Designing the new United Nations of Geneva HQ

About the event

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), and Burckhardt+Partner (B+P), United Nations of Geneva is the organization’s first new HQ building in Europe for 50 years.

Honouring the architecture of the historic Palais des Nations, the new building strategically responds to the sloping site, appearing as cascading landscaped terraces placed in the Parc de L’Ariana.

The project takes inspiration from the natural settings and explores the synergies between architecture, structure, Mep systems and interior design to deliver a high sustainable workplace environment that blends with nature. The unique project was won through an international design competition in 2014.

About the speaker

Pierluigi Turco is an Architect at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). SOM is an influential collective of architects, designers, engineers and planners, responsible for some of the world’s most technically and environmentally advanced buildings, and significant public spaces.

From a strategic regional plan to a single piece of furniture, SOM's designs anticipate change in the way we live, work and communicate, and have brought lasting value to communities around the world. The firm's approach is highly collaborative, and its interdisciplinary team is engaged on a wide range of international projects, with creative studios based across the globe.

You can find out more here.