The ghost of New York’s old Penn Station will probably never rest. Which is a good thing, because knocking it down to build Madison Square Garden was one of those epic mistakes that deserves to remain a source of some shared pain, keeping us acutely aware that the quality of our choices in building and rebuilding cities matters a lot. And as unapologetic Penn nostalgists, we were charmed to find that a very talented digital modeler named Zoungy Kligge has created a virtual replica of the structure. He explained the project to us by email:
Although the model you see here is not an exact replica, it is meant to capture the essence of the building in a simpler form. It was created initially from my head (the main waiting room portion in the center with clerestory windows, and the general mass of the rest of the building), and then for the “7th avenue” facade I referenced pictures. The model was made in a single sitting in one day for about 10-12 hours. No blueprints were used.
Since 2002 or 2003 I have been interested in Penn Station. In 2002 I was attending the wedding of a friend (actually the parking day friend) and I walked from 42nd street to 23rd along eighth avenue. There was some sort of fireman’s parade, tens of thousands of them, and they were all going into an ugly round building covered in pebbles which I did not know by name. Months later I found a picture of old Penn’s Main waiting Room interior, and my interest was piqued. I became determined to go visit that room — only to discover that it had been replaced by the ugly round pebble-covered building!
Since that time I have tried to learn as much about the building as I can. I wanted to feel as if I had a chance too to explore the space even though it was demolished a decade before my birth. I have researched online resources, collected thousands of digital photos and drawings, plans and diagrams, visited and explored the site once on my own. These experiences are why I was able to proceed on the model quickly without blueprints and “from my head” for the first few hours.
Kligge’s created the model for the Monopoly City Streets design contest. His blog — SketchUp Island — is full of delightful and original creations. We’re now officially fans. Give it a look.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
the plans and elevations of penn station are in the mckim mead and white plan book
i’ve always wanted to see a 3d model of the station as accurate as possible with the interiors… a virtual walk thru
September 28th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I agree, I would love to explore a full 3d model inside and out.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
What a cool model; bravo to Kligge.
Nevertheless, an attractive model doesn’t change the fact that the original Penn was overly larger, ill-proportioned, and inelegant, like an overfed pig trying to waltz.
Still too bad they tore it down though: even poorly proportioned old buildings are better than the pieces of crap architects have been designing for the last 50 years.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Ever since I bought the “late Great Pennsylvannia station” my trips on the NJ transit rail have never been the same.
That photograph of the statuary from Penn station tossed alongside the tracks haunts every trip I take through the Meadowlands.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:11 am
gonna have to disagree with you symeon about penn station being illproportioned and inelegant. sure i never saw it in person only in photos. mckim mead and white were exceptionally skilled architects and this was done when they were the top architecture firm in the nation. its modeled after the baths of caracalla of antiquity and was designed by beaux arts trained architects in a classical language that is all about proportion, scale and order.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Great one Zoungy! I hope this model will inspire everyone to start modeling the world and its history; though I think it won’t (too bad). when is the original coming available on the WareHouse?
October 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I once was assigned to reproduce several of the McKim, Mead, and White plans into AutoCAD and learned to do my first 3-D modeling in Rhino by replicating some of the interior spaces, so I feel justified in saying that he pulled up some of the walls much too high. Maybe that’s also the perspective from above throwing it off–of course the building was meant to be seen from the ground. But dead on, there is no way it was that misproportioned. Yes, it did have some big blank walls outside of it though.
What’s really cool in there are the STAIRS. If someone does a modeling project, let this be their most important goal. I started modeling the concourse/exit concourse/platform level stairs, and it became clear that back when the space was open, it was a really interesting space. The most important thing to remember about the building’s destruction though is how much it was changed beforehand. A lot of the open stair spaces were filled in, they got that new ticket booth, and a bunch of ugly stands came in everywhere.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Hi Tabitha, thanks for having a look at the model (I made it). You are right that the height is exaggerated, but this was intentional. The project was done for a competition and the building is supposed to have a slightly cartoonish feel to it– the feeling of Penn Station but not a faithful reproduction. If you check my blog (I believe if you click my name, or else click the image and follow the link to the blog) you can see the beginning of an accurate Penn model in the archive. Thanks again!
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
Great model. Can you please make a 3D model of the interior as well? Of that beautiful waiting room with the vaulted ceiling? And of the skylighted concourse & track level? My mom had told me how she & her friends used to visit Penn Station in 1961-62 to marvel at the vast building, but the demolition teams began tearing it down the year before I was born.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Hi Jean, the idea is to eventually do a model such as what you describe (interior, glass ceilings, etc.). It takes some know-how and a powerful computer so wish me luck :-). Meantime I’ll be doing some artwork of the station and making prints. I think. If you want to email me about it, try through my blog (just leave a comment somewhere) or click the image above where it says “3D Warehouse” and follow the contact link there. Thanks Jean and everyone for your interest in this post!
November 8th, 2009 at 1:50 am
As a kid Mom took me to old Penn Station for a ride out to Long Island. I remember the size and grandeur of a place larger than life. In later years as an architectural draftsman in Salt Lake City I was researching a project and came across Lorraine Diehl’s wonderful book “The Late Great Pennsylvania Station”. When I realized that I was reading the epitaph, the obituary of the place I was moved to tears. Shaken for quite a while. It had made such and indelible and powerful impact on me. Now, as a video game artist I’ve used the the station as the subject for learning the software modeling packages we use in game production. It helps to bring the place back to life for me. A labor of love for sure. Penn Station may be gone but definitely NOT forgotten. I have two images available for anyone’s review at http://www.joshgoodale.com I’ve tried to capture the mystique and grandeur of the concourse. I hope you enjoy them
November 29th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Mourn old Penn, but be thankful for what it inspired.
Without the public outcry over its destruciton, GCT would’ve been gone as well, and the preservaiton movement found its genesis in its destruction. Small consolation, but an important martyrdom, in some respects.