Javits Center Expansion Design-Build Team Announced

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky announced the selection of the design-build team for the $1.5 billion expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Following a rigorous evaluation process utilizing five groups of technical experts, a blue ribbon selection panel has chosen LendLease Turner as the design-build team that will coordinate and construct the massive project on Manhattan’s West Side.

The panel’s recommendation was approved by the Board of Directors of the New York Convention Center Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development that owns the convention center’s property and oversees major construction work at the facility. The project is expected to generate $393 million in new annual economic activity, reduce area traffic congestion and increase the efficiency of Javits Center operations to allow for new and expanded events.

Under the winning proposal, the expansion will provide new, state-of-the-art exhibit and meeting room spaces to attract higher-spending, large-scale trade shows and conventions, while enhancing the quality of life for the West Side community. In addition, the construction of an onsite truck marshaling, loading and storage facility will relocate 20,000 event-related trucks off area streets each year, improving neighborhood traffic flow and pedestrian safety. As a result, the move-in and move-out process for events will be reduced by 30 percent, leading to an additional 20 days for new events and additional economic activity.

The New York Convention Center Development Corporation administered a comprehensive procurement process for the expansion project following a Request for Proposals issued in June 2016.

The evaluation process included five technical committees comprised of 33 experts who evaluated the competing proposals in five different areas: proposed design, project schedule, project plans and approach, MWBE/SDVOB approach and the bidding team’s experience and financial strength.

A sixth committee evaluated the bidders’ financial proposals.

A blue ribbon selection panel, comprised of government and industry leaders, received the committee’s evaluations, and after thorough consideration, ranked the proposals and selected the winning bidder.

The project includes the following major components:

• An onsite truck marshaling facility that can hold a minimum of 229 trucks that haul exhibit materials to and from the Javits Center;
• 90,000 sf of permanent exhibit space, to be combined with the existing exhibit space, to create an approximately 500,000-sf exhibition hall;
• 45,000 sf of state-of-the-art meeting room space;
• 55,000-sf ballroom, the largest of its kind in the New York region;
• Green roof terrace and pavilion accommodating 1,500 people for outdoor events;
• 27 new loading docks;
• New kitchen and food service areas;
• Back-of-house and administrative space; and
• LEED Silver certification.

The first phase of work, which will ready the site for the expansion, has begun, including critical utility work and the construction of a new three-story building that will house transformers, back-up generators and other electrical equipment needed for the expanded convention center. This first phase was the result of a Request for Proposals issued in September 2016, and following a thorough procurement process, Tishman Construction, an AECOM Company, was selected to oversee this work.

Overall, the expansion will strengthen the regional economy, create more permanent jobs and increase tourism and business involved with the Javits Center. This project also builds upon the progress of the building’s recent renovation, which included the installation of new façade, flooring, mechanical and sustainability systems, as well as a 6.75-acre green roof that has become a sanctuary for area wildlife. Specifically, the expansion is projected to:

• Create 4,000 full-time jobs, 2,000 part-time jobs and 3,100 construction jobs;
• Generate $393 million in new economic activity a year; and
• Generate 200,000 additional hotel room nights a year.

The Javits Center is the busiest convention center in the United States and hosted events on 337 days in 2015. Located on Manhattan‘s West Side on 11th Avenue between West 34th and West 40th Streets, the six-block facility encompasses 2.1 million sf, of which 840,000 sf is exhibition space. It hosts trade shows, conventions and special events that spur economic activity and job creation. In 2015, the facility hosted more than 175 events and two million visitors — ultimately supporting 17,700 jobs locally and generating an estimated 483,000 nightly hotel room reservations. In total, the Javits Center had an economic impact of $1.9 billion in 2015.

For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit http://www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

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