Amtrak Reveals Designs of Customer Space at Moynihan Train Hall by FXCollaborative
The exterior of the Moynihan Train Hall as seen from Ninth Avenue
Image © Empire State Development, courtesy SOM | AT Chain
The Moynihan Train Hall Center of Concourse
Image © Empire State Development, courtesy SOM | AT Chain
The reception area in the Metropolitan Lounge's executive conference center
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
The Metropolitan Lounge's balcony space
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
The Metropolitan Lounge's food and beverage space
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
The Metropolitan Lounge
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
The Metropolitan Lounge
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
The Metropolitan Lounge's reception area
Rendering courtesy FXCollaborative
Architects & Firms
Amtrak, in collaboration with architecture firm FXCollaborative, has completed planning and design for a premium customer space at Moynihan Train Hall, a 225,000-square-foot concourse designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as an expansion to Pennsylvania Station. Formerly called ClubAcela, the Metropolitan Lounge will cater to the railway’s high-end passengers at the country’s busiest station. “Our customers are going to love the new, modern amenities in the Moynihan Train Hall,” said Amtrak’s EVP and chief commercial officer Stephen Gardner in a statement. “And we expect these renderings to continue to build their excitement for the Train Hall’s opening in 2021.”
The new space will include improved facilities, particularly for Amtrak’s Northeast and long-distance passengers, along with a ticketing and baggage area, conference rooms, and a 20-foot-high balcony with a commanding view of the hall. Other additions include customer waiting areas with private bathrooms, a lactation lounge for mothers, and a family seating area. Premium customers will also be able to enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, priority boarding, and an upgraded selection of food and beverages.
The lounge is part of a larger effort by Amtrak to ease congestion at Pennsylvania Station, which served more than 10 million riders in 2017, when construction of the $1.6 billion Moynihan Train Hall began. The hall—which expands into the old, McKim, Mead, and White-designed James A. Farley Post Office building next door—will allow commuters to go around the existing Pennsylvania Station by accessing platforms from the west end. It is expected to accommodate restaurants and retail shops that will cover nearly 700,000 square feet.
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