The United Nations has been called a firetrap by a number of elected officials, Mayor Bloomberg among them. He recently demanded that the building stay on track to fix its many violations of the fire code. The famous Secretariat building doesn't have an internal sprinkler system, and it was built with asbestos, which could fill the air if pipes explode. Additionally, apparently, if too many fire trucks are parked in the plaza, they might fall......

The United Nations is finally moving ahead with plans to renovate its headquarters on Manhattan's East Side. The organization selected Swedish contractor Skanska AB to head up the preconstruction phase of the $1 billion project. Never known for being quick on its feet, a U.N. renovation project has been talked about since the mid-90s and is scheduled to take place in three phases over seven years, starting in early 2008. During each phase of......

The United Nations has approved a $1.9 billion plan to renovate the Secretariat building. The different member states have to pay their shares either in lump sums or yearly installments (what's the interest plan on that?) and the U.S. would be paying the biggest share - 22% - which Congress needs to approve. Here is outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Statement: The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of the resolution on the Capital Master Plan......

As part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the United Nations, the international organization is giving free tours on Sundays this month. Gothamist went to the UN this past Sunday for a tour which lasted all of 30 minutes. During the tour, which seems to be English only (the regular tour costs $11.50 for adults and is in multiple languages), the guides point out several murals and gifts to the UN and visitors are......

The United Nations has chosen Pritzker Prize-winning Fumihiko Maki to design another building, which will be on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets. According to the Times, "glassy, white and sheer but elegant" design is projected to cost $330 million and to be finished by 2008. Since the older Secretariat building (picture, left) needs to be renovated, Maki's building will house the General Assembly, the Secretariat and their staffs until the Secretariat is......