Javits Center's $1B expansion gets new renderings, breaks ground

Construction on the 1.2 million square foot expansion is supposed to wrap in 2021

Just over a year after it was first announced, Governor Andrew Cuomo has broken ground on the 1.2 million square foot expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Center. Foundation work got underway in December last year, and this first phase of construction will see the creation of a three-story building that will house the expanded convention center's back-up generators, transformers, and other electrical equipment.

"This is no longer a promise or a proposal – we have now broken ground on expanding one of this region's greatest economic assets, proving yet again that government can get things done," Cuomo said in a statement.

In September last year, the Governor's office put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the site, and by the end of January this year they had chosen a design team to lead the $1.5 billion project.

A consortium comprised of LendLease, Turner Construction and TVS will shepherd the construction of 90,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space, 27 new loading docks, a green roof terrace and pavilion that will accommodate up to 1,500 people, 45,000 square feet of new meeting room spaces, and a 55,000-square-foot ballroom, the largest of its kind in New York, according to Cuomo's office.

Once complete, this expanded space is expected to generate $393 million annually for the state's economy and create 4,000 full-time jobs. Construction is expected to wrap up sometime in 2021.

• Javits Center's $1.5B expansion now has a design team [Curbed]
• Javits Center's $1B expansion is about to get underway [Curbed]
• Javits Center to Get Even Bigger With $1B Expansion Plan [Curbed]