City Breaks Ground On $24M Restoration Of Queens Pavilion Towers

FLUSHING, QUEENS — The city broke ground Friday on a major restoration of the iconic New York State Pavilion observation towers in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

The $24 million project will solidify the three long-deteriorating towers, waterproof their bases and add architectural lighting — but it won't include the significant fixes necessary to make the towers accessible and allow people to go to the top, according to the city's parks department.

Originally slated to start in September, the restoration is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2021.

"The work we are breaking ground on today will go a long way toward restoring the iconic New York State Pavilion to its former glory," Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, who contributed over $13 million to the project, said in a statement.

"This work will enable future generations to continue to enjoy the Pavilion's distinctive Space Age architecture and be reminded about the important role the 1964-65 World's Fair played in Queens history."

Funding also comes from Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Member Francisco Moya.

The New York State Pavilion, which includes the three towers plus an amphitheater and exhibition space, was designed by famed architect Philip Johnson and constructed for the 1964-65 World's Fair. It drew an estimated six million visitors, according to Citylab.

The tallest of the three towers held an observation deck, while the other two contained cafeterias for the fair.

In Flushing Meadows Corona Park today announcing the start of $24M project to preserve and light up the iconic NYS Pavilion towers pic.twitter.com/VxXkda8rxO
— Meghan Lalor (@MegaLalor) November 8, 2019