Large international events often place renewed attention on transportation infrastructure, and Los Angeles Union Station is set to play a central role in moving visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup following years of preservation and modernization work.
Pankow has worked with Union Station and its partners for more than a decade on a series of projects intended to preserve and modernize the historic transportation hub.
Among the most recent efforts was the restoration of the station's South Patio, a project that involved the rehabilitation of nearly 100,000 historic bricks and upgrades to supporting infrastructure while maintaining the property's original 1939 design character. The work received a 2026 preservation award recognizing craftsmanship and historic restoration.
The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the station remains capable of serving both daily transit operations and major regional events.
Construction activities at Union Station required extensive coordination among owners, designers, preservation specialists and facility operators due to the station's continuous operations.
Pankow's work was performed within an active transportation environment that operates around the clock, requiring phased execution and careful planning to avoid disrupting passengers and rail services.
The projects also involved navigating the technical requirements associated with preserving a landmarked property while upgrading infrastructure for long-term use.
The Union Station work highlights the growing need for contractors that can deliver infrastructure improvements and historic preservation projects in occupied and operational environments.
For construction owners and public agencies, the project demonstrates the importance of long-term stewardship strategies that balance modernization needs with preservation requirements. As cities prepare transportation systems for major events and increasing passenger demand, experience in phased construction, stakeholder coordination and heritage restoration is becoming an increasingly valuable capability across the infrastructure sector.
The Union Station program illustrates how ongoing investment in existing transportation assets can improve operational readiness for major events without requiring entirely new facilities. For construction owners, the project underscores the importance of early planning, long-term maintenance strategies and contractor expertise in delivering upgrades at active, historically significant sites while minimizing disruption to public operations.
Source: Pankow.
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