Gensler
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Overview

Overview

Consisting of the restoration of the historic head house, a station expansion, new commercial office development, and a network of connective public plazas, Baltimore Penn Station demonstrates how transportation infrastructure can become a catalyst for civic life and urban renewal.

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Opportunity

Baltimore Penn Station is reimagined to support future ridership, improve the passenger and employee experience, and strengthen its role as a civic gateway.

Historically, large transportation projects in American cities have often divided communities rather than connected them. The challenge for Baltimore is to expand and modernize its critical transportation infrastructure while preserving history, respecting neighborhood context, improving community connectivity, and elevating passenger experience. The result is a multimodal gateway and civic destination that has been repositioned for revitalization and economic growth.

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Harborplace

Why This Matters

  1. 01

    Vibrant Neighborhood Anchor

    A reimagined Baltimore Penn Station anchors future development, reconnects neighborhoods, strengthens community identity, and serves as a vibrant gateway to the city.

  2. 02

    Inclusive Urban Connector

    Consisting of a refresh to the historic head house, a station expansion, a commercial office development, and the addition of connective public plazas, Baltimore Penn Station puts an exclamation point on the idea of inclusive and forward-facing design.

  3. 03

    “Train as Theater”

    The transit development design puts the old station and mobility activity on display. Buses, trains, scooters, bicycles, rideshares, and taxis are seamlessly woven into the program, creating a convenient and integrated multimodal hub. Visual reconnection to the activity of the N.E. Corridor.

These latest renderings showcase the incredible potential of Penn Station for the surrounding community, the city of Baltimore, and the entire state of Maryland. This transformational project is long overdue, but one that we know will positively impact local Baltimore residents well as the millions of visitors the city welcomes through Penn Station each year.

Michael BeattyPresident of Beatty Development Group.

Solution

Baltimore Penn Station showcases mobility as an experience, seamlessly integrating multiple transportation modes while celebrating the station's character and civic role. The design balances historic preservation with contemporary design and future flexibility.

The reenvisioned station demonstrates how infrastructure can become a powerful civic asset, transforming multimodal mobility into a memorable experience that celebrates Baltimore's heritage. Five entrances, enhanced sightlines, and integrated transportation options improve connectivity, accessibility, and ease of movement. Public plazas and welcoming circulation routes invite residents and visitors alike to gather, linger, and activate the public realm. By uniting mobility, public space, architecture, and community, Baltimore Penn Station strengthens the city's sense of place and establishes a vibrant gateway for future growth.

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Related Content

47.5K

Gross Constructed Area · sqft

3

Site Area · acres

808

Planned Occupancy

From brief to build: how public transit infrastructure can serve as the foundation for more interconnected, resilient, and people-centered cities.

Baltimore Penn Station is a landmark collaboration between Gensler and Penn Station Partners that puts the firm’s full toolkit on display and helps the entire city rethink its future. Consisting of a refresh to the historic head house, a station expansion, a commercial office development, and the addition of connective public plazas, Baltimore Penn Station epitomizes the concept of inclusive and forward-facing design.

Window to and reflection of the past
Site Organization
Train as Theater
Ceiling Forms Celebrated
Ribbon Diagram

Window to and Reflection of the Past

Grounded in Beaux Arts Solidity, the design defers to the scale and iconic character of the historic headhouse.

Impact

Amtrak’s Baltimore Penn Station will be a transformative civic asset reconnecting communities, elevating the passenger experience, and demonstrating how mobility infrastructure can catalyze a more vibrant and resilient city.

Through restoration of the historic station, a carefully integrated expansion, and complementary commercial development, the project enhances both its civic presence and community identity while creating a more vibrant and welcoming destination.

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What Changed Because of This

  1. 01

    Historic Renewal

    Through adaptive reuse and full preservation, the historic station gains new life with modern amenities, restoring its civic prominence while honoring Baltimore's architectural heritage.

  2. 02

    Expanded Mobility

    A new station expansion modernizes rail operations, increases capacity, improves passenger services, and integrates future high-speed rail connections.

  3. 03

    Mixed-use Vitality

    New retail, restaurants, offices, and surrounding mixed-use development transform Penn Station into a vibrant destination that supports neighborhood growth and activity.

People love this building. But it needs to be modernized. Part of the impulse on Amtrak's part was to modernize the station but also expand to meet future demands.

Peter Stubb, AIA, LEED APDesign Director, Principal

Recognition

01

The Baltimore Banner

Up to $122,680,000 in new grant funding announced by the Federal Railroad Administration for Baltimore’s Penn Station could help jump-start the revitalization of the historic train station.
The money will help further the renovation and restoration of the more-than-century-old structure as well as plans for a new building north of the tracks to house Amtrak operations as well as passenger entrances and a waiting area.

02

Surface mag

Gensler will redesign and add an all-glass facade to Baltimore’s historic Penn Station.
Gensler has unveiled the redesigned Baltimore Penn Station as a “train as theater” concept that showcases both the old station and the transit activity itself. Amtrak’s eighth busiest station, the multimodal hub will be expanded with an all-glass facade and a low-lying, copper-lined roof that draws inspiration from the existing train hall’s three Tiffany domes.

03

SCRIPPS Media INC

Amtrak is in the process of giving Baltimore’s Penn Station a facelift, something that hasn't been done in almost four decades. Baltimore's Penn Station is one of the busiest in the country, ranking number eight, and this $150 million revamp has regular riders excited about what’s to come.

Team

Project Leadership

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[FPO] Alan Gombera

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[FPO] Amanda Strawitch

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[FPO] Dana Verbosh

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Peter Stubb

Peter Stubb is a Design Director and Principal in Gensler's Baltimore office whose work focuses on transformative civic, transportation, workplace, and urban projects that strengthen communities and elevate the public experience of the built environment.

FAQ

01

Where is this project?

The Amtrak – Baltimore Penn Station Lanvale Expansion is located on the Lanvale lot immediately north of the historic Baltimore Penn Station, bordered by Charles Street to the west, East Lanvale Street to the north, St. Paul Street to the east, and the railroad tracks to the south in Baltimore, Maryland.

02

Who designed this project?

The Baltimore Penn Station redevelopment and Lanvale expansion project was designed by the global architecture and design firm Gensler alongside Amtrak and development partners Penn Station Partners (led by Beatty Development Group and Cross Street Partners).

03

What is the future master plan vision?

To prove pedestrian access and multi-modal connectivity and accommodate future rail transportation needs.

04

Why is this project important?

As a civic gateway to the city, Penn Station will bridge the surrounding neighborhoods and capture the spirit of Baltimore’s art and culture.

05

What is the multi-modal approach?

The station opens to all edges, offering access from all sides and multiple drop off points for any mode of transportation imaginable.

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Related Expertise

MobilityTransportationMobility & TransportationCities & Urban DesignBuilding Transformation & Adaptive ReuseGovernment & Defense