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MAS Penn Station Vision-SOM<a href="https://www.som.com/" target="_blank">Skidmore, Owings & Merrill</a> just unveiled their incredible re-conceptualized vision for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/som-designed-moynihan-station-redevelopment-will-decongest-penn-station/" target="_blank">Penn Station</a> and Madison Square Garden. The sweeping and airy design reimagines Midtown West as a new civic heart and welcome center for travel throughout New York City. Featuring two public rooftop parks and a grand glass-domed ticketing hall, SOM's concept is a vision for the future of urban design. The new transportation hub will accommodate high speed trains, buses, local transit, retail and even have direct train connections to all of the regional airports. Finally, the plan also creates a new home for Madison Square Garden.1
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMPenn Station is the busiest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/train-station" target="_blank">train station</a> in the entire US, but it is cramped, out of date and not at all attractive.2
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMFor a train station that sees this kind of action and welcomes so many people to NYC, it should be far grander, more open, and make a greater impact.3
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMSOM was asked to participate in a design challenge, issued by the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), to re-imagine Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.4
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOM“Nearly 640,000 passengers use Penn Station every day, and yet it does not act as a dignified gateway to one of the world’s greatest cities,” said Roger Duffy, FAIA, Design Partner behind SOM’s vision, in a press release. “What we propose creates a civic heart for Midtown West – one that is truly public and open to all – while allowing New York City to maintain its position as a global center of commerce, industry and culture.”5
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMThe concept takes over two additional city blocks to expand the train station and accommodate high speed trains. Besides accommodating <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-speed-rail" target="_blank">high speed rail</a> service to the Northeast Corridor, the station would provide expanded commuter rail service for the entire tri-state area, and direct rail connections to JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports.6
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMOn the street level, a grand undulating park is criss-crossed by pedestrian access ways that lead from the streets into the central glass-domed Ticketing Hall.7
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMThe podium above is also covered in landscaping and paths and acts as a second park.8
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMIn this vision, four towers rise from the corners of the project and a horizontal building stretches between them.9
MAS Penn Station Vision-SOMThe goal of the new Penn Station and surrounding amenities would be to create a new civic heart of Midtown West.10
