A Simple Metro Paint Job Causes Uproar

At the end of March, the Metro decided to paint Union Station walls white. While this seems like a trivial piece of news, some of the public was particularly disturbed by this decision.

Photo courtesy of Twitter user: Matt’ Johnson @Tracktwentynine

The concerned public argued the concrete walls were part of what made Union Station so great and historic. The concrete walls are part of an art movement called “Brutalism,” which refers to blocky, concrete architecture. Painting the concrete white will take away some of the Brutalist traits of Union Station, thus undoing the great significance of the concrete, jarring walls.

The Washington Metro was prepared for the backlash and felt justified in their decision to paint the station. The Metro argued that painting the station white was a way to help the public feel safer. After being surveyed, the majority of the public mentioned they feel safer on the subway when it is brighter. Painting the dark, concrete walls white will go far in an effort to brighten the station. Furthermore, the Metro feels the fresh coat of paint will create a more modern feel for tourists, and take away from some of the “grimy” impression riders get from the station.

At Penington Painting Company, we respect the value of a great paint job. We know what profound effects paint can have sometimes, so we found this story particularly interesting. If you do, too, and want to read the original article, you can do so on the Washington Post.