Amtrak 30th Street Station Plaza Concept Plan

Philadelphia's main train station, 30th Street Station, is poised to become a nexus of future growth and development, spurred by increasing ridership and the 2016 Station District Plan, which calls for 18 million square feet of development over and around the adjacent rail yards. Today, the unwelcoming tangle of roadways that surrounds the historic station hinders pedestrian access and fails to provide the gracious public space appropriate as the setting for this architectural masterpiece.

Building on the success of the temporary installation along one side of the station, "The Porch," our concept design for the plaza offers a dramatic increase in pedestrian space, with a range of experiences and activities including lively retail, shaded seating, an amphitheater, and a welcoming lawn. Raised planting areas, trees, fountains, public art, new lighting, and a unified paving pattern help create a space that is varied, welcoming to all, and befits the central role and grandeur of the station. With a new unified plaza, 30th Street Station can take its place among Philadelphia's great public spaces and bring both beauty and functional efficiency to this increasingly important hub.