New York (July 10, 2023) — AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, today announced the completion of the $414 Million renovation of Pennsylvania Station’s Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Concourse. The project, awarded to a Skanska, AECOM and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) by Penn District Station Developer LLC in 2020, aimed to modernize and widen LIRR’s 33rd Street train hall corridor, while maintaining the station’s daily operations and train service.
In partnership with Skanska, who served as Design Builder, AECOM served as Designer of Record, providing design, engineering, vertical transportation, and project management services, and worked closely with Lead Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to expand the height and width of the LIRR concourse.
“The most heavily used concourse of America’s busiest train station has been entirely transformed, both visually and functionally. The improvements make commuting more convenient, while also allowing this transit hub to have the capacity and accessibility to meet New York’s growing transportation needs,” said Thomas Prendergast, AECOM’s New York Metro executive. “We’re proud to have worked with the MTA and our partners to broaden and revitalize the concourse while also minimizing impacts to LIRR commuters and the station’s operations.”
The 27-month design-build project encompassed both the design and construction of the reimagined concourse, with a widened corridor, raised ceiling heights, upgraded lighting and wayfinding, new digital information screens, improved mechanical and electrical systems, and new architectural finishes, among other station enhancements. The renovation also improves safety and ADA access from the street to the concourse via a new elevator on 33rd Street, as well as from the concourse to the platforms with rebuilt stairs and handrails, new enclosures for fire protection and a replacement elevator.
“In order to best accommodate and enhance the commuting experience for the 600,000 passengers that utilize LIRR’s 33rd Street corridor daily, deciphering a path to improving the station’s circulation and traffic flow without disrupting daily train service was paramount,” said Michael Viggiano, executive vice president of Skanska’s East Coast civil operations. “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the completion of this project and to have played a crucial role in reconstructing one of New York City’s most highly trafficked transit hubs.”
The first phase of this project, the East End Gateway, brought sunlight to the subterranean concourse for the first time in decades on the final day of 2020. Now the concourse features a new, luminous ceiling surrounding this entrance, to complement the daylighting and create an inviting atmosphere.
“We worked closely with the design-build team to create a new center of gravity for Penn Station and the LIRR,” said SOM Partner Colin Koop. “The concourse design introduces a clear connection to Seventh Avenue, and simplifies the flow of foot traffic between the street, the subways, and the LIRR—helping travelers easily navigate the station, all in an expansive space filled with light.
Construction on the project began in January of 2021 and the team achieved substantial completion in March 2023.
Skanska, AECOM, and SOM partnered to deliver the East End Gateway, an iconic new entrance on the east side of Penn Station at 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue. Skanska and SOM also led the design and construction of Moynihan Train Hall, which transformed the historic Farley Building into a landmark extension to Penn Station. Both projects completed in 2020.
About AECOM:
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $13.1 billion in fiscal year 2022. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.
About Skanska:
Skanska uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 29 offices around the country. In 2022, construction in the U.S. generated $6.9 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total of $3.5 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 28,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.
About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM):
SOM is a global practice of architects, designers, engineers, and planners, responsible for some of the world’s most technically and environmentally advanced buildings and significant public spaces. From a strategic regional plan to a single piece of furniture, SOM’s designs anticipate change in the way we live, work and communicate, and have brought lasting value to communities around the world. The firm’s approach is highly collaborative, and its interdisciplinary team is engaged in a wide range of international projects, with creative studios based across the globe. SOM is a net zero emissions business. Read our Climate Action Report to learn more.
