The New York State Pavilion’s observation towers at the former World’s Fair site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will finally be restored. As CurbedNY reports, the project is expected to be completed in March 2021.
Designed by Philip Johnson and Lev Zetlin for the 1964 World’s Fair, the Pavilion and its towers, were meant to be temporary but remained in place because, according to the Landmark Preservation Commission in 1995, they were “too expensive to tear down.” The towers have been significantly deteriorating, and efforts to preserve the worn-out observation towers had failed due to lack of funding.
But in 2017, the project received $14.25 million in funding. According to the NYC Parks Department, the project now has $24.097 million in funding from the Mayor’s office, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and the City Council.
The project will include architectural lighting in the three observation towers and the Tent of Tomorrow, structural conservation work, and waterproofing for the towers. According to the NYC Parks Department, upon restoration the towers will not be publicly accessible.