Destination
NEW YORK
Javits Center builds toward a bright future for Manhattan-bound groups
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By George Seli
ast year, New York City welcomed an estimated 6.1 million meeting and convention delegates from around the world, and many of those attendees gathered and what is arguably the state’s premier convention facility, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The facility’s current size — 840,000 sq. ft. of flexible exhibition space, 102 meeting rooms and four banquet halls — is certainly suitable for many existing clients, but both the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) and Governor Andrew Cuomo recognized the potential to enhance the center’s footprint and accommodate new business. Thus was born the Javits Center’s much publicized, $1.5 billion expansion plan. Design firm LendLease Turner was chosen in January to lead the project, which broke ground on March 1 and is expected to conclude in 2021. According to Jerry Cito, NYC & Company Senior Vice President, Convention Development, the massive undertaking “will benefit future convention and exhibition show participants in a variety of ways. The added exhibition and ballroom space will allow for larger conferences and celebrations, while additional breakout spaces will provide intimate meeting locations onsite. The expanded green roof will showcase stunning views in a modern urban environment while hosting cocktail receptions. Also beneficial, the four-level truck garage will allow for a seamless load-in and load-out experience, increasing the efficiency of the nation’s busiest — and soon to become even busier — convention center.” 54
Specifically, the expansion will add 90,000 sq. ft. of permanent exhibit space to yield an approximately 500,000-sq.-ft. exhibition hall; 45,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art meeting room space; a 55,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, reportedly the largest of its kind in the New York region; 27 new loading docks; and an onsite truck marshaling facility that can hold a minimum of 229 trucks. On the sustainability side, the project aims for LEED Silver certification, and the expanded green roof that Cito highlights will include a terrace and pavilion accommodating 1,500 attendees for outdoor events. Manhattan may not be the first destination the sustainably minded planner considers, but the Javits Center has recently shown a commendable environmental stewardship, as evidenced by its firstever Sustainability Report, released in June. “From the installation of a giant green roof to new energy-efficient lighting, the Javits Center has made great strides in increasing its sustainability, and we are proud to issue our first Sustainability Report that details our progress so far,” said Alan Steel, NYCCOC President and CEO, in a statement. “The mission of the Javits Center is to spur economic activity, but we have to be more than just an economic engine. We must be a community partner, and this report illustrates our efforts to improve the quality of life for our staff, customers and neighbors.” The LEED Silver-certified Javits Center’s green roof is in fact the second largest of its kind in the United States, and provides a habitat for a massive community of birds in the midst of the “concrete jungle.” Facilities & Destinations 2017 Summer / Fall