Chicago ''L''.org: Stations

The new and the old coming together: the CTA retained and integrated the original 1902 station house into the new station facility with aesthetically pleasing and historically sympathetic results. The historic side canopies faired less well, as they were recombined into an island canopy, visible at the top left, on the new island platform. A modern canopy, typical of other rehabbed Douglas stations, was built west of the elevator, on the right. In this opening day view looking southwest on March 29, 2004, a #52 Kedzie-California bus passed in front of the new facility. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

Kedzie (3200W/2100S)
Kedzie Avenue and 21st Street, Lawndale

Service Notes:

Pink Line: Cermak (Douglas)

Accessible Station

Quick Facts:

Address: 1944 S. Kedzie Avenue
Established: March 10, 1902
Original Line: Metropolitan West Side Elevated, Douglas Park branch
Previous Names: none

Skip-Stop Type:

Station (1951-1958)

Station (1958-1995)

Rebuilt: 2002-04
Status: In Use

History:

The Douglas branch of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad was originally planned to extend to 46th (Kenton) Avenue in its original stretch. The branch opened incrementally, however, and was only open as far as 18th Street on April 28, 1896 (long after the other Met branches were in service), while Western was activated August 7. Further extension to 40th Avenue (Crawford, later Pulaski) wasn't complete until 1902, when Kedzie was built and placed in service. Kenton wasn't reached until 1907.

The Kedzie station is typical of those that once populated the Metropolitan Elevated's lines. Today, few remain. This March 28, 1998 view shows both the classic station house and platform architecture. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

Kedzie's headhouse design was typical of the architecture for most of the Metropolitan Elevated's 1902 Douglas extension. The building, executed in brown brick and tan rusticated stone with wooden doors and window frames, had an eclectic mix of influences and styles, many of which were purely vernacular. The use of dark brick masonry, heavy, rough-cut stone in the sills and quoins, and the decorative brickwork and terra cotta along the cornice all suggest Queen Anne design with some influence of the Romanesque Revival style. The station was generally square except for a bay in front and was one story tall.

The side platforms had treated timber plank flooring, while the railings and balustrades were typical for the Metropolitan Elevated. Each platform had a short canopy in the center of the platform, covering the stairs and a small waiting area. The canopies were made of steel supports and latticework with a corrugated metal hipped roof. The railings, both on the platforms and on the stairs connecting them to the station house, had decorative twisted strap metal railings, cast iron newel posts, and wood handgrips. Added to the railing design at platform-level were larger cast iron square plates with a stylized diamond design in the center of them. The platforms had incandescent lights under the canopy and in gooseneck lamps that were integrated into the railing design. Certain railing posts were replaced with lampposts of a similar design. They extended up beyond the railing to about seven feet high, terminating in a decorative capital and topped with a hooked shepherd's crook and saucer-shaped shade with two or three incandescent light bulbs. Later, most of these were removed and replaced with simple, standardized gooseneck lights.

Kedzie and California, the next station to the east, were the last 1902 station houses to remain intact. (California was demolished in 2002 as part of the branch's renovation.) Kedzie's exterior was, at some point, painted white. Kedzie's historic integrity remained very high into the 21st century. The original station house, stairs, and platform canopies remained and many of the railings and light fixtures were original until 2002, when the station underwent reconstruction.

Douglas Renovation Project

By the time of new millennium, the station, and indeed the entire branch, was aging and in need of renovation. Over the years, the condition of the Douglas branch deteriorated to a point that permanent "slow zones" were present throughout more than 47% of track and many of the stations were in poor condition. After a long battle to secure funding from both the state and federal governments, the CTA decided it was time to embark upon a complete rehabilitation of the entire branch. The Douglas Rehabilitation Project was the largest single capital improvement project the authority had embarked upon up to that time. The project was to restore the branch so that it would be 100 percent ADA compliant, with eight of the branch's 11 stations (six elevated and two at-grade) completely rebuilt, and to allow for faster travel times from one end of the line to the other.

