NEW YORK—The New York Convention Center Operating Corp., Empire State Development and the New York Convention Center Development Corp. joined November 11 with the Hotel Association of New York City, FXFOWLE, Epstein and Tishman Construction, an AECOM Company, in a celebration of the newly renovated Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. From the installation of a new 240,000 square-foot glass curtain wall to the construction of the largest green roof in the Northeast, the Javits Center has undergone a comprehensive renovation.
Located on Manhattan’s West Side in Midtown, the Javits Center is considered the busiest convention center in the United States. In Fiscal Year 2012, the Javits Center generated $1.4 billion of economic activity for New York City and New York State—without relying on government subsidies for annual operating expenses. During that period, more than 140 large- scale events were hosted, leading to the creation of 14,300 jobs for workers in and around the 2.1 million square-foot building, along with $635 million in wages paid.
“The Javits Center fuels the economic engines of New York City and New York State unlike any other facility, and with our renovation complete, we have more horsepower than ever before,” said Alan Steel, CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which owns and operates the facility. “The landmark renovation of the Javits Center exemplifies the importance of the building to New Yorkers and its business community, and we are happy to be an integral part of the upcoming development of the West Side neighborhood. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo and his staff, Empire State Development, the design and construction teams and our entire workforce for their commitment to ensuring our continued success.”
Operates Without Subsidies
“The Javits Center is the only major convention center in the country that needs no operational subsidies,” said Kenneth Adams, President and CEO of Empire State Development. “It is a destination that is always in high demand, and the new and improved Javits will undoubtedly be even more successful. During the four-year renovation project, this amazing facility continued to prove successful for New York’s business community, generating more than $6 billion of economic activity across New York City and New York State.”
“The Javits Center is a one-of-a-kind destination that brings the world’s leading conventions and trade shows to New York, as well as millions of attendees who support hotels, restaurants and other businesses across the city and the state,” said Joseph E. Spinnato, Esq., CAE, President of the Hotel Association of New York City. “The unique renovation project has produced a more attractive, more customer-friendly facility, and we are thrilled with the results. We look forward to years of quality business at the new and much improved Javits Center.”
“The Empire State Development, the Convention Center Development Corp. and the Convention Center Operating Corporation gave FXFOWLE and Epstein the unique opportunity to give the Javits Center a new life,” said Bruce Fowle, FAIA, LEED, Founding Principal at FXFOWLE. “We retained the integrity and vision of the original design while capitalizing on design opportunities to reinvent, revitalize, and sustain this dynamic, world-class facility.”
“Our team was able to transform this iconic facility through innovative planning and logistical coordination, working seamlessly with the operator to ensure the outstanding shows Javits hosted were not compromised during construction,” said Daniel R. Tishman, chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction. “We are honored to have worked with the State of New York and all those at Javits on this incredible renovation throughout the past four years.”
Upgrades to Reduce Energy Consumption Significantly
Beginning in 2009, the $465 million renovation of the Javits Center comprised an extensive upgrade to the main building’s design, including the installation of new energy-efficient lighting and the construction of a 110,000-square-foot expansion adjacent to the existing facility—now known as Javits North. In order to obtain LEED Silver certification, the existing curtain wall at the Javits Center was replaced with 3,722 panels of energy-efficient, high-performing glass—along with 2,400 skylight panels—allowing daylight to penetrate the interior spaces and enhance the building’s famous exterior. The building now features upgraded, high-efficiency mechanical units and a 6.75-acre green roof—the second largest of its kind in the country and the largest in the Northeast—reducing water runoff and heat gain at the convention center. These additions are expected to reduce the facility’s energy consumption by at least 26 percent, providing tremendous cost savings in the years ahead.
Throughout the renovation project, the Javits Center remained open and operational, continuing to host large-scale events for millions of visitors from around the world—from the National Retail Federation’s “Big Show” and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair to the New York International Auto Show and the New York City Marathon Expo. Led by Barbara Lampen, president of the New York Convention Center Development Corp., the project team created and implemented a detailed logistical plan that successfully minimized the impact on clients and guests and maintained building operations during construction.
Go to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
