The Hynes Convention Center remains active while crews complete substantial renovations, signaling strong continued interest even before the building is back to full strength.

There’s substantial variance in how busy the center will be, with some months booking over 20 days of events and others none at all. The work itself seems to be going well, with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) reporting no substantial hiccups and estimated that the repairs will be done within five years.

It’s a substantial turn of fortune for the Hynes, which was on the state’s chopping block as recently as 2022. The sale wasn’t finalized under the administration of Charlie Baker, however, and Governor Maura Healy’s MCCA opted instead to undertake the building’s long-deferred maintenance.

The Hynes needs around $300 million in repairs, with a 2015 report detailing up to $500 million in excessive occupancy on the third floor, widespread accessibility issues, structural problems, plumbing problems, the need for new fire systems and issues with internal walls.

“Currently, work is underway to replace the fire pump, which is integral to the function of the sprinkler system, as well as replacement of the air handling units and the main electrical switchboards responsible for delivering power throughout the facility,” said an MCCA spokesperson.

Officials first claimed in February they could juggle construction with continuing to hold events, and they seem to have pulled off that balancing act. While some months are less active than others, the busiest have events scheduled more days than not.

On average the center has 9 days booked for events per month. The busiest time will be in the spring, with May topping the list at 21 days of events. That will be immediately followed by a summer largely devoid of programming, with June only having one day booked and August having none at all.

“These projects are critical to the occupancy of the building but have been strategically scheduled to best accommodate current clients while addressing the work in a timely manner,” said the MCCA.

“To accommodate the strong demand for future business at the Hynes, our capital projects team is working with our sales and event planning teams, as well as our partners in the Back Bay to allow for future bookings at the Hynes for any open windows as we work on and continue to invest in the Hynes.”

The center is remaining active during maintenance, but it will still be years until it’s back to full capacity. Current MCCA projections have the building back up to code in around five years, a bit more than initial optimistic estimates of two to three years.

“While some projects, such as the electrical switch board replacements, have been phased strategically to ensure our clients can occupy the building, windows of availability at the Hynes will vary year to year based on the nature of the projects being carried out. We are also now booking contracts at the Hynes for all time periods starting in the second quarter of 2029,” said the MCCA.