By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

New clients and the potential to grow by securing more local contracts has prompted a Rochester-based environmental, architecture and engineering firm to open a Buffalo office.

LaBella Associates P.C. leased 2,000 square feet and has five employees working in downtown Buffalo's Olympic Towers. While it has handled local contracts in the past, this marks its first Buffalo office.

"We want to grow our business base, more than what we already have here in Buffalo," said Robert Napieralski, regional manager.

The firm has worked on a number of local projects, including for First Niagara Bank; the City of Niagara Falls' Buffalo Avenue brownfield opportunity area review; and the Town of Tonawanda's Riverfront brownfield opportunity area review.

It also has handled work for Buffalo State College and the state Department of Transportation.

Napieralski said the Olympic Towers site is perfect for his company because of its central location.

"We really wanted to be close to the city's central business district," he said.

Besides the Buffalo office, LaBella has two Upstate New York offices in Hornell and Ithaca, two in Pennsylvania - Coudersport and Scranton - and Charlotte, N.C. Headquarters is on State Street in downtown Rochester.