The historic 1902 station house was integrated into the renovated Kedzie station, seen on reopening day on March 29, 2004. The exterior, seen above, was stripped, cleaned, and repaired, with an addition built on the rear. The interior, seen below, had floor-to-ceiling wood paneling installed on the walls and new wood floors. Note the indirect lighting along the ceiling. An arched opening in the rear leads to the new station addition. For a larger view of the above photo, click here. For a larger view of the below photo, click here. (Photos by Graham Garfield)

As part of the renovation project, Kedzie had a new station facility constructed. Unlike the other seven stations on the branch that underwent station renovations, Kedzie's design retained the original, historic station house rather than receiving a completely new, modern headhouse. The historic Kedzie station house, considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and classified as one of CTA's historic stations, was integrated into the new station facility. The exterior was stripped of its white paint, cleaned, and damaged brick and masonry was repaired, restoring it to its original appearance. The historic station house became the entrance and foyer to the new facility, which is a new addition on the back of the original headhouse. On the outside, the addition is designed to be sympathetic to the historic building, using the same color brick and carrying the decorative brickwork and cornice motifs through the new structure. The interior of the historic station was gutted, with the fare controls and booth removed. A new hardwood floor was installed and the walls were clad in floor-to-ceiling wood paneling (the station originally had chair rail with wood wainscoting below and plaster above). The historic portion houses only TransitCard Vending Machines (TCVMs), otherwise standing open and unobstructed. Beyond in the new addition are the fare controls are a Customer Assistant (CA) booth, vertical access to the platform, and various auxiliary equipment rooms. The walls of this portion are clad in white ceramic tiles, the same as the other new Douglas stations. The CTA installed a plaque in the unpaid area in the historic station house at Kedzie to denote its historic status and describe its background.

The old side platforms were replaced with a new, wide island platform. As at street level, the CTA again wanted to make a compromise on the platform between consistency with the rest of new, rebuilt Douglas stations and retaining historic elements of the old Kedzie station. On the west half of the platform, the CTA installed a Douglas-standard "showpiece" canopy, with clear glazed roof sections that allow natural light on the platform alternating with triangular solid, three-dimensional metal wedges and clear triangular panels that led the canopies to be dubbed by some as the "flying triangles". "Honeycomb" paneling adorns the platform canopy fascia, as well as being around the various columns and poles at platform level. The original historic canopies, however, were disassembled before the old station was demolished and reconstructed on the east half of the platform, over Kedzie Avenue. The Metropolitan Elevated side platform canopies were reinstalled back-to-back on the island platform. This has the effect of preserving the material of the original station, but not the context of the original design, with the two hipped-roof structures back-to-back creating a "sawtooth" roof profile. The section around the historic canopy also has a wood platform decking in contrast to the concrete floor of the rest of the platform. Between the new and the old canopies is a new elevator providing ADA access dominating the street elevation of the facility, with the tall tower cladded in the same brick as the station house addition (rather than the white tiles with a blue band around the top as at other Douglas stations) to provide additional continuity between the new and historic elements and a steel "cta" on the north and south faces. The amenities on the modern parts of the platform carry through the angled motif of the new canopy, with benches, lights, windbreaks, and some signage angled off-axis from being parallel or perpendicular to the tracks. For customer comfort, the platform features benches, overhead heaters and enhanced lighting. In addition to the elevator, a wheelchair-accessible gate in the fare controls, TTY telephones, tactile edging and Braille signs offer accessibility for customers with disabilities. Audiovisual station signs and a public address system help customers navigate the station and receive travel information.

There is an auxiliary entrance and exit on the east side of Kedzie Avenue, across from the main station house. This farecard-only entrance is enclosed inside a small station house whose exterior design resembles a miniaturized version of the other Douglas headhouses, a modern glass and steel facility featuring quarry tile at the base, a metal-frame storefront on the front and side facades with large picture windows, glass walls and a band of art glass along the top, and capped by a large metal cornice divided into boxes. Inside are two high-barrier gates (HBGs), a transit information board, and a Customer Assistant call button. The stairs from the auxiliary entrance ascend in the east half of the platform, under the historic canopy. The auxiliary entrance/exit allows passengers transferring to and from northbound #52 Kedzie-California buses a more convenient option.

