next year!
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Previous post:
Having our favorite food trucks on the Campus have provided some sense of normalcy – and delicious food offerings! – this summer. We are so hwp-contenty that our daily food truck rodeo continues to draw employees in a safe & physically distant way. For those of you planning to stop by the food trucks on the Medical Campus, please note the following changes to ensure we are able to keep this Rodeo going well into the fall.
Food Truck Rodeo Details:
Despite these precautions, we are looking forward to another wonderful 2020 season. Thank you for supporting our local food trucks!
BNMC is committed to expanding access to healthy and green transportation options. To that end, we are excited to be working with CLIP, an electric-assist bicycle start-up company coming to town through the Launch NY Clean-Tech ECO incubator. CLIP is on a mission to make getting around by bicycle effortless, safer, and faster.
The company is ready to pilot its e-bike device – and you can be among the first to try it out for yourself! Complete this short 2-3 minute survey for a chance to participate in an upcoming pilot program exclusively for members of the BNMC community.
If you have any questions, please contact the project lead, James La Vela at james@clip.bike. Selected participants who complete the survey will also be given a $25 gift card to the Neighborhood Explorer Business of their choice.
