RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/444  
 
16 April 2018  
(18-2282) Page: 1/17 
Committee on budget, Finance and Administration    
 
 
STRATEGIC FACILIT IES PLAN  
 
1  INTRODUCTION/PREFACE  
1.1.  The WTO's Strategic Facilities Plan (SFP ) encompasses the complete built -environment as 
well as capital equipment. It consists of understanding, analysing, planning and acting to ensure 
an optimal delivery of services to stakeholders. A sound SFP will ensure the optimization of 
facilities to cer tify a functional, safe and comfortable workplace1 for all those working at the World 
Trade Organization (WTO), and to provide good quality support based on a client -oriented 
approach, in an environmentally -friendly and cost -effective way.  This SFP will be  used as a guide 
to plan the various building maintenance, conference room renovations and safety and security 
needs to provide a safe, functional and ecological environment in which the WTO Secretariat can 
carry out its function and service to its Members . The WTO's 4 pillar activities are Dispute 
Settlement, Building Trade Capacity, Implementation and Monitoring, and Trade Negotiations. In 
view of this, it is imperative that there be a strategy that will enable financing of renovation and/or 
maintenance w ork to be carried out on all of the buildings on the complete WTO single site.   
1.2.  The WTO single site contains 7 buildings and the Chinese Gusu Garden within its security 
perimeter: the Centre William Rappard (CWR), the Extramuros (EM), including the underg round 
carpark for 200 spaces, the Welcome Pavilion (BCI), the Salle William Rappard (SWR), the Villa 
Rappard (VR), and the Villa des Chênes 1 & 2. Three of these buildings, the CWR, the BCI and the 
EM, as well as the Gusu Garden, are owned by the WTO.  Wit h the exception of the SWR which is 
owned and maintained by the Fondation des Immeubles pour les Organisations Internationales 
(FIPOI), the three others are maintained by the WTO in its capacity as sole user of the buildings 
though owned by the Républiq ue and Canton of Geneva. The WTO, including during the GATT 
period, had been a tenant of the Centre William Rappard (CWR) building since 1977. The building 
was then owned by the République and Canton of Geneva and managed by the FIPOI.  A major 
construction p roject to renovate the CWR and build a new building on the premises was carried out 
between 2008 and 2012. The Building Renovation Project aimed at completely renovating the CWR 
building, and the Construction Project aimed at construction of the EM buildin g between early 2011 
and December 2012. (see Annex I on pre and post renovation surfaces and additional spaces 
created by the Renovati on and Construction projects). During this period, the WTO became the 
owner of the CWR, the EM and the BCI and from then o n, all aspects of facility management, 
including building maintenance, conference services and security and the provision of the relevant 
budget to finance these operations became the responsibility of the WTO.  
1.3.  There are eight big conference rooms and eig ht small meetings rooms which are used mainly 
for small bilat eral or multilateral meetings. These facilities are for use by Members and the 
Secretariat. In 2017, over 10,000 meetings were held at the WTO.    
1.4.  The aim of this paper is to establish a short - and medium -term strategy to ensure that plans 
are detailed for the maintenance, renovation, management of technical installations and 
replacement of various aspects of the WTO facilities.   
1.5.  This document will be referenced on a yearly basis according to the  elaboration of the yearly 
procurement plan. The purpose of this strategy is to develop a flexible and implementable plan 
based on realistic assumptions that will inform on the amounts to be included in the WTO budget.   
                                                
1 Strategic Facility Planning: A White Paper, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), 
2009.  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Table 1  Annual Maintenance Expenses  (2017)  
AMOUNTS SHOWN IN CHF  
Electrical Maintenance  190,650  
Electrical Consumption  342,950  
CVC (HVAC -Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)  240,100  
Cleaning  851,800  
Water, gas and GLN consumption  468,200  
Fuel consumption (heating oil)2 4,850  
Maintenance of numerous buildings installations (BMS)  301,400  
Recycling contract  30,300  
Various consumables (electricity, carpentry, hardware, etc.  56,950  
Landscaping  89,250  
Various framework agreements for miscellaneous works (carpentry, carpeting, painting, 
plastering, etc.)  203,200  
Maintenance of fire safety installations and  equipment  256,000  
Various consumables (electronic keys and cylinders, badges, etc.)  22,500  
Security system consulting and study (video -surveillance, access control, intrusion 
detection, intercom, radio, security supervision)  181,500  
Second level intervention by outside company in case of breakdown of audio -visual 
equipment  5,000  
Standing contract for replacement of small equipment (microphones, earpieces, cables 
etc.) 10,000  
Electronic Bulletin Boards (EBBs) Maintenance and support contract  5,256  
Polycom video conferencing system – licence renewal, support and maintenance contract 
for a duration of 3 years  34,924.80  
Total annual expenses  3,294,830.80  
 
