The recently completed $414 million renovation of Pennsylvania Station’s Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Concourse has modernized and widened LIRR’s 33rd Street train hall corridor to improve visitor experience.
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 further improves safety and the Americans with Disabilities Act (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 partnership with Skanska, AECOM served as designer of record, providing design, engineering, vertical transportation, and project management services, and worked closely with the architect, SOM, to expand the height and width of the LIRR concourse.
Skanska, AECOM, and SOM recently also partnered to deliver the first phase of the New York Penn Station complex modernization—the new East End Gateway, an iconic new entrance on the east side of Penn Station at 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue. Skanska also led the construction of Moynihan Train Hall, where SOM served as the lead design firm, which transformed the historic Farley Building into a landmark extension to Penn Station. Both projects were completed in 2020.
“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,” says Thomas Prendergast, AECOM’s New York Metro executive. “We’re proud to have worked with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and our partners to broaden and revitalize the concourse, while also minimizing impacts to LIRR commuters and the station’s operations.”
