Grand Central Terminal - Warren and Wetmore
Kenneth Powell
Phaidon (Architecture in Detail Series), 1996, 60 pgs., $30 paper,
11 ¾"x11 ¾", 95 illustrations, 16 color
Reviewed by Lester Paul Korzilius
Approximately 196 words
Published in Oculus, November 1996
The present Grand Central Terminal dates from 1914, and is the second
terminal on this site. The project scope was vast, extending from 42nd
to 50th streets, and from Lexington to Madison avenues, requiring the demolition
of 200 buildings.
Reed and Stem won a limited competition in 1903 proposing a City Beautiful
"Court of Honor" along Park Avenue. Unhappy with the results, William K.
Vanderbilt appointed Warren and Wetmore as collaborators. Ironically, McKim
Mead and White’s entry featured what would have been the world’s tallest
skyscraper.
Construction began in 1903, while design work extended until 1910. Warren
and Wetmore became sole architects in 1911 after the death of Reed. Stem
successfully sued, and the AIA expelled Warren. (Who said architecture
was a gentlemen’s profession!)
The book contains excellent period and current photographs, and well-drawn
plans and elevations. These demonstrate the project’s complexity -- 67
tracks on two levels, the IRT subway, an elevated roadway, and a monumental
waiting room -- all integrated into 16 city blocks worth of buildings.
Irrespective of its classical detailing, Grand Central is a superb and
vibrant example of how a complex building can integrate with, and contribute
to, a dense urban environment.
Return to Home Page |