2  CAPITAL EQUIPMENT  
2.1.  On the WTO site, there are 17 ventilation blocks and a 200,000 -litre capacity fuel tank that 
will require regular total emptying, cleaning and protection of the interior. All of these large 
installations operate with motors whose operational lifetime can v ary from 5 to 10 years and which 
will require replacement in the long term.   
2.2.  There are a total of 298 restrooms, some with showers, in the WTO buildings, with 250 
located in the CWR building and 48 in the EM building.   
2.3.  The WTO -owned buildings also have a  total of 13 kitchens, 9 in the  CWR and 5 in the EM 
building. In addition, there is both a fully -equipped professional kitchen in the EM restaurant 
(containing heavy -duty ovens, refrigerators, cold rooms, etc.), as well a smaller kitche n unit in the 
Atrium  Cafeteria.  By 2027, the equipment will need to be replaced in part or in total.  
2.4.  The CWR and the EM buildings were provided with new furniture for all common areas in the 
CWR (in and around the Atrium, VIP Dining Room, Pas Perdus, furniture for rooms V, Y,  Z and 
Delegates Lounge) and the 6 floors of the EM building (workstations, common areas and furniture 
for the Restaurant). The historical cost for the total assets amounted to CHF  3.4 million.  
                                                
2 The WTO is heated by modern gas -fired boilers that can also run on oil if the supply of gas is 
interrupted. Gas consumption being most economic, it i s used for 11 months of the year. The fuel tanks 
however need to be utilised at least 1 month a year to ensure proper functioning, the average consumption for 
1 month is 20,000 litres of heating oil.  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  3  PROPOSED CAPITAL IMP ROVEMENTS AND OTHER MEASURES TO CONTAIN COSTS  
Electricity:  
 
3.1.  A project to replace the 950 spotlights in the CWR corridors is unde r consideration. Its aim is 
to introducing more ecological and economical lightin g. This project will consist of:  
Energy:  
 
3.2.  Reductions in energy consumption in the WTO c oncerns not only heating and cooling but also 
electricity and water.  
 The newly refurbished and insulated CWR is heated by modern gas -fired boilers that can also 
run on oil if the supply of gas is interrupted.  
 The EM building which is very efficient in terms of insulation and ventilation is heated by 
water -to-water heat pumps using the lake water as part of the GLN (Geneva Lac Nations) 
project of the Geneva Industrial Services. The GLN also generates cold water that is used to 
refresh the air for the occupants of the EM and the Salle William Rappard (the only air -
conditioned room), and to refresh a number of technical rooms in the EM and CWR buildings.  
 The SWR and the Welcome Pavilion are heated by boilers in the  CWR and refreshed by the GLN 
from the EM.  
 The Villa Rappard, the Villa Montessori and the Villa des Chênes Annex, are all heated by 
somewhat obsolete fuel boilers. These villas do not belong to the WTO, so there is little margin 
of maneuvering to optimize  energy consumption in these buildings.  
 The EM is a Minergie -P building which is a standard that certifies buildings aiming at low 
energy consumption, namely:  
a. Low energy costs for heating, cooling and hot water production  
b. High airtightness of the building envelope.  
3.3.  The maintenance of windows and the reinsulating operations has made it possible to reduce 
heat loss. Optimization of the facilities (data center, boiler room, etc.), refinement of parameters, 
data or instructions are part of the measures taken to  limit energy expenditure, as well as the 
control of possible risks, which is linked to continuous maintenance and regular monitoring of 
networks and facilities. In addition, important regulatory work carried out by in -house technicians 
has made it possibl e to maximize the efficiency of the heating systems and achieve significant 
savings.  
3.4.  For the future we will aim at keeping the bar at least where it has been placed so far. For the 
EM, the goal is to maintain the Minergie -P label despite the potential inc rease in work stations or 
activities in this building. We will install sectoral sub -meters for electricity and heating to refine the 
data so that we may intervene, modify or optimize certain installations with more precision. For 
the CWR, we are entering t he phase of fine -tuned regulation along with the project of insulation of 
the façades which will consist of injecting cellulose (foam) padding in the inner lining of the 
window frames. Particular attention will also be paid to the roofing of the CWR. The r enovation of 
the insulation of the pipes and gutters is planned and this will also limit heat loss in the building. 
We will continue to concentrate our efforts so that improvements are continuously made to the 
heating and ventilation concepts.  
3.5.  For now, and  since the renovation of the historic building and the construction of the new 
building and the regulatory phase that followed these projects, the results in heating and cooling 
operations have been positive. We were able to realize considerable savings as  compared to the 
original situation (2013), and concerning the hot energy balance, namely: 41% on 4 years (2014 -
2017), which is equivalent to 1'170'543 KWh, 239 tons of CO2 or a savings in energy consumption 
of approximately CHF 93,650, or CHF  23,412 per y ear. WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Ecology : 
 
