Philadelphia, PA, Broad Street Station, Early 1900s

Broad Street Station in Philadelphia, originally designed by Wilson Brothers & Company in 1881, was a pioneering steel-framed building with masonry curtain walls. It underwent significant expansion by architect Frank Furness in 1892-93, including a new train shed with the world's largest single-span roof. The station served as the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Railroad until the 1930s when it was relocated. Unfortunately, the train shed was destroyed by fire in 1923, and the station was demolished in 1953.

Frank Furness expanded on the original work by Wilson Brothers, showcasing a distinctive Gothic architectural style with modifications from medieval influences. Its heavy lower levels and vertical emphasis in the upper stories, along with a mix of iron, steel, and masonry, made it an iconic structure. As the station expanded, additional train sheds were added, with the largest single-span roof in the world at the time. However, the station faced operational challenges and was eventually closed and demolished in 1953. Today, the site is part of the bustling Penn Center, with only a historic marker remaining to commemorate the station's legacy.