Suburban Station
Reconstruction Project

Suburban Station Reborn The Ticket Office at Suburban Station

Renovations at Suburban Station, SEPTA’s busiest facility and major Center City stop for all 13 Regional Rail Lines, reached completion with the dedication ceremony on Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Located at JFK Boulevard and 16th Street, this hub of commerce is the daily destination for approximately 100,000 commuters and shoppers. 

The renovations combine the gleam of  historic renovated marble and bronze work with the introduction of modern technology and ADA features.

The station, originally constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1927, is the centerpiece of activity at Penn Center, with its classic Art Deco facade rising above the fountain at Love Park and its concourse stretching underground from 16th to 18th Streets along JFK Boulevard. In addition to everything else, it will be a prime entrance for the new Comcast Center, now under construction at 17th and JFK, adding another 5,000 people to the daily mix of 100,000 commuters and shoppers.

Thanks to six new elevators and improved audio-visual systems, the complex is now compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Improved lighting throughout the station reveals a surprisingly inviting concourse, with restored marble surfaces, terrazzo floors, bronze railings, and new signs and LED displays. Better ventilation and improvements in heating and air conditioning make the wait for the next train a comfortable one in the refurbished Waiting Area.

More on Suburban Station and Regional Rail history

The Ticket Office features the original ticket windows from 1927, now restored. Lefft to right: Joan Schlotterbeck, Philadelphia Commissioner, Dept. of Public Property; Faye Moore, SEPTA General Manager; Serge Nalbantian, Dir. of Urban & National Projects, Liberty Property Trust; and Arthur Jones, the principal designer for BLT Architects

An additional 25,000 square feet of retail space has been added. (Photo: © 2006 Don Pearse)

At concourse level, a new Ticket Office is now located in the center of the station, fitted with restored bronze ticket windows and light fixtures from the original design.  

MetroMarket retail spaces in the west section of the station were also upgraded, and smaller kiosks in the center were relocated to lower rush hour congestion in the concourse as commuters head to the rail platforms.

State Representative Babette Jospehs, speaking at the dedication. Background: Faye Moore, SEPTA General Manager.

The dedication ceremony took place at 10 a.m., with invited guest speakers such as Joan Schlotterbeck, Philadelphia Commissioner, Dept. of Public Property; Faye Moore, SEPTA General Manager; Serge Nalbantian, Dir. of Urban & National Projects, Liberty Property Trust; and Arthur Jones, the principal designer for BLT Architects.

The Suburban Station Dedication Celebration Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Left to right: Joan Schlotterbeck, Philadelphia Commissioner, Dept. of Public Property; Paul R. Levy, President & CEO, Center City District; Tony DeAngelo, MetroMarket General Manager; Gerry Maier, SEPTA Dir. of Real Estate; Faye Moore, SEPTA General Manager; Arthur Jones, BLT Architects; and Serge Nalbantian, Dir. of Urban & National Projects, Liberty Property Trust

Suburban Station improvements include: Upgraded street entrances at 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th Streets Elevators connecting the street to the concourse and platform levels New ramp at Dilworth Plaza Improved lighting, power, and fire protection New Ticket and Passenger Services Offices Air conditioning and heating systems State-of-the-art audio/visual and public address system with electronic LED display boards Expanded retail space

Improved restrooms and a new fire alarm system are some of the less-obvious improvements, but infrastructure is just as important as comfort for commuters on SEPTA.

The $63.5 million renovation project began nearly ten years ago. 

“Lifelines”, by artist Barbara Grygutis, in the courtyard at 16th and JFK. (Photo: © 2006 Don Pearse)

One of the highlights of the project is “Lifelines”, a permanent art installation by artist Barbara Grygutis. It features internally lit aluminum, mesh, and glass block leaf towers surrounded by glass block and granite bench seating. It's located in the courtyard at 16th and JFK.