Union Station
Worcester, Mass.
Finegold Alexander + Associates

An iconic landmark reawakens as a hub of travel

© Steve Rosenthal

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Union Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has served as a landmark in Worcester, Ma, since 1911. This 90,000-square-foot Beaux Arts building had been vacant for 25 years and suffered major deterioration from neglect, vandalism, and exposure to the elements. The Worcester Redevelopment Authority played a vital role in saving the building through their plan to re-establish the station as an important commuter link to other regions. The architect was commissioned to restore and renovate it for reuse as an Intermodal Transportation Center.

The building includes three historically significant areas—the vestibule, great hall, and rotunda. Historic photographs and fragments of the original fabric were relied on to a large degree as reference for this restoration. The station’s main entrance has three elegant arches, which are buttressed by huge Ionic columns. An important part of the restoration involved reintroducing the two original 175-foot terra cotta towers on either side of the main arches.

Significant restoration work was done on the building’s glazed terra cotta facade. The elliptical vaulted and stained glass skylit ceiling and the marble, terra cotta, granite, and mahogany details, which originally adorned the main waiting room, were recreated to develop traditional and contemporary detailing for the historic interior spaces.

An elegant curved freestanding staircase has been introduced in the rotunda to take passengers to the second level train platform. This sculptural element is clearly recognizable as a contemporary addition to the historic fabric of the building.

Formal name of Project:
Union Station Intermodal Transportation

Location:
Worcester, Mass.

Gross square footage:
90,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$33 million

Owner:
Worcester Redevelopment Authority
www.ci.worcester.ma.us

Architect:
Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc.
77 North Washington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
T 617.227.9272
F 617.227.5582
www.faainc.com