Upton–Avenue Market station
| Company type | Metro SubwayLink station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Upton–Avenue Market station (previously known as Upton station) is a subterranean stop on the Metro SubwayLink located in West Baltimore, Maryland, close to the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Laurens Street. It takes its name from the adjacent Upton neighborhood and the nearby Avenue Market, and it is positioned as the ninth station from the northernmost and westernmost points along the route.
History
Initially during its design and building phases, the station was referred to as Laurens Street station, named after the nearby cross street.
Excavation and construction
The tunnel segment at Laurens Street was constructed using cut-and-cover techniques through deeply weathered residual rock derived from granitic gneiss. Comprehensive subsurface investigations informed the excavation approach and support systems for this complex combination of soft and hard geological materials. The tunnel structure incorporated liner plates, steel ribs, posts, wall plates, invert struts, and a reinforced concrete final lining. Because of the presence of hard rock fragments within the residual substrate, blasting was employed alongside traditional earth excavation methods.
Artwork
The MTA enlisted artist Romare Bearden with a $114,000 commission to produce Baltimore Uproar, a 14-foot by 46-foot Venetian glass mosaic displayed in the station mezzanine. Fabricated in Italy and transported to the United States, this mosaic depicts Baltimore-born Billie Holiday together with six jazz musicians. Although primarily based in New York, Bearden worked as a cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper from 1935 until 1937.