The building was the brainchild of a Buffalonian businessman and entrepreneur Hascal T. Taylor. He planned to construct a speculative office building called "The Taylor Building" in the developing downtown district. The site Taylor chose was strategically located adjacent to the then County and City Municipal building and near a number of institutional structures. The intention was to attract high quality tenants such as lawyers through proximity, desirable amenities, and the captivating design of an "avant garde" architect like Sullivan. The Guaranty Construction Company was contracted to build it. The untimely demise of Mr. Taylor as the project was reaching its apogee resulted in the Guaranty's decision to take on the project alone.