Korean 256 Report

Verna Koenig
KOREAN
KOREAN_256_REPORT
This configuration, devised by New York Central vice president William J. Wilgus, separated
intercity and commuter-rail passengers, smoothing the flow of people in and through the
station.The original plan for Grand Central's interior was designed by Reed and Stem, with
some work by Whitney Warren of Warren and Wetmore.=== Main Concourse ===
The Main Concourse is located on the upper platform level of Grand Central, in the
geographical center of the station building.The 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) concourse
leads directly to most of the terminal's upper-level tracks, although some are accessed from
passageways near the concourse.The Main Concourse is usually filled with bustling crowds
and is often used as a meeting place.At the center of the concourse is an information booth
topped with a four-sided brass clock, one of Grand Central's most recognizable icons.The
terminal's main departure boards are located at the south end of the space.The boards have
been replaced numerous times since their initial installation in 1967.=== Passageways and
ramps ===
In their design for the station's interior, Reed & Stem created a circulation system that
allowed passengers alighting from trains to enter the Main Concourse, then leave through
various passages that branch from it.Among these are the north–south 42nd Street Passage
and Shuttle Passage, which run south to 42nd Street; and three east–west passageways—
the Grand Central Market, the Graybar Passage, and the Lexington Passage—that run about
240 feet (73 m) east to Lexington Avenue by 43rd Street.Several passages run north of the
terminal, including the north–south 45th Street Passage, which leads to 45th Street and
Madison Avenue, and the network of tunnels in Grand Central North, which lead to exits at
every street from 45th to 48th Street.Each of the east–west passageways runs through a
different building.The northernmost is the Graybar Passage, built on the first floor of the
Graybar Building in 1926.Its walls and seven large transverse arches are made of coursed
ashlar travertine, and the floor is terrazzo.The ceiling is composed of seven groin vaults,
each of which has an ornamental bronze chandelier.The first two vaults, as viewed from
leaving Grand Central, are painted with cumulus clouds, while the third contains a 1927
mural by Edward Trumbull depicting American transportation.The middle passageway
houses Grand Central Market, a cluster of food shops.The site was originally a segment of
43rd Street which became the terminal's first service dock in 1913.In 1975, a Greenwich
Savings Bank branch was built in the space, which was converted into the marketplace in
1998, and involved installing a new limestone façade on the building.The building's second
story, whose balcony overlooks the market and 43rd Street, was to house a restaurant, but
is instead used for storage.The southernmost of the three, the Lexington Passage, was
originally known as the Commodore Passage after the Commodore Hotel, which it ran
through.When the hotel was renamed the Grand Hyatt, the passage was likewise
renamed.The passage acquired its current name during the terminal's renovation in the
1990s.The Shuttle Passage, on the west side of the terminal, connects the Main Concourse to
Grand Central's subway station.The terminal was originally configured with two parallel
passages, later simplified into one wide passageway.Ramps include the Vanderbilt Avenue
ramp and the Oyster Bar ramps.The Vanderbilt Avenue or Kitty Kelly ramp leads from the
corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and 42nd Street down into the Shuttle Passage.Most of the
space above the ramp was built upon in the 20th century, becoming the Kitty Kelly women's
shoe store, and later operating as Federal Express.The ramp was returned to its original
two-story volume during the terminal's 1998 restoration.The Oyster Bar ramps lead down
from the Main Concourse to the Oyster Bar and Dining Concourse.They span a total of 302 ft
(92 m) from east to west under an 84 ft (26 m) ceiling.A pedestrian bridge passes over the
ramps, connecting Vanderbilt Hall and the Main Concourse.In 1927, the ramps were
partially covered over by expanded main-floor ticket offices; these were removed in the
1998 renovation, which restored the ramps' original appearance with one minor change:
the bridge now has a low balustrade, replacing an eight-foot-high solid wall that blocked
views between the two levels.The underside of the bridge is covered with Guastavino
tiling.The bridge's arches create a whispering gallery in the landing beneath it: a person
standing in one corner can hear another speaking softly in the diagonally opposite
corner.==== Grand Central North ====
Grand Central North is a network of four tunnels that allow people to walk between the
station building (which sits between 42nd and 44th Street) and exits at 45th, 46th, 47th,
and 48th Street.The 1,000-foot (300 m) Northwest Passage and 1,200-foot (370 m)
Northeast Passage run parallel to the tracks on the upper level, while two shorter cross-
passages run perpendicular to the tracks.The 47th Street cross-passage runs between the
upper and lower tracks, 30 feet (9.1 m) below street level; it provides access to upper-level
tracks.The 45th Street cross-passage runs under the lower tracks, 50 feet (15 m) below
street level.Converted from a corridor built to transport luggage and mail, it provides access
to lower-level tracks.The cross-passages are connected to the platforms via 37 stairs, six
elevators, and five escalators.

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Verna Koenig

geographical center of the station building.The 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) concourse

mural by Edward Trumbull depicting American transportation.The middle passageway

corner.==== Grand Central North ====

elevators, and five escalators.

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