Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO (September 7 to 15): Additional Premises for WIPO in Geneva

Geneva, September 10, 1998
Press Releases PR/1998/137

ADDITIONAL PREMISES FOR WIPO IN GENEVA

The WIPO General Assembly has approved the construction of a new building to provide office space for WIPO with a minimum of 500 workplaces. The building will be located in the immediate vicinity of the present WIPO headquarters in Geneva (Place des Nations) on a site that WIPO has recently acquired.

In addition, the General Assembly has approved the construction on the present WIPO site of a new large conference room, capable of seating some 600 delegates, and also the provision of additional parking space by enlarging the present WIPO garage and thereby greatly facilitating parking for both staff and delegates.

The important decision that has now been taken was made necessary by the continuing expansion, over a number of years, of WIPO's activities and of its requirements for premises and the forecast continuation of growth.

The Member States decided to institute an international architectural competition both for the office building and the large conference room and additional parking space. The overall cost of the project should not exceed 82.5 million Swiss francs.

The new constructions will be required to integrate both materially and aesthetically with the existing buildings and incorporate the latest information technology used by WIPO. The new buildings should be completed by the end of 2002.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section of WIPO: