Lexington Avenue-53rd Street Station Complex

A major expansion at this bustling station complex introduced a 200-foot long mezzanine beneath 53rd Street, elegantly connecting the Lexington and Third Avenue station ends. The construction of this new mezzanine posed significant challenges, as 53rd Street,a highly trafficked street in densely packed Midtown, would need to be excavated from the surface. To minimize disruption, the excavation was carried out via an open cut method at night in segments, with the road being plated over during the day. This innovative approach required meticulous planning, coordination, and extensive public outreach to address the concerns of businesses and institutions in the immediate vicinity. New vertical circulation, including an escalator and elevator, now facilitates fluid movement between the 6 and E/F line platforms. The installation of the escalator posed a particularly complex structural challenge, requiring a sophisticated solution to cut through the existing platform arch ceiling while preserving the historic structure.

The architectural intervention transcends pure functionality through its dynamic spatial composition. The sinuous connecting mezzanine features curving walls that create a sense of movement and expansion, while contrasting with rectilinear elements for visual drama. Serpentine bands flow across floors and ceilings, unifying the space, while Al Held’s abstract mosaic installation amplifies the kinetic experience of moving through this transformed underground connector.