By Jamie Bialor
It’s been about 2.5 years since the Javits Center broke ground on the expansion project. With the facility slated to open on schedule in the first quarter of 2021, we thought this would be a good time to check-in and get an update on the construction.
The design of the new building will provide a versatile state-of-the-art space for events with up to 6,000 attendees. The new structure will provide much-needed capacity for medium size shows in New York City. Some key features meeting and events professionals will greatly appreciate include:
- A separate entrance
- Column-free 53,000 square foot special event space
- Outdoor/Indoor rooftop pavilion with capacity for 1,500
- Built-in truss system in 5th level meeting space
- New, dedicated kitchen
- The 93,000 square foot expo hall will connect with the existing halls on Level 3
With this expansion design, Javits Center continues to focus on the sustainability upgrades initiated with the 2009 -2014 building-wide renovation project. According to the second Sustainability Report commissioned by the Javits Center, the installation of the green roof during the previous renovations has reduced the temperature by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit in that area of Manhattan. It has also provided a habitable space for 29 different bird species. You can read the full report here.
The LEED Silver design-build expansion incorporates a one-acre rooftop working farm. Managed in partnership with Brooklyn Grange (owners of the Brooklyn Navy Yard rooftop farm), the farm should yield about 40,000 pounds of produce per year. The produce from the rooftop farm will be used by Cultivated staff (press release announcing Cultivated), the Center’s new hospitality brand, to create dishes for attendees.
Construction of a 4-level, 27 dock marshaling facility is expected to have a significant positive environmental impact as well. Getting trucks off the road will help reduce noise pollution and traffic congestion in the area. The goal over time is for move-in and move-out to become more efficient. This will shorten the time needed for these operations, resulting in cost savings to event organizers and opening up days on the event calendar.
The number of restaurants, hotels and retail outlets continues to grow near the Center. An additional 3,500 hotel rooms will also open by June 2021. Along with the Hudson Yards project and other development, the West Side of Manhattan is being transformed into a neighborhood meetings and events destination.
For more information on the expansion or to inquire about booking an event please contact Javits Center Sales & Marketing at
212-216-2335 or [email protected].