Kiewit/Delgado crews are dismantling the historic inbound canopy at at Kedzie with blowtorches and cranes on Saturday afternoon, August 17, 2002. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

The official groundbreaking for the Douglas Rehabilitation Project -- also known as "Renew the Blue" -- took place at Pulaski station on September 10, 2001, but actual construction work did not begin at Kedzie station for about another ten months. By early August 2002, construction was well underway for the new station configuration. A new Track 1 had already been built to the north of the existing track, around the existing outbound side platform. The alignment of the track is consistent with the original staging scheme -- the railings on the old southbound platform would be reconfigured so that it faced the new southbound track, allowing the the old southbound track to be demolished and a new platform built in the space provided by the old southbound trackway and old southbound side platform -- which the CTA and Kiewit abandoned using. Still, even though the old platforms weren't used in a staging scheme, the routing and profile of the new Track 1 remained the same, since the finished island platform remained the same. When the new temporary station and new Track 1 around Kedzie were activated and the old Kedzie station was closed, the old outbound side platform and Track 1 could be removed and the new, wide island platform built in its place.

Early in the morning on Saturday, August 10, 2002, the Kedzie station closed for reconstruction. Effective at 0400 hours, the station closed pending its demolition and replacement with new facilities, a new addition on the rear of the station, and the restoration of the existing, historic station house. While the work was in progress, a temporary Kedzie-Central Park station with entrances at Trumbull (3450 West) and Christiana (3350 West) served customers from both stations. The Kedzie-Central Park temporary station serving the former Kedzie and Central Park stations was placed in service at 0400 hours on Monday, August 12, 2002. Customers continued making bus connections with the #52 Kedzie-California bus at 21st/Kedzie and the #82 Kimball-Homan at Ogden/Central Park, requiring a three block walk in either direction from the station entrances to get to the bus transfer points.

Looking east on August 17, 2002, Kiewit/Delgado crews have already dismantled much of historic Kedzie stations platforms in a matter of hours and are working on the inbound canopy. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

The temporary station featured temporary wooden dual side platforms, stretching from Trumbull to Christiana, centered over Homan Avenue (where a station was, in fact, located until 1951). These platforms fed from the dual fare control areas at Trumbull and Christiana. The fare control areas consisted of concrete and asphalt floors, chainlink walls, and wooden agent's booths. The platforms had plywood decking and wooden railings, wooden canopies, and temporary signage largely relocated from the closed Kedzie and Central Park stations. During the weekend between the old stations' closures and the temporary station's opening, after Kedzie station was closed and locked, CTA forces removed the fare controls and AVMs in that station and relocated them to the Christiana entrance to the temporary station.

The weekend of August 17-18, 2002, the platforms and canopies of Kedzie station were dismantled. Kedzie Avenue was closed between 19th and 21st Street, necessitating the #52 bus to be diverted to California. By late afternoon on Saturday, the canopy on the outbound platform was completely removed and about half of the inbound platform canopy was blowtorched and dismantled. The west half of the inbound platform was completely removed along with most of its support brackets and columns, as was the east end of the outbound platform. The rest of the platform and canopy structures were largely removed on Sunday. To allow for the canopies' later reassembly, the removed canopies were cataloged and put into storage. Track work was also performed on the new Track 1 around Kedzie station that weekend. Construction of the new Kedzie station commenced thereafter.

The new Kedzie station opened to customer use at 0400 hours on Monday, March 29, 2004. Chicago Transit Authority Chairman Carole Brown, President Frank Kruesi and other officials presided over an opening ceremony at the station later that morning at 1000 hours. Kedzie was the third new elevated station to open and the fifth of eight stations to reopen as part of the $482.6 million renovation of the Cermak (Douglas) branch of the Blue Line.

Coincident with the new station opening, the temporary Kedzie-Central Park station closed. The Christiana (3350 West) entrance was locked and fenced off at 0400 hours on March 27 at the end of weekday service, the Trumbull entrance (3450 West) having already been closed and converted to an exit on January 29 when the new Central Park station opened. The temporary station was later dismantled.

The Kedzie station also had new original artwork installed as part of the Douglas branch renovation. Included through a unique partnership between the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs' Public Art Program and the CTA , the Public Art Program administered the selection, design, creation and installation of public art for the project. The Kedzie station includes a custom-made stoneware tile wall near the stairwell titled "Coast of Chicago" by artist John Himmelfarb. The CTA allocated $1 million for the Cermak Branch Art Project and retains ownership rights to all of the artwork created.

