New York, NY

H3 was the lead architect responsible for the historic restoration and preservation of the James A. Farley Building’s redevelopment as Moynihan Station, the future home for long-distance Amtrak trains. The overall approach is a sensitive and compatible adaptive reuse of the complex, which maintains the functional character and spirit of the historic former post office, preserves the original historic fabric, and accommodates new uses and their associated technologies in an unobtrusive manner.

Our contribution to the restoration of the Farley building is to help balance preservation, technology, and contemporary design. Establishing a contemporary civic gateway and preserving a major Beaux-Arts landmark must be accomplished together in a design solution that honors the past and embraces the future of this major transportation center.

The grand facades and public spaces will be returned to their original magnificence. Inside, the main lobby’s decorative molded ceilings and marble columns, pilasters, archways, and floors will be restored, as will the north and south lobbies and rotundas.

The redevelopment of the Farley Building will give this historic landmark new life, open it up to the public for the first time in its 85-year history, and return a monumental civic gateway to New York City.

CLIENT: Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corporation
COMPLETION: 2007
SIZE: 1.4 million square feet