This was a general theme in mid 20th Century passenger railroading, not just a NYC thing. For an occidental example, compare San Francisco's old 3rd & Townsend Southern Pacific depot to the modern 4th & King CalTrain station that replaced it:
My god. Consider traveling more, or at least reading more. More likely true that the United States as a whole, in its history, has yet to create as much beautiful architecture as has already been destroyed the world-over.
