Show more

Grand Central Terminal

Also Grand Central; The Terminal; GCT

NY

Transportation
Associate Architect

Reed and Stem

Architect

Warren & Wetmore

Renovation Architect

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP

Designations 4 Total, Show more

National Historic Landmark in Dec 8, 1976

National Register of Historic Places in Jan 17, 1975

New York City Exterior Landmark in Aug 2, 1967

New York City Interior Landmark in Aug 2, 1980

Description Show more

With the advent of electricity to power trains, a new station was needed to accommodate the additional traffic.  William L Wingus, VP and Chief Engineer of NY Central & Hudson River held a competition between 4 firms including McKim Mead & White and Reed & Stem (relatively unknown but had done a lot of railroad terminals; Wilgus was married to Reed’s sister May).  They were made to associate with Warren & Wetmore possibly because tWhitney Warren was the cousin of William K Vanderbilt.  After Reed died in 1909, there were a few design changes and Whitney Warren became the architect.  The final design produced 44 platforms on two levels making it the largest train station in the world. 

It became the hub of New York for decades.  Movies were filmed there.  Couples proposed under the great clock.  It housed an art school, a library (which still exists) and even an apartment (which is now a bar).  The Terminal fell into disrepair in the late 70's prompting multiple planning studies and proposals for its restoration.  This finally happened in the late 90's and the terminal was lovingly restored and brought up to date.  Retail was added in the former waiting rooms.

Visitors can play tennis at the Vanderbilt Tennis Club located on the 4th floor, overlooking Park Avenue.

1998 - Oct-1

The terminal's late-1990s renovation added stands and restaurants to the dining concourse, and installed escalators to link it to the main concourse level. The MTA also spent $2.2 million to install two circular terrazzo designs by David Rockwell and Beyer Blinder Belle, each 45 feet in diameter, over the concourse's original terrazzo floor.

In 1998, the hall was renovated and renamed Vanderbilt Hall after the family that built and owned the station

With the advent of electricity to power trains, a new station was needed to accommodate the additional traffic.  William L Wingus, VP and Chief Engineer of NY Central & Hudson River held a competition between 4 firms including McKim Mead & White and Reed & Stem (relatively unknown but had done a lot of railroad terminals; Wilgus was married to Reed’s sister May).  They were made to associate with Warren & Wetmore possibly because tWhitney Warren was the cousin of William K Vanderbilt.  After Reed died in 1909, there were a few design changes and Whitney Warren became the architect.  The final design produced 44 platforms on two levels making it the largest train station in the world. 

It became the hub of New York for decades.  Movies were filmed there.  Couples proposed under the great clock.  It housed an art school, a library (which still exists) and even an apartment (which is now a bar).  The Terminal fell into disrepair in the late 70's prompting multiple planning studies and proposals for its restoration.  This finally happened in the late 90's and the terminal was lovingly restored and brought up to date.  Retail was added in the former waiting rooms.

Visitors can play tennis at the Vanderbilt Tennis Club located on the 4th floor, overlooking Park Avenue.

1998 - Oct-1

The terminal's late-1990s renovation added stands and restaurants to the dining concourse, and installed escalators to link it to the main concourse level. The MTA also spent $2.2 million to install two circular terrazzo designs by David Rockwell and Beyer Blinder Belle, each 45 feet in diameter, over the concourse's original terrazzo floor.

In 1998, the hall was renovated and renamed Vanderbilt Hall after the family that built and owned the station

Tours

The Art & Architecture of Park Avenue from Lever to Grand Central

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY, US 10017

Nearby
Puttin' On the Ritz 19 feet
East Side Access 19 feet
Grand Central Clock 21 feet
Eastern Standard Time 21 feet
Oyster Bar 21 feet
Cornelius Vanderbilt 293 feet
Sky Ceiling 383 feet
Hercules, Mercurius and Minerva 389 feet
Pershing Square 401 feet
#Architecture #Transportation #Archtober 2012 #builtxwomen #Summer Streets

Timeline