HOnor Our Past, Build Our Future
UNIS has a storied past. Created in 1947 by diplomatic families from all over the world who came to New York to be a part of the fledgling United Nations, UNIS was unique from the beginning. True to the mission of the founding families, UNIS provides a global curriculum that inspires in its students the spirit and ideals of the United Nations Charter. For more than sixty years, the school has promoted an appreciation of diversity of persons and cultures, in an optimal learning and teaching environment.
Now, UNIS needs to transform its buildings and programs to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff. After sixty years, the world has changed and tomorrow's global citizens require different tools to prepare them for meeting challenges, both old and new.
For forty years, the UNIS community has creatively adjusted the use of its flagship building on the East River in New York. It is no longer possible to sustain our vision for the future of UNIS without transforming the building into a sustainable, energy efficient facility which provides a healthy and safe learning environment for our students.
The first phase of the building Master Plan was complete in time for school opening in September 2010. The new lobby and cafeteria, which have sweeping views of the river, welcome students, parents, faculty, staff and friends into UNIS. The new Junior A classrooms for our youngest students set the standard for an ideal learning environment, providing floors warmed by radiant heat and walls made of translucent panels to maximize light and energy conservation. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, celebrated this transformation of UNIS when he visited the school to be greeted by all 1300 students.
The Master Plan calls for three more phases of construction. At the conclusion, more than forty new classrooms will have been created, as well as two new gyms to accommodate a comprehensive sports and physical education program. A theater which can hold the entire school population will allow for much greater communication and integration between the UNIS school. Finally, all the original infrastructure systems will be replaced, creating a much healthier and energy efficient building.
The first building phase was funded through the UNIS capital reserve, which was built up over many years through prudent and effective fiscal management. Now, the remaining phases must be funded through other means as the capital reserve needs to be replenished.
The Campaign for UNIS has been established to raise $50 million over the next few years to complete the building transformation.