75. Union Station (1939) - Los Angeles, CA; John Parkinson, AIA, and Donald B. Parkinson (America's Favorite Architecture)

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75. Union Station (1939) - Los Angeles, CA; John Parkinson, AIA, and Donald B. Parkinson

Union Station

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Photo by Carol M. Highsmith

Union Station was one of the last great passenger train terminals of its era; air travel was becoming increasingly more important. The building was designed by the then dominant Los Angeles-area architecture firm Parkinson and Parkinson. The station is a delightful blend of Streamlined Moderne and Spanish Colonial Revivalism. Southwestern architect Mary Colter designed the terminal’s restaurant.

Posted by Andy Smith on February 6, 2007 12:04 PM | Permalink

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Comments (4)

David Solomon:

Having recently visited Los Angeles twice by train, I found Union Station a welcoming gatehouse to the region. The interior circulation is awkward but what really makes the building great are the two courtyards planted with jacaranda trees, flanking the gilded main waiting hall. Clearly the most elegant place to wait for a train on the West Coast!

Posted by David Solomon | February 16, 2007 4:33 PM

Posted on February 16, 2007 16:33

Bob G.:

The beauty is on the inside of this building.

Posted by Bob G. | February 18, 2007 11:18 PM

Posted on February 18, 2007 23:18

Tom Dillenbeck:

As seen in the movies: The Island and Nick of Time.

Posted by Tom Dillenbeck | March 9, 2007 4:19 PM

Posted on March 9, 2007 16:19

wwolfe:

I'm so glad this made the list. I find it lovely, inside and out. The clean lines and curves suit Los Angeles perfectly. Having designed this building, as well as nearby City Hall, and Bullocks Wilshire, I can't help wondering if the Parkinsons would be much more celebrated if they'd been New Yorkers, rather than Angelenos.

Posted by wwolfe | March 14, 2007 7:03 PM

Posted on March 14, 2007 19:03