34th Street-Hudson Yards Station
A small city within a city is under construction on the far west side of Manhattan. Known as Hudson Yards, this neighborhood will add millions of commercial and residential square footage over the next decade. With the first of Related's office towers in the mega development set to open next year, 10 Hudson Yards, a major concern was access to the area by mass transit. With the long-awaited opening of the 7 train extension yesterday, the area looks ready to embrace the throngs of new workers and residents.
Extending 1.5 miles from the former last stop at Times Square, the 7 line extension has cost 2.42 billion and opens 10 years after its initial proposal. The extension was originally part of the city's failed bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Mayor Bloomberg's plan to build a football stadium for the Jets on the Hudson Yards site. Though both projects failed, the subway extension was approved and construction started in 2007.
Station entries, designed by Dattner Architects in partnership with WSP I Parsons Brinckerhoff, are located within the newly opened Hudson Park and Boulevard from landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh. The metal and glass forms complement the organic shapes of the landscape elements that define the park. Underground, the organic theme continues, with an elliptical mural, curving boundaries, and curved archways that reference the beloved TWA Flight Center by Eero Saarinen at the JFK airport. The station provides travelers with many modern conveniences, including air conditioned platforms for year round comfort and inclined elevators.
Architects: Dattner Architects; Engineers: WSP I Parsons Brinckerhoff; Program: Infrastructure; Location: Hudson Yards, New York, NY; Completion: 2015.
