The $463 million renovation of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center approved last week by the Public Authorities Control Board will not only add a 100,000-square-foot "swing space" and repair its leaky ceilings, but also, reportedly, replace its dark windows with clear ones, paint its interior columns white instead of the current black and make much of its large roof space "green," according to an article by Matt Chaban in the on-line edition of the Architects' Newspaper.

The center opened in 1986 and was designed by Pei Cobb Freed. The New York architecture firm of FXFowle and the Chicago firm of Epstein are designing the renovation.

The renovations were initially planned in 2004 to nearly double the size of the convention center in a plan designed by Richard Rogers and FXFowle. That plan, however, was estimated to cost almost $4 billion and Barbara Lampen, president of the Convention Center Development Corporation, told Mr. Chaban that "that level of expense was never justified, and the current plans, which will cost $387 per square foot - versus $2,850 - are far more sensible, especially in these economic hard times."

The article said that her agency's analysis indicates that the "new project creates a 41 percent return on investment versus five percent for its predecessor."

The article indicated that "New mechanical systems will net the building a 26 percent energy savings" and "a new LED wayfinding system will clarify circulation." The article said that "only 10 percent of the building is dedicated to meeting space, well short of the current industry standard of 30 percent," adding that "an incremental approach does not preclude larger expansions in the future."

The article did not indicate whether the renovations will provide convention-goers views, for the first time, of the Hudson River from inside the center.