NEW YORK — Jones Lang LaSalle’s Project and Development Services group played a key role in the transformation of Madison Square Garden, leading up to the arena’s grand re-opening on October 25. Over the past three years, the firm served as project manager of the $1 billion project, overseeing the most significant overhaul of the famous arena since initial construction on the venue was completed in 1968.
Raymond Quartararo, international director, led the JLL team overseeing the project management assignment for The Madison Square Garden Co. (MSG). The company worked closely with MSG staff to develop and manage the overall strategic plan, master budget and schedule, and assemble the professional team that carried out the work.
“Over the past few years, Madison Square Garden, known as The World’s Most Famous Arena, has been completely transformed,” said Quartararo. “The state-of-the-art facility now offers fans, players and entertainers the kind of truly remarkable experience they deserve. JLL strove to ensure that all the work was completed smoothly and discretely while the arena continued to host sporting events, concerts and other entertainment events.”
MSG tapped JLL as project manager for the renovation of the famous arena in 2004, following the firm’s successful oversight of the construction of MSG’s Training Facility for the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty in Greenburgh, N.Y. Work on the renovation of the Arena was a year-round project, sequenced to maximize construction efforts during three offseason shutdowns after the Knicks and Rangers seasons concluded (in 2011, 2012 and 2013). The Garden remained open for the Knicks and Rangers seasons.
The overhaul involved the complete transformation of the facility, designed to enhance the experience of all of The Garden’s customers, entertainers, athletes, suite holders and marketing partners. The work focused on all facets of the arena and included a brand new Seventh Avenue entrance, significantly wider concourses, new first-class food and entertainment amenities, more comfortable seating and improved sightlines. It also included a dynamic new scoreboard; state-of-the-art lighting, sound and high-definition, light-emitting diode, or LED, video systems; fiber optic cabling throughout the building; new suites, clubs and hospitality areas; and two new first-of-their-kind bridges. The renovation also featured upgraded locker rooms and star dressing rooms, and new and unique opportunities for marketing partners.
“The most difficult aspect of the work was the need to have Madison Square Garden fully operational each season for the Knicks and Rangers, between each of the three major phases of the renovation project,” said Quartararo. “This was one of the most logistically complex projects JLL has ever completed.”
JLL’s efforts included preparing RFP's, and assisting in the selection, development and negotiation of contracts for the most qualified vendors and consultants. In addition, the firm created a master plan and budget to implement the project’s requirements, with a heavy focus on budget, schedule and quality. The team worked to integrate the overall timeline, responsibilities of various consultants and specific equipment to simplify the monitoring process and ensure timely delivery and installation.
Architectural firm Brisbin Brook Beynon provided architectural and design services for the Madison Square Garden renovation project.
JLL is a leader in the New York tri-state commercial real estate market, with more than 1,600 of the most recognized industry experts offering brokerage, capital markets, property/facilities management, consulting, and project and development services. In 2012, the New York tri-state team completed approximately 23.8 million square feet in lease transactions, arranged capital markets transactions valued at $1.57 billion, managed projects valued at nearly $7.0 billion, and oversaw a property and facilities management portfolio of 102.1 million square feet and an agency leasing portfolio of 76.0 million square feet.
About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. With annual revenue of $3.9 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle operates in 70 countries from more than 1,000 locations worldwide. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services to a property portfolio of 2.6 billion square feet and completed $63 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2012. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $46.7 billion of real estate assets under management. For further information, visit www.jll.com.