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It will take five years and over $400 million, but when it’s complete, the Jacob Javits Convention Center will have a whole new look.

"The Jacob Javits Convention Center is going through a much-needed renovation. It’s taking approximately five years, we have another 13 months to go. At the beginning of 2013 the facility will be open with a brighter, more modern updated look and better mechanical systems," explains Nancy Czesak of Tishman Construction.

Inside, visitors can’t really tell what’s going on, but just above a false ceiling is a maze of scaffolding that’s helping to transform the 18-acre structure into a building for the future.

"We are replacing all the glass and all the skylights in the building," says Czesak. "Approximately 10,000 panes of glass are being replaced in order to provide for a better architectural aesthetic as well as better energy efficiency."

The building will also get new electrical, heating, cooling and ventilation systems as well as a brand new green roof that will significantly reduce the building's energy consumption.

"Being a glass building built in the 80s, it was obviously not a very energy efficient structure. It was up to energy codes at the time, but this is giving us a chance to make the whole structure much more energy efficient and will reduce the energy consumption at the Javits Center by approximately 26 percent," says Czesak.

Aside from energy efficiency, inside spaces will also be cleaned and painted to give the building a fresh new look.

While all this is happening, it is still business as usual in the convention halls. The construction cannot disrupt business so work is being done in 90-foot increments over nine phases.

In addition to the renovation, the Javits is also getting an 80,000 square foot expansion called Javits North.

It’s not quite the expansion that many had hoped for, but the new wing, located between 39th and 40th streets, was constructed as a swing space so no square footage is lost during the renovation. Once it’s done, it will be permanent exhibit space.

It’s a bit of an unconventional renovation process that will finally bring the convention center into the 21st century.