The Capital Master Plan The UN Secretariat Building is a prized piece of architecture for New York City and the United States. It is also a powerful symbol of hope and peace for millions around the world. However, it is currently unsafe. Built in the early 1950s, the complex was designed to accommodate 60 member nations. Current UN membership stands at 192, and while the headquarters has aged considerably, it has never been substantially renovated. The Capital Master Plan (CMP), the plan to renovate UN headquarters, will not significantly change the external appearance of the building but will update the building’s internal structures which have become dangerously outdated and do not adhere to today’s New York City building safety codes.
Unsafe and Unacceptable Almost ten years ago, a team of architects and engineers studied the buildings and grounds, concluding that “the current condition of the headquarters complex is unacceptable for continued use over the long term.” Today, the headquarters buildings fail to comply with fire and safety codes, and archaic infrastructure causes significant energy waste. Specific problems include asbestos, lead paint, outdated electrical systems, an inadequate fire alarm, lack of sprinklers, poor or no fire separation between buildings, possibility of high-pressure steam line explosions, falling ceilings, and leaky pipes. A June 2006 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report confirmed that the building lacks “fire sprinklers, has a deteriorating window structure, and is vulnerable to catastrophic electrical failures.” Ensuring the safety of the building protects not only the people who visit it, and work within it but also first responders in the area who would assist in an emergency.
The Capital Master Plan: On Schedule and within Budget The CMP was initially presented to member states in 2000. In June 2006, the General Assembly agreed to renovate the Secretariat building 10 floors at a time, moving displaced UN staff and functions to rented office space and a temporary building to be built on the north lawn of the headquarters. In 2008, however, the renovation plan was modified to save costs and speed up the process. To do this, each building will now be modified in a single phase. The renovations in the Secretariat and Conference Buildings began in early 2010, and nearly 6,000 staff have relocated to temporary offices. The UN estimates that the renovation will be complete in 2013, two years ahead of the initial deadline. The renovation will reduce the energy consumed at UN headquarters by at least 50 percent, its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent, and water consumption by 40 percent. Design initiatives such as enhancing the building envelope to prevent energy leakage, utilizing energy-efficient lighting and a daylight harvesting system, and implementing an electricsteam heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system will lower operating costs, maximize energy efficiency, and substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the UN. Many upgrades will also enhance the safety and security of all delegates, staff, and visitors who visit UN Headquarters. 56