Beneath this towering structure lies a secret world. I’m talking about the United Nations Secretariat Building right here in New York City. It is more than just an office building. It is a symbol of international cooperation.
The United Nations Secretariat Building stands as the centerpiece of the UN Headquarters. This skyscraper is 505 feet tall. It has 39 stories. The building’s location is technically international territory. This is thanks to an agreement with the US government.
The Secretariat Building’s design is the International Style. It is a rectangular slab oriented north to south. The wider sides feature glass curtain walls. The narrower sides are clad in Vermont marble.
Did you know the United Nations Secretariat Building was designed by a team of architects? Wallace Harrison led the team. Oscar Niemeyer and Le Corbusier were also key figures.
The building houses the administrative functions of the UN. This includes finance and translation. It also holds offices for ambassadors and delegates. The Secretariat Building has 889000 square feet of space.
Construction of the United Nations Secretariat Building began in 1948. It was completed in 1951. Staff started moving in on August 21 1950. The building was designed to accommodate 4000 workers.
The Secretariat Building is connected to other UN buildings. The Conference Building is to the north. It houses the General Assembly and Security Council. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library is to the south.
The building’s facade is iconic. The glass curtain walls were a pioneering feature. The original glass was blue-green to absorb heat. The modern facade uses low emissivity glass. This resembles the original but is more resistant to shattering.
There is a cornerstone at the United Nations Secretariat Building. It is a block of New Hampshire granite. The name of the United Nations is inscribed in five languages. These are English Spanish French Russian and Chinese.
The United Nations Secretariat Building has undergone renovations. A major renovation started in 2010. It reopened in phases from 2012. The renovations upgraded the building to modern standards.
Originally the Secretariat Building had a pneumatic mail system. It also had a conveyor belt system. These moved documents between floors. The building has a three-story underground garage. It has 1500 parking spaces.
The lobby features black-and-white terrazzo floors. There are also columns covered with green Italian marble. A stained glass window by Marc Chagall is in the lobby. It is a memorial to Dag Hammarskjöld.
Mechanical floors occupy floors 6 16 and 28. Floor 39 houses a mechanical penthouse. The Secretariat Building’s air-conditioning system has 4000 individual controls.
The 38th floor contains offices and an apartment for the Secretary-General. This suite was donated by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. It was designed with Austrian furnishings.
The construction of the United Nations Secretariat Building wasn’t without its challenges. There were delays due to a slaughterhouse on the site. There were also concerns about costs. President Truman requested a loan from Congress to fund the project.
Over the years the United Nations Secretariat Building has become a symbol. It represents international cooperation and diplomacy. It’s an architectural landmark in New York City.
As we conclude our visit here at the United Nations Secretariat Building remember its significance. It represents a place where nations come together. They work towards a more peaceful and cooperative world. It is a building that embodies hope for the future.