Thursday, February 19, 2009

Grand Central Terminal: Building Selection & Justification

Grand Central Terminal
New York, New York
Reconstruction began in 1902
William J. Wilgus- chief engineer; Reed and Stem in agreement with Warren and Wetmore “The Associated Architects of Grand Central Terminal”

Grand Central terminal, previously known as Grand Central Depot, was designed by John B. Snook and built in 1869 as an accommodation for the travel of many people during the 19th century. In 1902, a rail collision sparked an interest to demolish the depot and start over and create an entirely new double level terminal for electric trains. Architects Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore combined their ideas to create what became the country’s busiest train station. As time went on, the building began to crumble, which led to multiple renovations and plan proposals thereafter.

This train station saw much history in the development of New York City as a whole. The completion of it’s construction gave way to the building of its entourage: hotels like the Roosevelt and the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as apartment buildings such as the Marguery and the Park Lane. It correlates to the theory of commodity, firmness and delight. It accomodates the function of a train station, it's well built, and it obtains desirable features. It was established as a National Historic Landmark in 1967,and continues to stand as one today. Grand Central terminal is the gateway to transportation for half of the US population, and it serves an example of successful urban project that gave rebirth to a historic building. It continues to act as a New York icon, and I’m sure that it will continue to develop through the future.


No comments: