Homewood, IL

Homewood Station Modernization

Client: Metra Commuter Rail
Our Role: Architecture

Homewood Station rail hub at Ridge Road anchors the village center with modern transit architecture beside active tracks.

Metra Commuter Rail needed to replace an aging, inaccessible station with a facility that could serve as a safe, attractive, and fully accessible intermodal hub for regional and national transit users. The original station, lacking universal access and suffering from disrepair, no longer met the needs of Homewood residents or the region. The client envisioned a new headhouse that improved functionality and reinforced a civic identity within the heart of downtown. The challenge was to deliver a cost-effective, highly accessible, and durable design that knit together bus, commuter, and Amtrak services — while respecting the historic and urban fabric of the village core.

M2, now part of GFT, designed a bold yet context-sensitive solution that redefined the arrival experience in Homewood. The new station forms a seamless connection between commuter rail, long-distance Amtrak, and bus services, removing physical barriers and elevating user experience. A new headhouse anchors the end of Ridge Road — downtown’s primary street — completing the “street room” with a beacon-like presence.

This two-story structure, composed of transparent glass and massive concrete framing, balances openness with durability. A signature tile mural inside echoes the community’s street grid, while a crisscross pattern of lights references the complex regional transit network. Accessibility improvements include a new ramp, an updated elevator, and a dramatic grand stair that welcomes riders from the tunnel level to daylight. The cohesive urban edge formed by the station and integrated landscape elements helps shield the village from the adjacent rail corridor, enhancing both aesthetic and acoustic comfort.

Key Features

Fully ADA-accessible design with new ramp, grand stair, and elevator enhancements.
Integration of Metra, Amtrak, and Pace Bus services into a modernized multimodal facility.
Glass façade offers natural light and intuitive wayfinding.
Monumental tile map mural celebrates local identity.
Site plan preserves existing park-and-ride capacity without expanding parking.
Seamless transition between rail and bus stations through a unifying architectural language.
Durable cladding in the tunnel performs double-duty as finish and moisture management.

Outcomes

A vibrant civic gateway that reaffirms transit’s central role in the community.
Barrier-free, user-friendly access to multiple modes of transit.
Enhanced safety, visibility, and comfort for all riders.
Reinforcement of Homewood’s urban fabric and pedestrian character.
Encouragement of public transit use without increasing car dependency.
Positive community response to a station that reflects pride of place and inclusivity.