After conducting a West Side Corridor Study and holding public meetings during 2004 and 2005, the CTA began operation of a new service over the Cermak branch. Beginning Sunday, June 25, 2006, the new Pink Line began providing the primary rail service to the branch. Operating seven days a week during the same service hours as the Blue Line had operated, Pink Line trains operated on the Cermak branch from 54th/Cermak to Polk, then terminated around the Loop via the Paulina Connector and Lake branch of the Green Line. Service levels increased with the introduction of the Pink Line, with trains running more frequently including a 7.5-minute interval during weekday rush periods. To address community concerns, Blue Line service to the O'Hare branch from 54th/Cermak via the Dearborn Subway was maintained during morning and afternoon rush hours. The Pink Line and revised Blue Line services were instituted as an 180-day experiment, extended for additional 180-day experimental periods subsequently, while ridership and other effects were studied. As the experimental period continued, the CTA revised service on the Cermak branch to eliminate the rush period Blue Line trains, leaving the Pink Line to provide all service to 54th/Cermak. Although ridership had risen overall since the introduction of the Pink Line, Blue Line trains had consistently low ridership on a person-per-railcar-basis. The last day of Blue Line Cermak service was Friday, April 25, 2008.

In addition to a new, modern canopy on the west end of the platform, the original historic canopies were disassembled and reconstructed on the east half of the platform, over Kedzie Avenue. The Metropolitan Elevated canopies, originally for dual side platforms, were reinstalled back-to-back on the new island platform. This has the unusual effect of preserving the material of the original station, but not really the context or integrity of the original design. The two hipped-roof structures back-to-back also has the effect of creating a "sawtooth" roof profile. The section around the historic canopy also has a wood platform decking rather than the concrete floor of the rest of the platform. This view looks east on March 29, 2004, the day the station reopened, as an inbound Blue Line train departs. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

Old Kedzie (1902-2002) | Temporary Kedzie-Central Park (2002-2003) | New Kedzie (2002-present)

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The 1902-vintage Kedzie station house, looking west in August 2001. Although the brick and stone exterior has been covered in white paint, the details of the historic station house are still clearly evident. The paint is easily removable, with the proper techniques. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The Kedzie station platforms, looking east in August 2001. The canopies and railings are from the original 1902 construction. The light were added later, but the ornate poles from the original lights are still intact on the right -- sans their crooked lamps -- integrated into the railing design. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The new Track 1 had already been built to the north of the existing track (left), around the existing outbound side platform. When the new Track 1 around Kedzie is activated and the old Kedzie station is closed, the current outbound side platform and Track 1 will be removed and a new, wide island platform built in its place. This view looks east from was of the station as an Illinois Department of Public Health ad wrap train pulls into the station on August 8, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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Looking west at the historic Kedzie station house on the last full day of service for the complete 1902 station facility on August 9, 2002. When the Douglas Reconstruction project is completed, the station house will remain, but little else will look the same. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The interior of the historic Kedzie station house looking southwest from the front doors on August 9, 2002, the last full day of service before the station closed for reconstruction. Although much of the station had been altered since construction, it still bore the same general feel with its wooden floors, plaster walls, and small scale. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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A close-up of the new Track 1 to the north (left) and the existing Track 1 to the south (right), separated by the old outbound Kedzie side platform, which is seeing its last day of service here on August 9, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The 2nd Annual Historic Station Tour group, after hearing some remarks from the guides, walk around the Kedzie (Douglas) station on their own before returning to the charter train to move on. (Photo by Linda Garfield)

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Kiewit/Delgado crews are dismantling the historic inbound canopy at at Kedzie with blowtorches and cranes on Saturday afternoon, August 17, 2002. The canopies will be integrated into the new station platform; the rest of the historic platform hardware will be largely discarded. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

Temporary Kedzie-Central Park station

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Looking east down the temporary Kedzie-Central Park platform from around Homan Avenue on August 8, 2002 while the facility is still under construction. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The temporary Kedzie-Central Park platform, looking east on August 8, 2002, follows the same general design as the earlier Pulaski-Kildare station, but with some added details like a more detailed railing structure with balustrades. There are three sets of the short canopies, one set in the middle and additional sets over the stairs at each end. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The Christiana entrance to Kedzie-Central Park, looking west on August 9, 2002. Although the fare controls and signage from Kedzie still have yet to be moved over and some other finishing touches have yet to be completed, the station is largely finished and ready for use. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The Trumbull entrance to Kedzie-Central Park, looking southeast on August 9, 2002. The general structure has been completed, but the fare control area would be outfitted over the next two days and the stairs down from the intermediate landing to the ground were still to be installed as well. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

