This week, the MTA and SL Green debuted a new entrance to the Grand Central-42nd Street subway station at One Vanderbilt Avenue, a 77-story supertall office skyscraper in Midtown. The new entrance is the latest component of SL Green’s $220 million transit improvement project bundled into development of the commercial project.
SL Green worked in close collaboration with Stantec to design and deliver these improvements as required by the MTA. This included strict ADA, fire, and life safety compliance, coordination with multiple MTA agencies, and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure full integration between the new tower, Grand Central Terminal, the 42nd Street subway station, and the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel.
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
Lower level of direct street entrance to the Grand Central Station subway at One Vanderbilt – Stantec
New ADA-compliant subway entrance leading up to Lexington Avenue – Stantec
Now complete, these transit improvements are expected to reduce subway platform congestion and facilitate the arrival for at least one additional train per hour. The entrance is also expected to reduce pedestrian foot traffic into Grand Central Station’s 42nd Street entrance, one the busiest commuter corridors in New York City.
“The completion of One Vanderbilt and the corresponding transit improvements is a testament to the spirit of New York—one that never backs down when faced with challenge,” said Stéphane Lefebvre, Stantec senior associate and the transit improving project lead. “We are immensely proud of our work, especially knowing that it will raise the collective spirit of New Yorkers and deliver a better transit experience to the scores of commuters that pass through the 42nd Street corridor every day.”
In September 2020, SL Green, Hines, and National Pension Service of Korea celebrated the official opening the $1.4 billion tower, which is now the second-tallest commercial structure in New York City. Designed by architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, the skyscraper was built with more than 26,000 tons of steel and 75,000 cubic yards of concrete.
The ongoing East Side Access project will extend the Long Island Rail Road from Queens to Grand Central and is scheduled for completion in 2022. The project is expected to bring up to 160,000 additional commuters to the Midtown area each day.
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All nice and new for bums to trash in less than 5 months.
Do you moonlight as a curmudgeon or is it a full time gig?
Great! One Vanderbilt is really coming along!
My subway station! I can’t wait to try it out.
No OMNY or fake pic?
Did he really say “the scores of commuters”? He must think that means lots and lots of people.
“Scores of commuters” — clearly commuters come in packs of 20. Like soda comes in packs of 6. 🙂
Hey, so East Side Access won’t bring any additional commuters to the Midtown area, but simply divert some of them from Penn Station to Grand Central Terminal.