Silver by Design
Wood decks are often associated with a brown color that often comes from painting or staining. However, it can be particularly eye-catching when you see the natural silver of weathered natural wood decking. So starts the story of the revitalization of a well-known historic icon.
NEW LIFE FOR AN ICON
St. Louis Union Station is a National Historic Landmark that opened to the public in 1894 and stayed in use as a train station until 1978 when Amtrak relocated the station. In 1985, Union Station reopened as a festival marketplace after an extensive renovation. Currently the station is undergoing the second phase of a revitalization project that adds hotel rooms, meeting space, a fully renovated Great Hall, and soon, a state-of-the-art aquarium.
The natural color of the decking material chosen for the project is a medium red-brown, gradually weathering to a silver gray. Allowing the wood to naturally silver was specified in the architect's design plan.
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Frequently asked questions
When did St. Louis Union Station originally open and when did it stop serving as a train station?+
St. Louis Union Station opened to the public in 1894 and remained in use as a train station until 1978, when Amtrak relocated the station.
What is being added to St. Louis Union Station in its second phase of revitalization?+
The second phase of the revitalization project adds hotel rooms, meeting space, a fully renovated Great Hall, and a state-of-the-art aquarium.
What color is the natural wood decking used at Union Station?+
The decking material's natural color is a medium red-brown that gradually weathers to a silver gray.
Why was the decking allowed to weather to silver rather than being stained?+
Allowing the wood to naturally silver was specified in the architect's design plan for the project.
When did St. Louis Union Station reopen as a festival marketplace?+
Union Station reopened as a festival marketplace in 1985 following an extensive renovation.