This New York City Train Station Won a UNESCO Prize for Its Stunning Interior Design

For decades, New York City’s transportation hubs have been notorious for their outdated infrastructures and painful commutes. But one by one, they are seeking revenge with their renovations earning some of the world’s most coveted awards, including the prestigious world architecture and design award Prix Versailles, presented each year at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

In 2021, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B captured the top prize in the airport category and Moynihan Train Hall won the top title for passenger station. And then in 2023, Newark Liberty International Airport scored the special airport prize for its exterior. Now, following in those footsteps is the Grand Central Madison Terminal, which earned the prize for its interior in the passenger station category.

Opened below the original Grand Central Terminal in January 2023, the new Grand Central Madison is the largest passenger train terminal built in the United States in 67 years. The station covers 700,000 square feet on two floors and connects to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad, and New York City Subway. In addition to its much-needed functionality on eight tracks and four platforms — carrying roughly 260,000 riders every weekday — the station also has a striking design including mosaic artwork by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and German-born American artist Kiki Smith.

“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,” Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. “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.”

The Prix Versailles awards works in 24 categories, including hotels, museums, airports, restaurants, and passenger stations, looking at the intersection of multiple disciplines that UNESCO holds in high regard, including innovation, creativity, local heritage reflection, ecological efficiency, and social interaction and participation. 

The top Prix Versailles in the passenger station category went to Schafbergbahn Station in St. Wolfgang, Austria. Meanwhile, the complementary award to Grand Central Madison’s special prize for exteriors went to France’s Toulouse Matabiau Station, which went through a three-year renovation, reopening in September 2023. 

Three world selection awards in the category went to Bell Station in Melbourne, Australia; Beijing Station in China; and Chiaia Metro Station in Naples, Italy. 

“With modern designs that complement the historic Grand Central Terminal right above it, Grand Central Madison has delivered the best of both worlds — a dramatic improvement and increase to service, along with an elegantly designed terminal, now officially recognized internationally,” Rob Free, president of LIRR, said in a statement.