Annan sets up capital project to oversee renovations of UN Headquarters in New York

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has announced the establishment of the Capital Master Plan project to oversee the renovations of the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Executive Director Toshiyuki Niwa, who has served as the Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services since March 1998, will head the project, which will last for a limited time and deal only with the renovation of the buildings. The renovations will also include the creation of a new Visitors’ Experience as mandated by the General Assembly.

Last December, the Assembly approved a $1 billion budget to refurbish the UN complex, with construction scheduled to begin in October 2004.