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With surprisingly little fanfare, Metro--the newest owners of L.A.'s historic Union Station--revealed this week they've selected which architectural firm will be responsible for designing a "master plan" for the property.
Metro is readying to bring on "a group led by L.A.'s Gruen Associates and London's Grimshaw Architects," the L.A. Times reports.
Recently, Metro held an offshoot imagination project for firms to submit what they called "vision boards" for what the site, including the 1939 landmark Union Station building and its surrounding property, might look like in 2050. While Gruen and Grimshaw did contribute to the show and tell project, it's what they really can do that has Metro looking to their Board to approve the hire.
The L.A. Times gives a little background on what Gruen and Grimshaw has done in the transit world:
Gruen worked with Metro on the recently opened first phase of the Expo Line, and Grimshaw has designed a number of high-profile rail and transit projects in Europe, along with the forthcoming Fulton Street Transit Center in Lower Manhattan.
While the master plan will take an estimated two years to complete, something else is happening soon inside Union Station, where the emphasis of late has been on upping the retail and food options for travelers and commuters. A Ben & Jerry's scoop shop is expected to open later this summer, says blogger Brigham Yen. Just be sure you finish eating your Schweddy Balls before going down to the Red Line platform; there's no food or drink allowed there!