Dirty Tour

December 2005

UN Capital Master Plan

2Dirty Tour- introduction

The UN building was a state-of-the-art, code compliant structure when it was originally built in 1950.

The building support, administration and infrastructure was designed to handle 70 member states and approximately 700 meetings per year.

3Dirty Tour- Introduction

The building now supports 191 member states and approximately 8,000 meetings per year,

Requiring the building to run at maximum capacity 8 months of the year and over capacity for the 4 months of the year during the General Assembly.

As a result, the building systems run at full capacity all year long with almost no down time.

4Dirty Tour- introduction

The building systems, designed to last 25 years, are now 35 years beyond their anticipated life span.

The main campus operates with virtually no fire suppression systems, with limited fire alarm and public address systems and an air distribution and smoke exhaust system, that is below basic indoor air quality standards.

For an organization that is increasingly becoming an international target for terrorism.

5Lack of Monitoring and Controls

The manufacturer of the original equipment, which no longer produce these controls, has requested we donate our panels to their company museum.

The building control systems are pneumatic, which use the original copper tubing for its operations, was state of the art in 1950, is now ineffectual and obsolete.

Modern systems use computer cabling and desktop computers to control equipment.

6Electrical

Large electrical transformers vaults, located in the high-rise, are usually insulated and located away from staff and sensitive equipment.

These vaults, which are owned and operated by the local power provider, are right near staff spaces and are inaccessible to the UN.

Although the UN shields these rooms, we do not locate staff on floors above and below the vaults due to the adverse affect on computers and electronic equipment.

7Electrical

The building relies on outdated electrical breakers, fuse boxes and protective systems.

The electrical and cable distribution wiring in the Secretariat Building is overstuffed and outdated.

Mechanical rooms have exposed cable and wire.

8HVAC- Equipment

Asbestos covered mechanical equipment are unreliable and do not have the monitoring and measurements devices.

Control capabilities are limited and inflexible.

The parts for the equipment are crafted by UN staff in our basement shops.

Equipment requires constant adjustments.

9HVAC- Ductwork

Central and distributed heating, ventilation and control systems can not handle increasing load demands with partially clogged pipes, undersized ducts and inability to control on a zone by zone basis.

10HVAC- perimeter heating system

At the perimeter of the Secretariat Building on each side of each floor are high pressure lines feeding perimeter heating/cooling units for the office floor above.

The Pipes are 50 years old, are high pressure and encased in asbestos. If an explosion were to happen, a 10 block containment would most likely happen to abate the asbestos.

Poor quality of insulation is due to 50 year old pipes leaking

11Plumbing problems

Many parts of the existing water, steam and chilled water pipes are experiencing local disintegration, and frequent leaks requiring emergency shutdowns.

There are no local shut off valves to isolate and maintain leaks.

12Leaking Roofs, Joints, Façade and windows

Many areas of the façade and expansion joints are progressively worsening leaks.

Repointing of all facades, required by NYC laws, has been defered.

13Leaking Roofs, Joints, façade and windows

GA Hall entrance areas, copper dome roof and drainage systems are all experiencing heavy water leaks.

All exit ramps are progressively deteriorating and need urgent repairs to provide safe exits.

14Leaks around Curtain Walls and Windows

The Secretariat Curtain wall (the exterior glass and metal wall system), standard for most modern office buildings today, was the first such system used in New York City.

15Leaks around Curtain Walls and Windows

Today the system is deteriorating from the inside out. The connections and framing are rotting.

The single pane glass is extremely inefficient.

16Conference Support Systems- central audio cabling

Systems designed by the UN in 1950 remain active and act as the primary source for audio and video signal distribution.

17Lack of Fire Suppression systems

The interior office spaces have virtually remained the same since 1950. The demountable partition system, light fixtures and ceiling system are still intact.

A building-wide sprinkler system, never installed in 1950, is still lacking for most office areas.

18Project Scope

CMP goals remain unchanged.

1) Achieve code compliance in all buildings

2) Replace or refurbish deteriorating equipment and systems

3) Ensure the health and safety of occupants in all buildings and areas

4) Improve Security

5) Increase energy efficiency

6) Adjust and retrofit facilities for modern uses, loads and technologies