The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is a 5-block long structure on the west side of Manhattan. Click here for more photos.
NYC was in need of a larger convention center. The Coliseum at Columbus Circle, dating back to 1950, had been outgrown; it was also considered very unattractive and disliked by many New Yorkers. The new center was designed by I.M. Pei & Partners and completed in 1986. It was named for Jacob K. Javits, a New York senator who died the year of the center’s completion.
The building aspires to be the Crystal Palace of our time. The building is a long assemblage of clear glass rectilinear forms held together with a steel space-frame system. The feel is light and airy, unlike the windowless treatment of many convention centers.
The center hosts nearly 100 shows per year. Yesterday, I attended the annual PhotoPlus Expo (click here for photos). In spite of its mammoth size, the actual exhibition space is considered inadequate for larger trade shows. A new expansion is currently being planned – an increase of 45%, along with a hotel, completion due in 2010…
Great looking structure, bet it throws some interesting shadows.
I saw your pic on Daily City Photo and knew it had to be the Javits (been to a few conventions there myself) Great Shot!
Thanks. And isn’t it ironic – I wasn’t even planning on shooting or carrying a camera through the Photo show but I decided to grab my point and shoot before leaving. So these were shot with my old Canon S400.
Brian
I took the bar exam in the Javits Center. Such bad memories.
It’s great ! Well, it looks to. It can’t been seen totally. But … yeah, I like this !
The photolinks show more of the structure.
Brian
Great shots!! I really like that style of architecture, with a lot of space and glass.
A hotel is probably a good idea because you can never get a cab at the end of the day !