To create iconic landmark architecture for trains stations, port terminals and airports has been the aspiration of architects and engineers for some time. Initially stoutly classical (the grand train stations from Grand Central in New York to Union Station in Denver come to mind, including, of course, Baltimore's own Penn Station) modern mobility architects such as Eero Saarinen aspired to express dynamic movement in his TWA terminal in New York or
Dulles Airport terminal design. But architecture for car travel remained decidedly mundane: think travel plaza!
The Interstate system isn't as unified as we think, much of its design features vary from state to state. So it is that in many states the term travel-plaza draws a blank stare, as an often unfamiliar item it isn't considered material for iconographic architecture. This is different in Europe: Spain alone has over 250 full service rest areas fully integrated into Spain's freeway system, while there are less than half as many such facilities across the entire United States, known variably as service area, rest stop, or service center.
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