You may not believe NYC is home to the world’s most beautiful station interior if your daily commute consists of stopping at the Delancey & Essex station, but it really is. The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) terminal of Grand Central Madison was just selected as the winner of UNESCO’s 2024 Prix Versailles Interior Award for the World’s Most Beautiful Passenger Station.
“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,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “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 now world-famous terminal first opened in January 2023, serving as the largest expansion of LIRR service since the original Penn Station and its East River Tunnels opened on September 8, 1910. Spanning 700,000 square feet with four platforms and eight tracks, Grand Central Madison is the first terminal to connect the LIRR, Metro-North Railroad, and subway under one roof.
Grand Central Madison was in competition for the global architecture and design award with Schafbergbahn Station in St. Wolfgang, Austria; Bell Station in Melbourne, Australia; Beijing Station in Beijing, China Toulouse; Matabiau Station in Toulouse, France; and Chiaia Metro Station in Naples, Italy.
A collection of architects, cultural figures and designers that make up the Prix Versailles jury were responsible for making the decision based on the following criteria: innovativeness, creativity, reflection of local heritage and ecological efficiency.
The terminal features permanent mosaic works from iconic artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith. You can learn everything you need to know about Grand Central Madison with the MTA’s special guide.