New Kedzie station

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The reuse of the historic station house with new additions is evident in this artist's conception of the new station facility looking northwest. Although the historic headhouse is white in the drawing (suggesting that it was going to be left painted), it was actually stripped and returned to its original appearance. (Drawing provided courtesy of the Chicago Transit Authority)

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The steel decking supports for the new, wide island platform is largely in place in this view looking west on October 1, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The steel framework of the modern canopy on the new Kedzie island platform is nearly complete in this view looking east on February 6, 2003. The historic canopy will be reassembled beyond it. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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A brickwork course on the original Kedzie station house (left) is repeated in the new rear addition (right), adding a sense of continuity to the overall station design, under construction on March 18, 2003. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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Looking northwest on June 24, 2003, only the framework of the new and historic canopies are in place and the station house is just a shell. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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Kedzie station is largely complete in this December 8, 2003 view, including signage, lighting, AV signs, the stainless steel cta logo on the elevator tower, and other finishes. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The restored historic station house, with new, matching addition on the rear, is seen looking west on December 8, 2003. The headhouse is ready for use, with its new doors and windows, lighting, signage, and interior appointments. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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By December 8, 2003, the auxiliary entrance is complete, with all of its fittings and finishes except for the installation of signage and fare controls. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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Looking east at the west end of the platform on December 8, 2003, this half of the station features the new, modern typical Douglas canopy. At this point, the station is largely complete, with its lighting, finishes, and signage installed. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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At the east end of the station are the reinstalled historic canopies, originally for side platforms and now placed back-to-back on the new island platform. See looking west on December 8, 2003, they cover the stairs to the auxiliary exit. Beyond the "historic zone", however, the new modern lighting starts up again, as seen in the right foreground. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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This view, looking north on March 29, 2004, shows the station's profile from the street on the day the facility reopened. Although the historic canopies were not originally back-to-back, nor were they over the street, they do provide a scale and context more akin to the surrounding neighborhood and other historic elements of the station than the modern canopy on the left. Note the station name signs opposite the platform on the outside of the tracks (with the plain metal backer plates), required for ADA compliance. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The CTA and its consultants took care in the design of the addition to the rear of the historic Kedzie station house, seen here on March 29, 2004 where the new (at left) meets the old on the south elevation of the station. Note that the new addition carries through the general design and theme of the original, including the corner quoins and the decorative cornice, but does not replicate the ornamentation exactly, providing good aesthetic continuity and respect while not trying to replicate the historic fabric. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The interior of the historic Kedzie station house is now the entrance and foyer of the new station, seen looking east on reopening day, March 29, 2004. It is empty except for the TransitCard Vending Machines (TCVMs, out of frame on the left) and a commemorative plaque and some other signage seen on the right. Although the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling has no historic basis whatsoever -- it was originally wood chair rail and wainscoting with plaster walls above -- it nonetheless creates a pleasing appearance. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The rest of the interior of Kedzie is modern, of the same design as the other new Douglas stations, with cement floors, white tile walls, and paneled drop ceilings. The Customer Assistant (CA) booth is also typical, seen at center. The elevator to the platform is barely visible on the left. This view looks southeast from the bottom of the stairs to the platform on reopening day, March 29, 2004. The historic portion of the interior is visible beyond the fare controls. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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Looking east on March 29, 2004, this view shows how the latticework on the historic canopies looks when they are reassembled back-to-back on the new island platform. Because they have hipped roofs, a channel is created down the middle. The lighting on the columns provides illumination without disrupting the aesthetics of the canopy framework and cross-bracing. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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On the west half of the platform, the CTA installed a Douglas-standard "showpiece" canopy, with clear glazed roof sections that allow natural light on the platform alternating with triangular solid, three-dimensional metal wedges and clear triangular panels that led the canopies to be dubbed by some as the "flying triangles". This view looks east on March 29, 2004, reopening day. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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There is an auxiliary entrance/exit on the east side of Kedzie Avenue, across from the main station house, seen here looking southeast on the station's reopening day, March 29, 2004. In contrast to the historic station house across the street, this farecard-only entrance's exterior design resembles a miniaturized version of the other Douglas headhouses, a modern glass and steel facility featuring quarry tile at the base, a metal-frame storefront on the front and side facades with large picture windows, glass walls and a band of art glass along the top, and capped by a large metal cornice divided into boxes. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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The ceramic tiles of Coast of Chicago are seen on the wall facing the stairs at Kedzie station. Elements of the local history, community, and transit can be found in the tiles' graphics. Can you find the silhouette of the original Kedzie station platform canopies? (Photo courtesy of CTA Arts in Transit Program)

