Grand Central Madison, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) terminal, won the UNESCO 2024 Prix Versailles Interior Award for the World’s Most Beautiful Passenger Station category. AECOM served as the overall program manager and construction manager for Grand Central Madison — the largest construction project ever undertaken by the MTA. Our team also provided the design of the new terminal as the Architects of Record and delivered structural design services as a subconsultant to the general engineering consultant, a joint venture composed of WSP, STV and Parsons Corporation.
The new 700,000-square-foot rail terminal and concourse, located 10 stories below Grand Central Station, offers eight new tracks on four platforms. This enables direct Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service to Manhattan’s Midtown East business district while providing direct connections to existing Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit subway services. The project delivers on key MTA goals to increase capacity, facilitate travel, and improve connections. The agency estimates that more than 160,000 passengers per day will save up to 40 minutes on their trips.
AECOM architects, aiming to enhance functionality while creating an artful visual experience, spearheaded the design of the expansive spaces for the new terminal, complementing one of the world’s most iconic transportation facilities. The station’s architectural design honors the legacy of Grand Central in a contemporary, timeless aesthetic. Wide concourses and bright mezzanines feature elegant, site-specific art installations.
The Prix Versailles, a series of architectural competitions that shine a light on the finest contemporary projects worldwide, recognizes contemporary projects that leave extraordinary imprints on their living environments. The award criteria include the innovativeness, creativity, reflection of local heritage and ecological efficiency of each project.
