Located in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the site of the World’s Fair pavilion in New York, the New York State Pavilion, is set to undergo a $50 million renovation project, transforming it once again into a stunning attraction – a retro observation deck.
Designed by architect Philip Johnson for the 1964 World’s Fair, the pavilion consists of three observation towers, a performance tent called the “Tent of Tomorrow,” and a theater. This architectural landmark attracted 51 million visitors during the World’s Fair.
After the World’s Fair, the exhibition hall was abandoned. In 1976, its massive cable roof was deemed unsafe and demolished, leaving this futuristic iconic building unprotected – exposed to the elements and the passage of time, only visited by flocks of pigeons every day. It was later used as a filming location for some famous movies such as “The Wizard of Oz” and “Men in Black,” as well as briefly as an ice skating rink and concert venue.
For decades, there have been continuous calls to pay attention to the New York State Pavilion. It wasn’t until 2008 that a turning point came when it was listed on the National and New York State Register of Historic Places – this life-saving recognition prevented its demolition.
With active community involvement, the New York City Parks Department decided to strengthen the building, with the project costing over $50 million. The first phase of restoration work was completed last year, including repairing cracked concrete, replacing cables, and reinforcing the iconic towers.
The next phase of the project is expected to reopen the observation deck, allowing visitors to once again ascend this retro-futuristic styled building and admire the magnificent city skyline. The New York City Parks Department anticipates that by the end of 2026, the pavilion will reopen, offering limited visitor services, with the tower lit up at night following an electrical upgrade.
This restoration project has excited many elderly residents of Queens.
“When you walk along the road, everything is spacious, the architecture is exquisite, it’s truly a magical place,” recalled local resident Helen Day to CBS television, “We even saw ‘It’s a Small World,’ which originally opened here, and then Disney moved it to Disney World.”
Michael Perlman, founder of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council and a Queens historian residing on Forest Hills, called this project a dream come true.
“It’s one of the few remaining buildings from the World’s Fair. Restoring it and creatively repurposing it will be a dream come true,” he told the Queens Chronicle.
Jason Antos, executive director of the Queens Historical Society, stated that the opening of the New York State Pavilion to the public is a positive development for Queens.
“This is a good thing for Queens,” he said. “For decades, it has not been open to the public, and now people can come and appreciate it. It is the ultimate historical relic of the last and greatest World’s Fair in New York City.”