U.N. ASBESTOS PROJECT
An ambitious asbestos removal project is part of a new $2-billion makeover for the United Nations building

When completed, the landmark 39-story United Nations building towering over the East River and First Avenue in Manhattan will be “asbestos free,” and possess the 21st-century trappings of eco-friendly energy conservation.

News Bulletin

December 2, 2009 - The United Nations Headquarters in New York is currently undergoing a $2-billion extreme makeover that will bring the 20th-century building design into step with the new millennium.

An ambitious asbestos removal project will contribute to the building’s transformation and could account for a quarter of the construction activity of the entire project, according to the UN News Service.

Asbestos is a toxic material that was commonly used in 20th century building construction for its fire-proofing properties. Today, asbestos abatement projects are now part of a growing trend seen in public buildings across the nation because the toxic material can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that kills 3,000 Americans every year.

Renovation in the building’s basement will be substantial and involve the installation of 14 kilometers of water piping, 65 kilometers of electrical conduits and more than 60 kilometers of telecommunications conduits – as well as the removal of an equal amount of old deteriorated materials, including toxic asbestos insulation. A new data center in the basement is on schedule to be finished by March.

When completed, the landmark 39-story building towering over the East River and First Avenue in Manhattan will possess the 21st-century trappings of eco-friendly energy conservation. Its now dulled glass façade will be replaced with a new glass curtain reflecting the same bluish-green tint first seen in its original incarnation in 1952.

The UN's $2-billion renovation project is slated for completion in late 2013. The work on the building is forcing some diplomats to relocate, of course. So far, some 3,300 of the more than 5,000 people that have to be moved from the Secretariat building have been relocated. The rest are scheduled to be moved by early 2010.

Nations united against asbestos

Today some 40 countries around the world outlaw the use of asbestos, but not the United States. Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, which is primarily an occupational disease.

Industries that place workers most at risk for asbestos exposure include the: automobile, construction, electrical, power plant and shipyard industries.

When it’s time to seek justice . . .

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of asbestos-injured workers since 1986. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients injured by occupational asbestos exposure.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free case review, please notify us through the communication form on this page. The firm works on a contingency basis so there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or reach a settlement in your favor.