UN Breaks Ground on Intentionally 'Ugly' Temporary Headquarters

The United Nations will break ground today on a three-story, purposefully ugly building that will serve as temporary space for the international body while its East River headquarters gets refurbished, according to an article today in Canada's Financial Post.

To make sure the temporary building on North Lawn doesn't become a permanent part of the U.N.'s landscape, the United Nations included its demolition in the project's $1.9 billion budget and, in a rather unorthodox move, intentionally designed it as an eyesore, according to Michael Adlerstein, the project's head architect.

"It's going to be in the same style as a Costco or Wal-Mart," Mr. Adlerstein said.

The ugly, pre-fab building will be used for U.N. meetings, and will house the Assembly, Security Council and staff from the Secretary-General's Executive Office. Other UN staff will be located in office space throughout the city.

The long-delayed overhaul is expected to be completed in 2013.