Works underway to renovate historic United Nations headquarters in Geneva

Construction has officially begun on the renovation of Building E as part of the Strategic Heritage Plan renovations of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the historic European headquarters of the United Nations. CSC Costruzioni of the Webuild Group, as leader of a consortium, is further strengthening its presence on this project with a contract commitment that, following the inclusion of this new phase of the works, has reached a total value of approximately €215 million. The Building E project is the last construction phase of a renovation programme launched in 2023 by the client Rénovation du Palais des Nations (RPN). The construction works will take place while ensuring the continuity of diplomatic activities throughout the Palais des Nations campus.

The work on Building E, originally built in the 1970s, includes the demolition of eight levels of the existing office structure, the redevelopment of the conference building podium spaces and upgrades elsewhere. It all forms part of the United Nations’ Strategic Heritage Plan, intended to bring the complex in line with modern building codes, safety and accessibility standards, while at the same time safeguarding the historic value of the original architecture. 

The project also foresees the installation of some new technological systems and modifications to conference support infrastructures, essential for a diplomatic hub that hosts approximately 8,000 meetings and more than 120,000 visitors each year. Particular focus will be placed on energy efficiency and the environmental remediation of materials, in full compliance with health and sustainability standards. 

CSC  Costruzioni has a 55-percent stake in the consortium, with partner CMB holding the remaining 45 percent. The value of the contract, initially set at €176 million and included in the Webuild’s consolidated order backlog since 2023, has been updated following the completion of the market pricing and the revised scope of technical activities. The consortium is also engaged in a separate, earlier awarded renovation project at the Palais des Nations, valued at approximately €330 million, confirming the Group’s leading role in the overall renovation plan for the historic complex.

In recent years, CSC Costruzioni has strengthened its presence in French-speaking Switzerland through projects that combine construction excellence with environmental innovation. Key projects include the Parc du Simplon residential and commercial complex in Lausanne, an 18-MW data centre between Geneva and Lausanne, and the Les Maraîchers residential complex in Geneva, which was awarded in 2025 as the best achievement in French-speaking Switzerland in the category of rental residential construction.