After years of anticipation, four newly rebuilt CTA Red Line stations officially reopened on July 20, 2025. The Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Argyle, and Lawrence stops are now fully ADA-accessible and designed with a modern transit experience in mind. We at Accurate Perforating are proud to have supplied custom perforated metal elements for each of these new stations as part of the CTA's $2.1 billion Red & Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project.
Why Perforated Metal for Transit Architecture?
Transit stations present a unique design challenge: they need to be durable, functional, and visually appealing—especially in high-traffic, urban environments. Perforated metal offers a rare combination of all three. Our panels support natural ventilation and light transmission while also providing a layer of protection and architectural polish.
At the Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Argyle, and Lawrence stations, perforated panels serve several purposes:
- Weather protection for stairways and platforms
- Visual screening that maintains safety through transparency
- Architectural accents that elevate the aesthetic
These elements don't just serve engineers and contractors—they enhance the daily commute for thousands of commuters, protecting them during those blustery days on a CTA platform.
Our Role in the Project
We’ve worked on other CTA stations in the past, including the Wilson and Cermak-McCormick Place stations. For this project, we collaborated closely with the design and construction teams to ensure each panel met exacting standards for appearance, performance, and durability.
Here’s how we contributed:
- Material selection: Corrosion-resistant aluminum for longevity
- Perforation patterns: The pattern selected was optimized for safety, buffering the wind while still allowing in light
- Precision fabrication: Each panel was manufactured to the CTA's exacting specs
- Quality assurance: Following ISO 9001:2015 standards ensures that all panels are produced correctly
Whether it's fabricating perf facade panels or integrating bends, mounting tabs, and finishes, our in-house capabilities allow us to deliver turnkey solutions.
Community Impact
These CTA stations represent more than just transit upgrades. They offer safe, accessible platforms that will serve Chicago's North Side neighborhoods for generations to come. We’re proud to see our work play a small part in that transformation.
As one commuter said during the opening weekend, "It feels like the city finally invested in us."
We couldn’t agree more.
What Should We Perforate Next?
Are you planning a transit, infrastructure, or public-facing architecture project? We’d love to collaborate. Contact us today so we can drive your next project forward.