96 Street Station – IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line

The Broadway transit station, constructed in the Upper West Side in 1904, has long been a vital asset in one of Manhattan’s most densely populated neighborhoods. This redevelopment project sought to enhance the station’s circulation, accessibility, aesthetics, and systems. The original plans proposed extensive excavation for an under-track mezzanine, but the design team proposed an innovative alternative solution: placing a new station house within the Broadway median. This approach reduced passenger vertical travel and construction costs while creating an architectural centerpiece for the streetscape.

The station’s modern design reimagines the classic 19th-Century train shed through its signature titanium clad vaulted roof with curved glass skylights above the stairs and canopies. Glass features prominently throughout, bringing natural light and visual transparency to the space, while an hanging flower installation by artists Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger adds distinctive character. The design creates a thoughtful contrast between levels, with contemporary aesthetics at street level balanced against carefully restored historic elements on the platform level, preserving the station’s legacy while embracing modern functionality.

Photo Credit: John Bartlestone, Wade Zimmerman, and Drew Dies