Oct. 26, 2007 - When the former Dulski Federal Office Building debuts as a privately owned mixed-use building next year, it will house an Embassy Suites Hotel.

Acquest Development announced Thursday that it has inked a deal with the national hotel chain to operate the new 150-room, all-suites hotel in the renamed "200 Delaware" complex under the Embassy Suites banner.

"As we considered the many options, the quality, reputation and visibility of Embassy Suites is perfectly suited to our needs. It's not simply a nationally recognized brand, but an established leader in customer service," said Uniland executive Michael J. Montante.

Embassy Suites, which features all-suite, upscale accommodations, is part of the Hilton Hotels Corp. stable. There are currently some 190 Embassy Suites properties in the United States. The brand's closest location is the 42-story, luxury-class Fallsview hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Buffalo's Acquest Development and Uniland Development of Amherst purchased the idle government building, located on the corner of Delaware Avenue and West Huron Street in downtown Buffalo, last October for $6.1 million. The partnership has developed plans for a nearly $65 million overhaul which includes gutting the interior and putting a new facade on the building.

The Embassy Suites hotel will comprise the lower seven floors of 200 Delaware, with its lobby sharing space with a restaurant on the ground floor of the 15-story tower. Guest checkin will be on the second floor.

Designs call for a new twostory atrium with a portico to be built at the corner of Delaware and West Huron that will serve as the hotel entrance. The hotel space will also include a fitness center with a pool, meeting rooms and banquet space.

Class A office space is planned for the five middle floors of the former government office building, with the top three levels to be converted to condominiums.

Uniland will act as managing partner and property manager of the redone tower. Asbestos abatement work at the site got under way in late summer. The project is expected to be completed in January 2009.

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