U.N. headquarters renovation launched in New York

By Patrick Worsnip

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Officials in blue U.N. hard hats broke ground on Monday for a temporary building at the United Nations, launching a $1.9 billion renovation project to make U.N. headquarters safer, more comfortable and greener.

The three-story structure to be built on the U.N.'s north lawn beside New York's East River will house conference rooms and the U.N. General Assembly until restoration of the nearly 60-year-old U.N. skyscraper is completed in five years.

The distinctive blue-tinted glass and steel 40-story building housing the U.N. secretariat, which was designed by French architect Le Corbusier and Brazil's Oscar Niemeyer, has been increasingly showing its age.

It has water dripping through its roof, toxic asbestos lining its ceiling tiles, no sprinklers in case of fire and erratic heating and cooling systems, leading to friction with New York City authorities.

New York architect Michael Adlerstein, the latest manager to head the much-delayed project, told reporters the aim was to leave the building's exterior looking the same as it does now.

"However, it will be a greener, more sustainable building, it will be a much safer builder and it will be modern," said Adlerstein, who previously worked to renovate buildings ranging from New York's Statue of Liberty to India's Taj Mahal.

From the end of this year, most of some 4,700 staff will be moved either into the temporary structure or into rented premises in Manhattan. The Security Council, however, is slated to continue functioning in the existing complex.

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