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United Nations Headquarters Campus Renovation of Facades

Excellent
  • Identity of Building/Site

United Nations Headquarters Campus Renovation of Facades

Original Secretariat West Elevation (left); With Reflective Film Before Renovation (center); After Renovation (right) with new high performance curtain wall and glass to match the transparency of the original single glazing. Copyright: UN Archives (left); Heintges & Associates (center); Woodruff / Brown Architectural Photography (right).

Site overview

The jury awards a Citation of Technical Achievement to the United Nations Headquarters Campus Renovation of Facades. This world-renown complex by a team of mid-20th century master architects, and in particular the iconic Secretariat building, had failing wall assemblies that were beyond repair and necessitated replacement. This undertaking utilized state-of-the-art design methodologies and rigorous analysis of the original glass and other facade materials, to achieve a historically appropriate visual outcome while meeting today's energy conservation and security objectives. The project represents a significant addition to the body of knowledge essential for the preservation of early modern glass and curtain wall buildings.

Awards

Design

Citation of Technical Achievement

Civic

2016

Location

New York, NY

Case Study House No. 21

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Original Secretariat West Elevation (left); With Reflective Film Before Renovation (center); After Renovation (right) with new high performance curtain wall and glass to match the transparency of the original single glazing. Copyright: UN Archives (left); Heintges & Associates (center); Woodruff / Brown Architectural Photography (right).

Designer(s)

Max Abramovitz

Architect

Nationality

American

Wallace K. Harrison

Architect

Matthew Nowicki

Architect

Nationality

Polish

Oscar Niemeyer

Architect

Nationality

Brazilian

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier)

Architect

Nationality

Swiss, French

Other designers

Restoration Team:
Exterior Architect and Specialist Consultants for Facade Restoration and Replacement: Heintges & Associates
Stone Conservation Specialist: Integrated Conservation Resources, Inc.
Stone Engineering and Testing Consultants: Atkinson-Noland & Associates Specialists
Heat & Moisture in Building Envelopes: William B. Rose & Associates, Inc, and Art Preservation Services
Curtain Wall Energy Modeling: Transsolar.

Related News

United Nations Headquarters Campus Renovation of Facades

Newsletter, Technology, Restoration, United Nations

April 27, 2017
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