Javits Center Opens Green Roof for Summer Tours

May 11, 2017

Imagine you’re at a large trade show in a giant convention center among throngs of people and you’re starting to feel tired and stressed.

Instead of just grinning and bearing it, you’ve arranged to take a break and venture to the facility’s green roof, where a sprawling garden of plants and flowers, along with birds, bees and butterflies, awaits you.

As you drink in the serene, meadow-like landscape and beautiful city views, you enjoy a leisurely stroll, breathe in some fresh air and suddenly realize you’re not feeling nearly as tired or stressed out anymore. In fact, after just a few minutes you’re feeling more relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the trade show once again.

Such a scenario can easily become a reality for event participants at New York City’s Javits Center, which has opened its green rooftop for free summer tours between May and October.

Recently redesigned to serve as a functional green space, the six-block venue’s 6.75-acre green roof comes complete with plants and flowers, more than 17 bird species, five bat species and 300,000 honeybee residents.

Furthermore, the rooftop greenscape – the second largest of its kind in the U.S. – has not only become a big city oasis for local wildlife but also is serving as a natural means to reduce energy usage throughout the massive convention center.

Although the facility has been providing green roof tours on a limited basis to small groups by appointment since the roof’s completion in 2014, it wasn’t until recently that Javits decided to formalize the process and offer tour registration online, according to Tony Sclafani, Javits Center senior vice president and chief communications officer.

“We are very proud to offer these tours since the success of the green roof reflects our renaissance as a building and an organization,” Sclafani said.

He continued, “In order to conserve energy and reduce storm water runoff, the green roof was constructed as part of a recent renovation from 2009 to 2014. Since its installation, the roof has become a sanctuary for area wildlife while reducing the building’s energy consumption, proving the power of sustainable building and its positive impact on the environment.”

That renovation, led by the New York City Convention Center Development Corporation, FXFOWLE and Tishman Construction, resulted in Javits earning LEED Silver certification.

So far, the facility’s sustainable upgrades that include energy-efficient HVAC units, energy-efficient lighting and the green roof, have helped Javits reduced its energy consumption by 26 percent, according to Sclafani.

Besides helping to conserve energy and turn the convention center green, the earth-friendly upgrades have helped Javits save precious lives.

With its giant translucent windows, the convention center was once one of the city’s biggest killers of birds. The addition of darker, pixelated glass panels along with the green roof has not only helped the facility reduce bird collisions by an estimated 90 percent, but has also given the city’s winged residents a safe place to rest, hang out and nest. 

“Since its installation, more than 17 bird species and five bat species have been observed on the roof,” Sclafani said.

He added, “Some birds have even built nests, where they have laid dozens of eggs.” 

Although Javits receives constant requests for hosting group activities on the green rooftop, for now, the facility’s focus is on maintaining the space, raising awareness about its impact and evaluating how it is changing the surrounding environment, Sclafani explained.

“In essence, the green roof is a living laboratory and we have partnered with various institutions to study its impact on the environment, including the New York City Audubon, Cooper Union and Drexel University,” he said.

Besides requesting a free tour, which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and limited to 30 participants, conventioneers can also observe the green roof in real time via a live roof cam.

Learn more about the Javits Center green roof by checking out this great video.

Read more about the center’s renovation and expansion efforts here.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.