Personal Project
Rebuild Old Penn Station
To remind New Yorkers of the cultural value of iconic architecture, we set out to virtually reconstruct the original Pennsylvania Station—an architectural masterpiece tragically demolished in 1963.
In collaboration with the Rebuild Penn Station initiative and the New-York Historical Society, we sourced extensive archival materials to produce the most accurate and detailed 3D model of the station ever created.
The final model serves as a historically faithful digital replica and forms the foundation for a range of visual assets, including high-resolution renderings and a full-length animated film that brings the lost landmark back to life.
HISTORY
The original Penn Station was one of New York City’s greatest architectural achievements—a monumental gateway marked by its vast main hall and soaring glass-and-steel concourse. Its demolition in 1963 is still regarded as one of the most devastating losses of architecture and civic vision in American history.
In the wake of that destruction, the city established the Landmarks Preservation Commission to prevent such a mistake from happening again. But by then, one of the most iconic buildings ever to grace New York had already been lost.
"One entered the city like a god. One scuttles in now like a rat."
-Vincent Scully
Pennsylvania Station Today
PROCESS
Unlike traditional architectural visualization, this project challenged us to digitally reconstruct a building that no longer exists. Our primary resources were archival photographs taken at various points in the station’s history.
However, after just a few days of research, it became clear that publicly available images lacked the detail needed to faithfully recreate the original design.
Digging deeper, we discovered that the original blueprints of Penn Station were preserved in the archives of the New-York Historical Society. After some persuasive conversations, we were granted access to photograph the hand-drawn plans—painstakingly rendered on parchment over a century ago.
Nearly 3,000 photographs later, we finally had the level of detail needed to begin. From there, it was time to bring history back to life.
After nearly a month of modeling, we completed the first draft of the station—a digital reconstruction built from 67 original blueprint designs, meticulously brought together into a single cohesive model.
PHASE TWO
With the 3D model complete, the next phase focused on bringing the structure to life—applying textures and materials that matched the original station to create a photorealistic reconstruction.
The final product will be an augmented reality experience, allowing visitors at today’s Penn Station to see what the original building would look like if it had never been demolished.
Through this project, we aim to evoke nostalgia, spark wonder, and foster a renewed sense of civic pride in the iconic spaces that define our urban landscape.
