10. The UN Had a $2.1 Billion Restoration
United Nations General Assembly
The United Nations’ $2.1 billion renovation from 2008 to 2014 was a massive undertaking that returned the architecture and aesthetics of the headquarters to their original beauty. United Nations employees refer to as the CMP, Capital Master Plan. The restoration also made the complex more energy efficient. In fact, it consumes about half the amount of energy it did prior to renovation. Some fun facts: As part of the renovation, enough asbestos was removed from the complex to fill three football fields fifteen feet high. A “gooey substance” of cigarette and cigar smoke residue was removed from the General Assembly hall, the largest room in the United National headquarters.
During the renovation, every vintage chair was restored and reupholstered, and the carpets replaced in their original colors. The Trusteeship Council, above, designed by Danish architect Finn Juhl, has a fun Mondrian-like vibe with echoing color motifs on the carpet and ceiling. The Trusteeship Council was built from seven kinds of wood from Denmark, intended to invoke the feel of a Danish forest, Visit UN guide Jonathan Mishal tells us. In 2011, The Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark personally came to oversee the renovation of the chambers. The Queen made her mark by suggesting that a ledge be added to the tables so that papers would not fall off — now known as “the queen’s lip.” The Trusteeship Council oversaw the administration of Trust Territories placed under the Trusteeship System, promoted the advancement of the inhabitants of Trust Territories and their progressive development towards self-government or independence. The Council suspended operations with the independence of the last such Trust territory: Palau, in 1994 and currently only meets “as and where occasion may require”.
Places like the Delegates Lounge, below, retained its original feel but with a playful update.
Inside the chamber of the Security Council, whose role is to maintain international peace and security, curtains have blocked natural sunlight in the room since 1964 after a bazooka was fired from across the East River during Che Guevara’s speech. Due to poor aim, the shell of the bazooka did not make it all the way and fell into the East River, but it was determined that it would have penetrated the glass of the building if shot properly. In the recent renovation, shatter-resistant glass was installed and on April 3, 2019, Germany opened the curtains for the first time since 1964 during a debate revealing a curtain wall of glass and views long concealed.
The mural by by Per Krohg with a phoenix rising in the Security Council chamber has symbolism relating to the agony of modern war, a world being rebuked after WWII, and peaceful life after WWII
Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg designed the interior decor of the United Nations Security Council, which was a gift from Norway. The tapestry, in blue with gold motifs showing anchors representing faith, hearts representing charity, and wheat representing hope, was designed by Norwegian textile artist Else Poulsson and based on a blue wool damask tapestry. It was in place from the opening of the UN in 1952 to the Security Council Chamber renovation in 2013, when a textile wallpaper recreation was installed.
On October 8th, 2015 HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway donated an original piece of the tapestry to the Cooper Hewitt-Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection in New York. In a ceremony, Mette-Marit stated, “When we think back on the early aspirations of the UN and how the headquarters in New York has influenced the world – these first inscriptions of peace into the very fabric of the walls of the Security Council Chamber are very moving.”
Finally, there are places inside United Nations headquarters that are paid for by countries and then named informally after them such as the Indonesian Lounge and the Vienna Cafe. A few years ago, Qatar donated a lounge (formally called the East Lounge, but referred to as the Qatar Lounge) to the UN building that cantilevers over the FDR Drive, overlooking the East River and Four Freedoms Park. It is heavily reinforced (construction wise) for safety, making it terror proof since it sits above a public highway. It’s intended as a space to host important diplomatic talks and also as a place to relax and rest for delegate members.
There are many more secrets of the United Nations than what we showcased here! While the United Nations headquarters is closed due to COVID-19, you can take virtual tours through Visit UN. Please also participate in the UN’s 75th Anniversary by filling out a short, one-minute survey focusing on the key priorities for international cooperation. Results from the survey will be presented to world leaders and governments this September. Stay tuned for our own Untapped New York event with UN75!