Revamped Kedzie Stop Welcomes First Riders
- Date of Publication: March 30, 2004
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Skip-Stop Type:		Station (1951-1958)
Skip-Stop Type:		Station (1958-1995)

	kedzie02.jpg (151k) The 1902-vintage Kedzie station house, looking west in August 2001. Although the brick and stone exterior has been covered in white paint, the details of the historic station house are still clearly evident. The paint is easily removable, with the proper techniques. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie03.jpg (103k) The Kedzie station platforms, looking east in August 2001. The canopies and railings are from the original 1902 construction. The light were added later, but the ornate poles from the original lights are still intact on the right -- sans their crooked lamps -- integrated into the railing design. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie05.jpg (160k) The new Track 1 had already been built to the north of the existing track (left), around the existing outbound side platform. When the new Track 1 around Kedzie is activated and the old Kedzie station is closed, the current outbound side platform and Track 1 will be removed and a new, wide island platform built in its place. This view looks east from was of the station as an Illinois Department of Public Health ad wrap train pulls into the station on August 8, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie06.jpg (160k) Looking west at the historic Kedzie station house on the last full day of service for the complete 1902 station facility on August 9, 2002. When the Douglas Reconstruction project is completed, the station house will remain, but little else will look the same. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie07.jpg (130k) The interior of the historic Kedzie station house looking southwest from the front doors on August 9, 2002, the last full day of service before the station closed for reconstruction. Although much of the station had been altered since construction, it still bore the same general feel with its wooden floors, plaster walls, and small scale. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie08.jpg (130k) A close-up of the new Track 1 to the north (left) and the existing Track 1 to the south (right), separated by the old outbound Kedzie side platform, which is seeing its last day of service here on August 9, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	tour00q.jpg (73k) The 2nd Annual Historic Station Tour group, after hearing some remarks from the guides, walk around the Kedzie (Douglas) station on their own before returning to the charter train to move on. (Photo by Linda Garfield)
	kedzie09.jpg (140k) Kiewit/Delgado crews are dismantling the historic inbound canopy at at Kedzie with blowtorches and cranes on Saturday afternoon, August 17, 2002. The canopies will be integrated into the new station platform; the rest of the historic platform hardware will be largely discarded. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

	Kedzie-CentralPark01.jpg (167k) Looking east down the temporary Kedzie-Central Park platform from around Homan Avenue on August 8, 2002 while the facility is still under construction. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	Kedzie-CentralPark02.jpg (173k) The temporary Kedzie-Central Park platform, looking east on August 8, 2002, follows the same general design as the earlier Pulaski-Kildare station, but with some added details like a more detailed railing structure with balustrades. There are three sets of the short canopies, one set in the middle and additional sets over the stairs at each end. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	Kedzie-CtlPk.Christiana01.jpg (143k) The Christiana entrance to Kedzie-Central Park, looking west on August 9, 2002. Although the fare controls and signage from Kedzie still have yet to be moved over and some other finishing touches have yet to be completed, the station is largely finished and ready for use. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	Kedzie-CtlPk.Trumbull01.jpg (170k) The Trumbull entrance to Kedzie-Central Park, looking southeast on August 9, 2002. The general structure has been completed, but the fare control area would be outfitted over the next two days and the stairs down from the intermediate landing to the ground were still to be installed as well. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

