The United Nations executives leading the $2.1-billion renovation of the U.N. headquarters on Manhattan's far East Side are known for commanding military-style control over the high-profile, closely scrutinized project. The approach seems to be working.
The project's leaders, charged with overhauling 2.5 million sq ft of space within an active 17-acre campus, have about one year to go on the six-year project. To date, though the work is 12% over budget, they have managed to keep a low profile and avoid major disruption to regular U.N. activities. Crews tiptoe around as many as 4,800 U.N. staff within a compound that, since 2008, has been annually hosting 8,000 conferences and one million visitors.