New York Pennsylvania Station Service Building (New York City, New York)

 power plant, interesting place, train station, historic remains

86-foot, 6-story Neo-Classical service building completed in 1908. Designed by Charles McKim and William Symmes Richardson of McKim, Mead & White, it is the last remaining structure of the original Penn Station. It produced electricity, heat, compressed air, refrigeration and elevator hydraulics for the train station, and is clad in the same Tennessee granite as the demolished main station building. After the station was torn down, the service building's functions were gradually transferred off-site, and as of 2008, the building was largely vacant save for an operations control room. As designed, the building was divided by a north-south fire wall with boilers for power generation on the west side and power distribution, offices and other elements on the east.

The north facade spans eight bays, separated by nearly-flat Roman Doric pilasters at the first three floors. There are entrances at the 2nd bay from the west end, and the 4th bay from the east, both atop narrow sets of steps. The main, east entrance has a set of metal double-doors, while the west entrance has a black metal door in a black metal surround. The other bays have small single-windows at the ground floor, covered by projecting black iron grilles.

There are double-height openings at the 2nd-3rd floors, with large 3-over-3 windows covered by similar grilles. The short 4th floor has square, slightly-recessed window openings, and is topped by a projecting stone cornice. The 5th-6th floors have double-height window openings of the same width as those on the 4th floor. Another stone cornice marks the roof line.

Except for short granite returns at the front, the side elevations are brick. The east side has a large steel box extending from the wall, spanning the 2nd-3rd floors, supported on metal footings, with parking space underneath.

www.nytimes.com/1989/08/20/realestate/streetscapes-penn...
forgotten-ny.com/2018/08/penn-station-remnants/
www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/ny1785/
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www.scoutingny.com/this-mysterious-building-on-west-31s...
smogr.com/2008/01/new_york_penn_station_terminal_servic...