United Nations Office Complex

Location Geneva, Switzerland

Client United Nations (UN)

Services Program Management, Project Management

Project Value $856 Million

Hill is providing program management services in connection with the United Nation’s (UN) Strategic Heritage Plan (SHP). The renovation involves a major office complex and the construction of a new office building within the complex for the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. 

The construction of a new permanent building as part of the SHP started at the Palais des Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations. Swiss contractor Implenia SA was selected to build the new office complex having won an international competitive tender. The building is designed by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) and Swiss architects Burckhardt + Partner.  

The new office building will create an additional area of 24,000 SM, including open-plan workspaces to accommodate 1,400 new workstations, terraces, and private outdoor space on every. Situated on a sloping site, the new building features a terraced design that integrates into the hillside setting while allowing views to both Lake Geneva and the French Alps. New design and landscaping elements are designed to connect the building with the lush parklands that surround it. The building was developed with sustainability and the well-being of its occupants in mind and will be built to achieve a LEED Gold Standard. The energy-efficient principles of its design also match the Swiss Minergie standard. 

Hill was appointed at the inception of the SHP project following a competitive procurement process and since then has played an active part in the development of the project program, delivering processes that include schedule, cost, pre-construction, construction, handover, and quality management. Moreover, a Hill implemented a Project Management Information Systems for safe storage and a comprehensive review process of the project documentation.

During the design phase, Hill constantly interfaced with the client, providing advice and support in the contracting strategy, tendering, negotiation, and the award of the contract for the design firm. We have also played an active part of the design review process for both the new building and for the renovation phase of the project.

Similar services are being provided for the construction phase, including advice during the tender process and evaluation of the proposal to appoint the contractor. Currently, we are supporting the SHP and the design team in the management of the contractor on-site as well as managing the coordination between the designer and the contractor in relation to the as-built BIM model.