Penn Station Posturing

This article about the planning of a new gateway into NYC via Penn Station was interesting. I appreciate that both the writer and transportation planners associated with the project convey the importance of architecture to the mood and spirit of place.

When trains were coming into trend at the turn of the century, architects were beginning to explore the possibilities of building with metals. Although metals were around for decades, their early failure in fire (especially the great Chicago fire of 1871) made them a daring and unique material for the age. However, their capacity to span long distances created grandiose spaces never before imagined and therefore perfect for the locomotive revolution. While the tracks were covered with the material of the 'future', the classical doric colonnades surrounding the building's perimeter were standard  McKim, Mead, and White (the firm of Devil in a White City fame).

So many of the train stations in Europe, Cologne's main station come to mind, are built with similar steel and glass regality.  The planning to tear down the historic landmark in 1962 was a cultural travesty. Perhaps the city planners are smart enough to right (as much as they can) this wrong.