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Gone are the days when New York's infrastructure was the laughing stock of the world: Grand Central Madison just received UNESCO’s 2024 Prix Versailles Interior Award, specifically given to the “World’s Most Beautiful Passenger Station” interior by a panel of international judges.
The award was granted to the station based on its "innovativeness, creativity, reflection of local heritage and ecological efficiency," per Prix Versailles—adjectives that we're not used to hearing to describe New York train stations, but we'll definitely take it.
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Grand Central Madison opened in 2023 after years of delays and, at a staggering 700,000 square feet, it's the largest passenger rail terminal to be built in the U.S. in more than 60 years, per Gothamist.
If you have no idea where it is, that's because you have to dig deep to find it—literally. The station is located under Grand Central Station and services the Long Island Railroad.
“New Yorkers have known since the day it opened that Grand Central Madison is a world-class terminal—winning the Prix Versailles Interior Award is just la cerise sur le gateau—the cherry on top,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber said in an official statement. “The project team seamlessly blended innovative engineering and architectural grandeur to create a worthy addition to Grand Central—New York’s temple of mass transit. Congratulations to all.”
The hub is filled with public art pieces, well-lit and sleek futuristic tunnels and, best of all, clear signage. There's more to come: improvements to the space as a whole, including the addition of retail destinations that are projects to cost anywhere between $10 million and $50 million, according to Gothamist, are already on deck.
It's not the first time we won big this year: a few months ago, the recently renovated LaGuardia Airport also snatched an award for best airport in the country by Forbes' Verified Air Travel Awards. We hope that this latest victory signals the beginning of a new era for the city's infrastructure world. Will we finally be recognized for our transportation achievements? We shall wait and see.