	kedzie04.jpg (173k) The reuse of the historic station house with new additions is evident in this artist's conception of the new station facility looking northwest. Although the historic headhouse is white in the drawing (suggesting that it was going to be left painted), it was actually stripped and returned to its original appearance. (Drawing provided courtesy of the Chicago Transit Authority)
	kedzie12.jpg (153k) The steel decking supports for the new, wide island platform is largely in place in this view looking west on October 1, 2002. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie13.jpg (190k) The steel framework of the modern canopy on the new Kedzie island platform is nearly complete in this view looking east on February 6, 2003. The historic canopy will be reassembled beyond it. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie15.jpg (209k) A brickwork course on the original Kedzie station house (left) is repeated in the new rear addition (right), adding a sense of continuity to the overall station design, under construction on March 18, 2003. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie16.jpg (165k) Looking northwest on June 24, 2003, only the framework of the new and historic canopies are in place and the station house is just a shell. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie19.jpg (134k) Kedzie station is largely complete in this December 8, 2003 view, including signage, lighting, AV signs, the stainless steel cta logo on the elevator tower, and other finishes. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie20.jpg (157k) The restored historic station house, with new, matching addition on the rear, is seen looking west on December 8, 2003. The headhouse is ready for use, with its new doors and windows, lighting, signage, and interior appointments. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie21.jpg (171k) By December 8, 2003, the auxiliary entrance is complete, with all of its fittings and finishes except for the installation of signage and fare controls. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie22.jpg (172k) Looking east at the west end of the platform on December 8, 2003, this half of the station features the new, modern typical Douglas canopy. At this point, the station is largely complete, with its lighting, finishes, and signage installed. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie23.jpg (171k) At the east end of the station are the reinstalled historic canopies, originally for side platforms and now placed back-to-back on the new island platform. See looking west on December 8, 2003, they cover the stairs to the auxiliary exit. Beyond the "historic zone", however, the new modern lighting starts up again, as seen in the right foreground. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie25.jpg (123k) This view, looking north on March 29, 2004, shows the station's profile from the street on the day the facility reopened. Although the historic canopies were not originally back-to-back, nor were they over the street, they do provide a scale and context more akin to the surrounding neighborhood and other historic elements of the station than the modern canopy on the left. Note the station name signs opposite the platform on the outside of the tracks (with the plain metal backer plates), required for ADA compliance. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie27.jpg (132k) The CTA and its consultants took care in the design of the addition to the rear of the historic Kedzie station house, seen here on March 29, 2004 where the new (at left) meets the old on the south elevation of the station. Note that the new addition carries through the general design and theme of the original, including the corner quoins and the decorative cornice, but does not replicate the ornamentation exactly, providing good aesthetic continuity and respect while not trying to replicate the historic fabric. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie29.jpg (148k) The interior of the historic Kedzie station house is now the entrance and foyer of the new station, seen looking east on reopening day, March 29, 2004. It is empty except for the TransitCard Vending Machines (TCVMs, out of frame on the left) and a commemorative plaque and some other signage seen on the right. Although the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling has no historic basis whatsoever -- it was originally wood chair rail and wainscoting with plaster walls above -- it nonetheless creates a pleasing appearance. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie30.jpg (88k) The rest of the interior of Kedzie is modern, of the same design as the other new Douglas stations, with cement floors, white tile walls, and paneled drop ceilings. The Customer Assistant (CA) booth is also typical, seen at center. The elevator to the platform is barely visible on the left. This view looks southeast from the bottom of the stairs to the platform on reopening day, March 29, 2004. The historic portion of the interior is visible beyond the fare controls. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie32.jpg (158k) Looking east on March 29, 2004, this view shows how the latticework on the historic canopies looks when they are reassembled back-to-back on the new island platform. Because they have hipped roofs, a channel is created down the middle. The lighting on the columns provides illumination without disrupting the aesthetics of the canopy framework and cross-bracing. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie33.jpg (188k) On the west half of the platform, the CTA installed a Douglas-standard "showpiece" canopy, with clear glazed roof sections that allow natural light on the platform alternating with triangular solid, three-dimensional metal wedges and clear triangular panels that led the canopies to be dubbed by some as the "flying triangles". This view looks east on March 29, 2004, reopening day. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie34.jpg (141k) There is an auxiliary entrance/exit on the east side of Kedzie Avenue, across from the main station house, seen here looking southeast on the station's reopening day, March 29, 2004. In contrast to the historic station house across the street, this farecard-only entrance's exterior design resembles a miniaturized version of the other Douglas headhouses, a modern glass and steel facility featuring quarry tile at the base, a metal-frame storefront on the front and side facades with large picture windows, glass walls and a band of art glass along the top, and capped by a large metal cornice divided into boxes. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	kedzie-douglas_art01.jpg (172k) The ceramic tiles of Coast of Chicago are seen on the wall facing the stairs at Kedzie station. Elements of the local history, community, and transit can be found in the tiles' graphics. Can you find the silhouette of the original Kedzie station platform canopies? (Photo courtesy of CTA Arts in Transit Program)