You may have heard about ReThinkNYC, a movement and not-for-profit corporation dedicated to rebuilding the original Pennsylvania Station in New York through ReThinkPennStationNYC. Collaborating with classical architect Richard Cameron, they have developed three new variations on the station’s original design. In this article, ReThinkNYC will share their vision and plans in greater detail.
Architect Richard Cameron, who advises ReThinkNYC on architectural issues, is a steadfast admirer of the architecture of McKim, Mead & White and is especially fond of Charles McKim’s signature piece, the original Pennsylvania Station. Cameron and our other advisors at ReThinkNYC, including New York-based architect Cezar Nicolescu, have designed a modernized version. We have been pressing this design as an alternative to the Penn Station plan that the MTA has put forward.
We are now presenting three different variations on McKim’s original design authored by Cameron: a complete reconstruction, a partial reconstruction minus Madison Square Garden that leaves Two Pennsylvania Plaza in place, and a version that leaves both MSG and Two Penn Plaza in place.
These designs demonstrate the versatility of McKim’s original design as a template for a great rail hub capable of bookending Grand Central Terminal. While Cameron makes no claims to being a latter-day Glenn Gould or Charles McKim, he aspires, as they did, to make the world a more beautiful place.
Nr. 1: The Platinum Standard – McKim Mead and White’s Pennsylvania Station
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Nr. 2: The Gold Standard – A Modernized Version of McKim’s Station Using the Entirety of Its Original Site
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ReThinkNYC has long proposed that the entire site be returned to its original use as a transit facility and that a modernized version of McKim’s station be built on it. Here is a rendering of what it would look like, showing a revivified Eighth Avenue presence reflecting the new dynamism of Midtown West. Sadly, the district mourns the loss of the landmark Hotel Pennsylvania on Seventh Avenue, which recently fell to the wrecker’s ball to make way for tennis courts.
Nr. 3: The Silver Standard – A Modernized Original Penn Station Leaving Two Penn Plaza in Place
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While not our preference, we offer a Plan B, leaving Two Penn Plaza in place. In this scenario, 70% or more of a modernized version of the original Penn Station would be built. This proposal enables the return of McKim’s Main Waiting Room and the venerated Eighth Avenue Train Concourse but sacrifices much of the Seventh Avenue end of the station, including the Arcade and the great Bernini-influenced Seventh Avenue entrance façade to accommodate Two Penn Plaza. These parts of the original station can be built if and when the public determines it wishes to extend and complete the station.
Nr. 4: The Bronze Standard – A Modernized Original Penn Station Leaving Two Penn Plaza and Madison Square Garden in Place
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A proposed Plan C sacrifices much of McKim’s original design and thus represents the most sweeping compromise of the three plans we are putting forward. But, as things stand now, it may be the most realistic option. In this variation, Cameron extends the original station’s perimeter wall over 70% of the site with some adjustments for differing points of egress and ingress. A saving grace is that, like ASTM’s proposal, we could return the site to its original use as a train station by removing Madison Square Garden if and when it moves on to greener pastures. In this rendering, Madison Square Garden’s drum-like arena is reclad in the style of McKim, Mead, and White and using the appropriate materials. Architectural quotations from Stanford White’s original MSG are also part of the design, including some of his Islamic Andalusian influences. While much of this proposal is noble, we sadly note that it does not include the Main Waiting Room or the Eighth Avenue train concourse. As these are not small things to lose, they need to be part of the overarching debate. The proposal does include a spherical roof feature which would be configured to be retractable. It also could serve as the roof to the arena and have a retractable feature so that concerts and Ranger games could have an outdoor element at times.
Closing Thoughts: A Classical Penn Station? Today?
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We know that in issuing Cameron’s “McKim Variations,” we invite a rekindling of the classical vs. modern debate, which sometimes has overtones of a cultural war. While that is not our intention, we recognize this debate as part of what it means to live in a democracy. We do note, as we have in the past, that as an organization, we have no knee-jerk bias against or in favor of modern architecture, nor do we disqualify a priori the rebuilding of historic structures that have fallen to the wrecking ball or employ the language of architectural classicism in the 21st century.
At its simplest, we think resolving the Penn Station conundrum should transcend these limitations because the building never should have been torn down in the first place. We replace things destroyed by war, terrorist attacks, fires, and floods – why should we not rebuild a structure that was destroyed for no higher purpose than to meet shareholder expectations – especially when the building in question is an undisputed masterpiece. Professional surveys commissioned by ReThinkNYC and by the Grand Penn Community Alliance before and after Covid-19 show considerable public support for a station akin to the original.
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Looking uptown along Eighth Avenue from 31st Street. This view does not show Cameron’s design for a reclad Madison Square Garden. A digital rendering of that design is under consideration.
With this in mind, we are nonetheless ready to meet head on any suggestion that a classical Penn Station or a rebuild of the original should be disqualified out of hand. Rebuilds of traditional buildings and resurrections of historic buildings are happening all over the world and are highly successful. Dresden’s rebuilt Baroque city is a case in point.
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Lynn Ellsworth, long-time community activist and leader of Human Scale NYC, speaks at a June 15, 2022, rally opposing New York State’s plans to demolish the Penn Station neighborhood. Ellsworth’s commentary on urban architecture, including Le Corbusier’s Athens Charter, makes clear that neighborhoods and cityscapes are to be cherished, not eviscerated wholesale.
We scoff at such things as the condemnation of prior architectural styles as reflected in Le Corbusier’s Athens Charter of more than 90 years ago, particularly its “Requirement 70:”
“The re-use of past styles of building for new structures in historic areas under the pretext of aesthetics… should not be tolerated.”
On this point, we highly recommend Lynn Ellsworth’s spirited rebuttal of this provision of the Athens Charter. She points out just how self-serving this requirement is and why it should be put out to pasture.
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Finally, we look for inspiration to the famed photo above of Jane Jacobs – the legendary community activist – Philip Johnson (co-architect with Mies van der Rohe of the great Seagram’s building) and Aline Saarinen, art critic, author, and widow of Eero Saarinen (the architect of such modernist masterpieces as Dulles Airport and the TWA terminal at JFK) – jointly protesting the demolition of the original Penn Station. They saw McKim’s building as worthy of ecumenical support because of its splendid architectural and urbanistic qualities. Some rules were made to be broken, including “Requirement 70” of Le Corbusier’s hoary old Athens Charter.
Ideologically inspired postulates will not bring the Penn Station debate forward or redound to the benefit of New York’s (at-risk) built environment. Great architecture will. A design competition that accords the public its rightful place in the debate is the best way to give New York the Penn Station it needs.
If you’d like to know more, visit ReThinkPennStationNYC or RethinkNYC.