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UN to Get Its First Facelift
 After years of intense preparation, the 17-acre U.N. campus is undergoing its first major renovation since it was erected along the East River shortly after World War Two. The sweeping renovation won't come cheap, at $1.87 billion, with the cost to be split among all 192 member nations. Probably 90% by one nation and the remainder from the other 191 according to their ability. That's about exactly right; we're the 'host' nation and are expected to bear most of the cost. The goal is to give the Secretariat's upper stories brighter, more open layouts -- ceilings by windows will be raised while internal, non-structural walls on each of the building's 40 floors will be removed. Indeed, 2,400 separate offices will dwindle to just 500, resulting in larger, more flexible spaces that can easily host impromptu meetings. No need to schedule a back-room for meetings anymore. They'll keep some of the small rooms; handy when handing over the "The U.N. has been very mission-oriented, and any money they got, they usually spent on food, peacekeeping, and disease," he says. "Now, they are finally getting around to fixing their house." Harry Canyon: "The U.N. Building. What a joke! They turned it into low rent housing. It's a dump." I didn't see anything about the dining facilities. Posted by: Bobby 2010-09-22 |
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