3.6.  The WTO is making considerable efforts to limit the carbon footprint of the Secretariat (see 
table below).  
GREEN ACTIONS  IMPACT  COMMENTS  
E-bikes :  
Five e -bikes in self -service for the staff  
 Good impact on the carbon 
footprint of the 
Organization  Since July 2016 :  
200 inscriptions  
2200 utilisations  
650 km average by each bike per 
year 
Biodegradable & compostable cups for 
meetings  Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  
  
PET/Aluminium/Glass :  
Containers in different areas of the WTO  Ecological  
 Less expensive than incinerated 
waste  
Office waste paper bin bags :  
The cleaners do not change the office bin 
bag if it is not necessary  Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  
 Slight decrease in consumable 
expenditure  
Reusable plastic glasses for staff events  Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  
  
Recycling of the Nespresso capsules:  
Collected in all relevant areas  
 Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  
 Delivery to the recycling centre is 
free of charge and organised by 
Nespresso  
Recycling of printer ink cartridges    Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  Delivery to the recycling centre free 
of charge  
Recycling of batteries   Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  Delivery to the recycling centre free 
of charge  
Paper and cardboard :  
Collected in all offices  
 Ecological/ good carbon 
impact   
Recycling of Polystyrene  Ecological/ good carbon 
impact  Delivery to the recycling centre free 
of charge  
We are storing a maximum amount of 
different wastes to limit the truck 
passage for transport to the recycling 
centre  Ecological/good carbon 
impact  By accumulating wastes and 
systematic use of compactors we 
limit the cost of transportation  
The cleaning company has impleme nted 
a new cleaning method  Ecological  Saving of 15'000 L of water per year 
and 50% reduction on the amount of 
household products used  
3.7.  In addition, the WTO Secretariat participates in the UN Climate Neutral initiative 
(http://www.greeningtheblue.org/ ), under which UN organizations are tasked with measuring their 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking steps to reduce such emissions, and investigating the 
possibility of purchas ing carbon offsets to achieve climate neutrality.  
3.8.  Reporting of greenhouse gas emissions provides a useful opportunity to benchmark 
performance of the WTO against other agencies. In 2016, WTO emissions per staff member (4.41 
tons of CO 2 equivalent – TCO2eq ) were well below the UN per capita average (7.28 TCO2equ). In 
terms of total emissions, WTO ranks amongst one of the lowest emitters in comparison to other 
UN agencies.  
  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Figure 1 2016 UN GHG emissions per staff and by emission source (tCO2eq)  
 
Source  :  http://www.greeningtheblue.org/sites/default/files/movingtoward_digi_broch -2.pdf  
3.9.  Facilities related emissions declined slightly from 2015, in light of high e nvironmental 
performance of the Extramuros building and energy savings. Air travel continued to be WTO's 
largest emissions source, similar to other participating agencies.  
3.10.   Like other agencies, WTO has been asked to consider offsetting unavoidable CO 2 emiss ions 
to achieve "climate neutrality", i.e. purchasing Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs). The 
reputational benefits of showing leadership on climate change are high.  
4  UPCOMING PROJECTS – TIME PHASED  
4.1.  For ease of reference in the next section, please see t he below chart of the Sectors in the 
CWR which are referred to in our tables.  
 
