The Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York is taking on its biggest project to date: a cultural institute. 

The 28,000 square-foot building will sit at the corner of Niagara and Hudson Streets. The $10 million project will showcase the contributions of Hispanics in Western New York with art, cuisines, dance and music.


The institute will be the first of its kinds for hispanics in Upstate New York and will include a 150-seat theater a media center, learning labs and guitar classes. 

"We're just going to build in the heritage and history, the culture into curriculum into programming," said Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York President Casimiro Rodriguez. "It's so our children can learn more about who they are, where they're from and how their ancestors have been able to contribute."

The council has launched a capital campaign and plans to open the center by 2021.