United Nations Conference Building (New York City, New York)

 restaurant, office building, interesting place

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4-story early-modern style office/conference building completed in 1952. Designed by a collaborative team of architects from various nations (led by Harrison & Abramovitz), the Conference Building, which connects the General Assembly and Secretariat Buildings, extends along the waterfront for 400 feet over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive. More than half a mile of teak railing from Burma runs along three sides of an outside terrace. On the 2nd and 3rd floors are the three Council Chambers. These are the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the Economic and Social Council.

On the 2nd floor, a large delegates' lounge occupies the north end, next to the Economic and Social Council Chamber. The glass north wall of the lounge overlooks the lawn, Japanese cherry trees and rose gardens. Beneath the Council Chambers are three large conference rooms.

The Conference Building holds the Security Council Chamber, which was a gift from Norway and was designed by the Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg. The oil canvas mural depicting a phoenix rising from its ashes by Norwegian artist Per Krogh hangs at the front of the room. Also included in the building is the UN Delegates Dining Room - a publicly-accessible restaurant operated by the CullinArt Group. It is open from 11:30am-2:30pm from Monday through Friday by reservation only. Visitors must provide valid identification and be security-screened through several checkpoints in order to gain access to the site for their scheduled visit.

From most vantage points, the building is all but invisible, hidden behind the other buildings in the U.N. complex. From the East River, it appears as a long and low, solid wall of glass windows.

www.delegatesdiningroom-un.com/restaurant/
www.ddr-reservations.com/