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Renderings of the station redesign show the president’s name carved into a wall, raising questions and concerns.
The upcoming redesign of New York City’s Penn Station will prominently feature Trump’s name, as revealed in official renderings shared on June 8. A group of developers and designers unveiled the nearly $8 billion plan, managed by the Trump Administration, just days after Gothamist leaked images showcasing the station’s patriotic elements.
The proposed design reflects the president’s preference for “classical” architectural styles. The renderings depict large American flags on the Beaux-Arts-inspired exterior, gold-colored bronze railings, a terracotta city skyline, an eagle figure at the entrance, and a presidential seal with Trump’s name etched near the entrance.
Last month, the US Department of Transportation and Amtrak appointed Penn Transformation Partners, a consortium that includes Vornado and Halmar, as the project’s “master developer.” The group’s Trump-influenced design was chosen after a competitive process that began last October.
The winning design, led by the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) and its founder, Vishaan Chakrabarti, was presented in a slideshow during a press conference. One slide revealed the 31st Street entrance with “Donald J. Trump” inscribed next to the presidential seal. The developers did not provide this rendering to Hyperallergic upon request.
During a press conference, Chakrabarti stated that including a presidential seal on a public building is “commonplace.” He remarked, “This is very, very common, and so we think that’s much ado about nothing.” However, the president’s name is usually not part of the seal. Chakrabarti did not address this aspect in the conference, and the developers did not answer Hyperallergic‘s inquiries regarding Trump’s name inclusion.
Penn Station’s concourse now (left) and after the expected redesign (right)
The new design aims to address the station’s structural issues by raising the low ceilings, removing the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden for new elevators and escalators, and adding more natural light.
Last spring, the Trump administration assumed control of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) delayed renovation plans for the Manhattan train station, with support from Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. Oversight was then transferred to Amtrak, a partially federally funded entity. Governor Hochul has emphasized the move as a way to save New York taxpayers over a billion dollars.
This decision seemingly enabled Trump to influence the station’s design according to his vision of “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again.” He announced that federal buildings should be built in “classical” styles like Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Georgian, and Federal, a directive met with significant opposition from architects.
Since then, Trump has expedited typical oversight processes, demolishing the East Wing for a golden ballroom and attempting to construct his monumental triumphal arch. The Penn Station redevelopment is scheduled to commence in 2027.
