CHICAGO — Beginning January 5, commuters will see significant changes at one of Chicago’s busiest transit hubs. The century-old State and Lake CTA station, a vital node for the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines, will be closed for a complete overhaul that is set to last until 2029.
This ambitious project, led by the renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, will see the demolition of the station that has stood for 130 years. In its place, a modern and more accessible facility will rise, designed to better serve the needs of its diverse ridership.
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Anne Zhang, a deputy commissioner with the Chicago Department of Transportation, highlighted that the existing station lacks essential accessibility features. “The station isn’t accessible to folks in wheelchairs, and we’re striving to make it inclusive for all of our transit riders,” Zhang explained.
As one of the city’s most frequented stations, the closure will undoubtedly impact Chicago’s daily commuters. However, the long-term benefits of the new design promise to enhance the transit experience for everyone once the project is completed.
Anne Zhang is a deputy commissioner for the Chicago Department of Transportation. She says much of what’s not working about the current station comes down to accessibility.
“The station isn’t accessible to folks in wheelchairs, and we’re trying to make it accessible for all of our transit riders,” Zhang said.
But there are other concerns that led to this rebuilding of the station.
“Safety and visibility, making sure that there are no maintenance concerns,” says Zhang, “And we want to make sure that it’s top notch and reflective of a world-class facility for a world-class city like Chicago.”
Scott Duncan is a partner with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, which designed the new station.
“If you go to the station now, you’ll see it’s got these very, very narrow platforms. You can barely get by in some places,” Duncan said.
In addition to the needs of CTA passengers, he also considered the nearby architecture in designing the new station.
“We’re surrounded by buildings that are just so of Chicago. And so, from the beginning, we thought about how to complement those buildings but do so in a very modern way,” says Duncan. “We ask for a lot of patience and grace. We are working around the clock and will be directing folks to utilize, for transfers, the Clark and Lake and the Washington and Wabash stations. They’re both two blocks away, and they’re both fully accessible.”
For those wondering how and why this project will take so long, Duncan has this answer: “It is not an aesthetic upgrade, it’s not a superficial upgrade, it’s kind of open heart surgery on a station. We’re going to be replacing almost the entire station.”
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