Years in the making, the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was finally completed at the end of July with the opening of the 100,000-square-foot pavilion known as Javits Center North. Now the Empire State Development Corporation, Javits, Tishman Construction, FxFowle Epstein, and the New York Convention Center Development Corporation are able to start repairing and upgrading the main expo facility. The center's extension, which sits on the Midtown West block bounded by 39th Street, 11th Avenue, 40th Street, and 12th Avenue and is connected to the original site by a 30-foot-wide passageway, will make up for any space temporarily closed by the renovation program.
First used by Business Journals Inc.'s FAME (Fashion Avenue Market Expo) show August 1 through 3, Javits Center North offers 80,000 gross square feet of exhibition space. One of the biggest advantages of this new area is the lack of columns, which allow for clear sight lines. Other components for trade show producers and planners include hang points on a 20- by 20-foot grid with a capacity of 3,000 pounds per point, loading docks on the facility's west side with direct access to the floor, dedicated restrooms and food service areas, and a ceiling that is 25 feet high at its lowest point.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the pavilion is modern and airy, with polished concrete floors and plenty of natural light coming through skylights, windows, and the glass-enclosed passageway. A plaza adjacent to the building can be used for outdoor functions.
Renovations to the original Javits Center began in July and are expected to be completed by fall 2013. In the plans are the replacement of the roof with green materials, the installation of a new glass curtain wall, and the repair and upgrade of safety, security, lighting, and plumbing systems. The work at Javits also allows for the continued development of the Hudson Yards area and the extension of the No. 7 subway line.
