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The United Nations headquarters in New York |
Published On: Dec 26, 2006
This cigar box shaped building is located on the east side of Manhattan, near Turtle Bay. Completed in 1952, the building has been the traditional headquarter for the United Nations organization for the last 5 decades.
Even though the building is located in the US, it is considered "international territory" with borders on the First Avenue west, East 42nd Street south, East 48th Street north and the East River east. The Conference Building in the United Nations headquarters has the FDR Drive passing beneath it.
There are three main buildings in the United Nations headquarters: the Secretariat (the 39-floor office tower), the General Assembly building, and the Dag Hammarskjold Library. The Conference Building is smaller and located between the General Assembly and Secretariat.
Although Manhattan is know for being overcrowded and each inch of space is used to the maximum, the United Nations headquarters spread over a large area of land and the buildings are surrounded by gardens with outdoor sculptures.
The interesting thing about the actual building is that the ground it is built on belongs to the United States, while the building has extraterritoriality status like an embassy. From a legal point of view, UN rules override New York City regulations, but immunity to crimes that take place in this area is not granted.
Some of the UN staff members are granted diplomatic immunity so that they cannot be prosecuted by New York courts. However, this can be waived by the UN Secretary-General
Several alternatives existed for the location of the headquarters of the UN. London hosted the first meeting of the General Assembly in Methodist Central Hall, and the Security Council in Church House in 1945. The 1948 and 1951 assembly meetings took place in the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.
A temporary location situated in Lake Success, New York, an eastern suburb of New York City on Long Island housed the UN while the Security Council held sessions on the current location of Lehman College
An interesting proposed location for the United Nations headquarters was Navy Island near Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. The location was attractive because it would send the United Nations headquarters on the boundaries of two neighboring countries.
Today, with the current United Nations headquarters being somewhat degraded and in need of repairs, suggestions have been made that the UN HQ could be moved to the old Lake Success location
Following the policies of the United Nations, the architect for the building complex was not selected through a competition. Instead, a multinational team of architects contributed to the design of the complex.
Architect Wallace K. Harrison from the United States was appointed director of planning, and other members were named as consultants.
The board consisted of N.D. Bassov of the Soviet Union, Gaston Brunfaut/Belgium, Ernest Cormier/Canada, Le Corbusier/France, Liang Ssu-cheng/China, Sven Markelius/Sweden, Oscar Niemeyer/Brazil, Howard Robertson/United Kingdom, G.A. Soilleux/Australia, and Julio Villamajo/Uruguay.
The necessity to build a high rise office building for the Secretariat became apparent due to the location of the site. As an agreement with the New York City government, the UN building complex meets local fire safety codes.
A $65 million interest-free loan was used to finance the buildings.
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New York City Activities & Attractions |
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The World Financial Center in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
The United Nations headquarters in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Times Square in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
The Statue of Liberty in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Radio City Music Hall in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Madison Square Garden in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts In New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
The Guggenheim Museum in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
FAO Schwarz in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Ellis Island in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Chrysler Building in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Chelsea Piers in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Central Park in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Carnegie Hall in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Bike The Big Apple Tour in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
Battery Park in New York - (Dec 26, 2006)
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