Location, History, and Cultural Significance of the Jacob Javits Convention Center
When developers initially proposed building a convention center on Manhattan’s West Side in 1962, the plans were met with hesitation. It took nearly two decades, but construction crews broke ground for the Jacob Javits Convention Center in 1980.
Named for New York Senator, Jacob Javits, the glitzy convention center was designed to encourage development in the area. Designed by architect James Ingo Freed, the 1.6 million-square-foot masterpiece tripled the size of the city’s previous exposition facility, the New York Coliseum. It spans more than 20 acres across five city blocks from 34th Street to 39th Street, running along 11th Avenue and the Hudson River.
The award-winning architecture was nothing like the boxy, windowless convention centers that were built before it. The Javits Center, as it is commonly called, features an expansive outdoor plaza, a 15-story Crystal Palace, a Galleria, and a 1,000-foot public concourse. The visual effects are stunning, with the iconic event venue seamlessly woven into the fabric of the city surrounding it.
The Need for a Custom Security Solution at the Jacob Javits Convention Center
The Javits Center is one of the busiest facilities of its kind on the continent. More than just another building, this convention center serves as the beating heart of New York City’s economy and tourist industry. It also serves as a beacon of sustainability. In addition to public space, it features a 6.75-acre green roof where 18,000 pounds of produce grow, a wildlife sanctuary, and an in-house sustainability team.
The Javits Center hosts more than 170 large-scale events every year, including some of the country’s top trade shows and entertainment conventions. An estimated 2.5 million people visit the facility each year, trusting the Javits Center to keep them safe and secure, despite its location in a high-profile city and its high volume of foot traffic on a daily basis.
It is no small feat to secure large-scale events and areas that experience high volumes of traffic. Additionally, balancing robust security with aesthetic considerations that complement the Javits Center’s sleek, modern architecture demanded the expertise that only TYMETAL Corp could provide.
TYMETAL’s Custom Gate and Fence Design for the Jacob Javits Convention Center
Moody Nolan, a Washington, D.C.-based architecture firm began the expansion project to add 1.2 million square feet to the Javits Center in 2017. The firm has more than four decades of experience in innovating boundary-pushing designs and award-winning architectural plans.
Already familiar with TYMETAL’s expertise and willingness to accept complex gate design and fabrication projects, the team at Moody Nolan reached out to TYMETAL. The project included no-excuse lead-time deliverables, operational reliability and robustness, and a seamless installation designed to complement the existing structural elements.
Custom Design Features and Aesthetic Integration
After receiving the inquiry, TYMETAL’s engineering, specifications design, and sales teams began attending in-person collaborative meetings. It required a collaborative effort to ensure the custom-designed products would provide the utmost performance while enhancing the appeal of the convention center’s campus.
The project presented a unique challenge. Visual presentation was hyper-critical, and the mesh had a complex asymmetrical pattern that created many individual parts and pieces. Blending the custom gates and panels with the Javits Center’s architecture was only one piece of the puzzle. The team also had to address the challenges associated with the Javits Center’s layout and location. TYMETAL’s team was up to the challenge and confident in its ability to craft beautiful security solutions that could be seamlessly integrated into the complex.
Custom Gate and Fence Features
The team used complex layout maps to ensure everything went in the correct spot and aligned precisely. The project also required the engineers and designers to invent new procedures and methods to aid in problem-solving and delivering high-performance, aesthetically custom gates.
West Gate
- This single overhead slide gate was built in four pieces for easy shipping
- Features horizontal and vertical splices
- Assembled size: 50 feet, 9 inches long by 17 feet, 4 inches high
North Gate
- This double overhead slide gate featured two individual gates meeting in the middle
- Each gate was built in four pieces for easy shipping (total of eight pieces for the North Gate)
- Assembled size (each gate):40 feet, 1 inch long by 15 feet, 3 inches high
The TYMETAL Approach to Custom Gate Fabrication and Installation
No two projects are ever the same, which is why the TYMETAL team takes time to assess the unique requirements of each site. It’s part of the TYMETAL difference, which aids the team in successfully accomplishing each project’s goals.
Preparation, Design, and Material Sourcing
Throughout the planning and execution of the Jacob Javits Convention Center’s security upgrade, TYMETAL traveled to New York City. The team regularly held collaborative meetings with Lend Lease Turner, the general contractor on the project. This allowed them to transform a pile of sketches on napkins into a series of designs.
Those critical security barrier designs would soon seamlessly blend into the convention center’s building landscape. They would also simultaneously assist the Javits Center to safely and efficiently process thousands of exhibitor transportation inflows and outflows and handle foot traffic to the tune of more than 2.5 million visitors per year.
Beyond design, TYMETAL takes materials sourcing and selection seriously. Choosing only the highest quality materials ensures durability, security, and reliable long-term performance for high-traffic use. From there, the incredibly talented team began the custom fabrication process. This allowed every component of the gates and fences to be crafted to the precise specifications of the Javits Center project.
Seamless Gate and Fence Installation
From fabrication in Upstate New York to installation on Manhattan’s West Side, TYMETAL worked closely with all stakeholders, including contractors working onsite. This required delicate scheduling and coordination with the Javits Center, which continued holding events. The TYMETAL team prioritized logistics, including properly integrating gates and fences around the existing infrastructure without disrupting the facility’s operations.
Capping the project off, TYMETAL overcame installation challenges and took the necessary steps to make sure all components fit perfectly. After integrating all electrical components and automated systems, the Javits Center project came to a successful end. The convention center’s new security gates and fencing completed the expansion project, which was unveiled in 2021.
Partner with TYMETAL for Your Next Industrial Gate or Security Project
Since opening its doors in 1985, TYMETAL has earned a stellar reputation as the leading manufacturer of perimeter security solutions. Offering a robust menu of standard options, as well as custom solutions, TYMETAL provides services that are ideal for buildings across various industries. From protecting sprawling convention centers to government buildings to transportation hubs, the TYMETAL team imbues each project with its unique expertise to blend security and aesthetics.
Additionally, TYMETAL provides the utmost service throughout the lifecycle of each project and beyond. The company specializes in meeting the most stringent site requirements and engineering products that provide lasting, reliable performance, even in the harshest environments.
With TYMETAL, you get more than just a gate. You partner with industry leading experts who design and manufacture gates, in addition to providing comprehensive technical support throughout the installation process. The end result delivers the necessary security and desired visual appeal. From protecting high-security complexes to high-traffic properties in bustling urban environments, TYMETAL is your go-to source for reliable security solutions.
