For years, the I.M. Pei-designed Jacob K. Javits Convention Center had become an exhibition center operator's worst nightmare. The ceiling leaked, lighting was horrendous and the exterior façade looked dated and tired. Nearly all of these issues were the result of the design being too far reaching for the time, and the 70s-era technology not capable of replicating Pei's "crystal palace" vision.
Epstein and our local design partner, FXCollaborative, were hired by the Empire State Development Corporation to create a new Javits by fully realizing Pei's original design intent.
The newly-restored center includes a complete renovation and modernization, a northward expansion, and a comprehensive sustainability strategy. The building's appearance, systems, urban linkages, and day-to-day performance have been transformed; and the original space frame and overall functionality maintained.
