Conference Building
"The United Nations Headquarters in New York City is owned by the United Nations and it is considered an international territory. The main campus is comprised of 7 buildings, the Secretariat (1950), General Assembly building (1952), Conference Building (1952), Parking Garage building (1952), Library Building (1961), North Lawn building (built 1981) and South Annex building (1982). In January 1949, the construction contract for the headquarters was awarded. Delegates agreed that this was a joint project of leading architects. The members of the Board of Design were Nikolai G. Bassov (Soviet Union); Gaston Brunfaut (Belgium); Ernest Cormier (Canada); Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier from France); Liang Seu-Cheng (China); Sven Markelius (Sweden); Oscar Niemayer (Brazil); Sir Howard Robertson (UK); G. A. Solleux (Australia); and Julio Vilamajo (Uruguay). The Director of Planning was Wallace K. Harrison (United States of America), who was responsible to build ideas together.
The Conference Building houses three United Nations main organs, Security Council (Chamber gifted from Norway), Trusteeship Council (Chamber gift from Denmark), and Economic and Social Council (Chamber gift from Sweden). It also has large conference rooms, dining spaces and the North Delegates’ Lounge (gift from Netherlands). The building is cantilevered over its base and appears weightless despite its solid cement mass. It contrasts with its towering green-blue glass structure of the Secretariat building. The features of the structure and interior were designed to impart a sense of purpose and determination for the occupants and inspire council members to hold true to the goal of international peace."
At a dedication ceremony, on 24 Oct 1949 (UN day), the first Secretary-General, Trygve Lie (1896-1968) of Norway, placed the cornerstone of the United Nations complex in the presence of President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) of the United States of America. Construction of the complex was completed in 1952 and a substantially renovated in 2009 to 2013. The land was donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960), with a few parcels from the City of New York. The government of the United States of America provided an interest-free loan for construction, and further donations were made by other United Nations Member States.