051015202530
BRS
CBD
CTBTO
ECA
ECLAC
ESCAP
ESCWA
FAO
Field Missions
IAEA
ICAO
IFAD
ILO
ITC-ILO
IMF
IMO
IOM
ITC
ITU
OHCHR
OPCW
Ozone Secretariat
UNAIDS
UNCCD
UNCDF
UNDP
UN Environment
UNESCO
UNFCCC
UNFPA
UN-Habitat
UNHCR
UNHQ
UNICEF
UNIDO
UNITAR
UNOG
UNON
UNOPS
UNOV
UNRWA
UNSSC
UNU
UNV
UN Women
UNWTO
UPU
WFP
WHO
WIPO
WMO
World Bank Group
WTOUN system averageFacilities
Other travel
Air travel
WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Table 2 Short Term Projects, 1 -5 Years (2017 To 2021)  
(amounts shown in CHF)  
PROJECTS  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total 
amount 
per 
project  
Insulation of facades  (lakeside 
and roadside) (F)* 1,300  
 (test 
office)    300,000   301,300  
Waterproofing of rain gutters  
There are a total of 32 rain 
gutters placed on the roof of the 
CWR.  Six show signs of leakage 
and need to be replaced 
urgently.  (F)* 125,000  64,000     189,000  
Replacement of roof over 
Sector 8  (F)* 95,000      95,000  
Replacement of roof  over 
Sectors 4 and 6  (F)*  78,000     78,000  
FM Application Software needs:        
1. SBO (StruxureWare  Building 
Operation Software) To place all 
the alarms generated by any of 
the technical installations on one 
server dedicated to the virtual 
monitoring of the technical 
installations of the WTO 
buildings and migrating to this 
server  (RB)**   300,000  306,00 0   606,000  
2. GMAO  (building related 
software)To ensure the correct 
monitoring of technical 
installations, contract and space 
management issues. An in -depth 
analysis of the existing technical 
installations, maintenance 
contracts, and space 
management nee ds will have to 
be carried out in order to find 
and install the most appropriate 
software to ensure a functional, 
safe and comfortable 
workplace. (RB)**    200,000    200,000  
3.  Update of building plans in 
3D - To monitor furniture, 
moves, placement of staff, and 
technical installations, a 
complete update of building 
plans with 3D technology will be 
necessary  (RB)**    150,000    150,000  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  PROJECTS  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total 
amount 
per 
project  
Electrical works in the 
heating stations  
Cabinets for the ventilation of 
meeting rooms, boiler rooms and 
all the other such technical 
rooms are to be updated after 
reception of the report of the 
tests of the control points, 
including the cleaning up of the 
wiring for alarms and changing 
the conta ctors.  Replace 
schematics, replace tables, and 
install a new server to register 
alarms. (RB)**    40,000    40,000  
Replacing existing lighting 
with LED bulbs in the CWR 
and the EM Buildings  
A project to replace the 950 
spotlights in the CWR  corridors is 
underway aiming at introducing 
more ecological and economical 
lighting.  This project will then 
be followed by three other 
phases in order to replace the 
existing lighting with LED bulbs 
throughout the WTO buildings  
(F)* + (RB)**    480,000  720,000  400,000  1,600,000  
Renovation Lift pump local 
(F)* 22,000      22,000  
Replacing elevator A -1 
(F)*  77,000     77,000  
Fireblock Insulating  
(F)*  49,000     49,000  
Security box sound system  
(F)*  33,000     33'000  
Energy Counter by sector  
(F)*  40,000     40,000  
GLN cooling for LAN 3S & 
control room W (F)*   70,000     70,000  
Modification of Measurement -
Monitoring -Control Service 
(MMC)  (F)*  740,000     740,000  
Replacement of carpeting 
(RB)* *    450,000   450,000  
Complete painting works 
(RB)* *    500,000   500,000  
Partial furniture replacement . 
By 2021, the office furniture in 
the CWR will be 12 years old.  It 
will be necessary to replace the 
older elements, particularly in 
offices. (RB)*      850,000  850,000  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  PROJECTS  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total 
amount 
per 
project  
Audio -visual (AV) facilities 
and IT-related equipment  
A study was carried out in 2017 
by an external company to 
determine the state of the AV 
facilities and IT -related 
equipment in the conference 
rooms.  The report on the study 
listed equipment that was either 
obsolete or reached end of l ife 
and/or additions in order for the 
conference rooms to function at 
maximum capacity. Following 
the report and as part of the 
same contract, the consulting 
company prepared a ToR for a 
support and maintenance 
contract and 
replacement/upgrade of 
identifie d equipment.  To this 
effect, an RFP will be sent out by 
end April 2018.  The cost in 
2018 in addition to the 
maintenance, includes also a one 
off amount for replacement 
and/or upgrades of any 
equipment as 
estimated/recommended by the 
consulting company.  (The actual 
costs will be known once a 
maintenance contract is in 
place).  (RB)**  22,880  540,000  311,000  311,000  311,000  1,495,880  
Alignment of all communal 
meeting rooms  
All rooms will be equipped with 
the same IT equipment (screens, 
cameras and endpoints (codec)) 
to allow services such as video 
and tele -conferences to be 
available in all the eight small 
rooms.  A prototype - Room 1111 
was equipped with the proposed 
equipment and is currently going 
through tests with a view to 
gathering feedback an d 
recommendations before rolling 
out the project to the remaining 
seven rooms.  (RB)**  15,092  105,644        120,736  
Meeting Management System  
The Document Management 
System (DMS) which is currently 
used to manage the reservation 
and management of meetings 
and rooms no long er has the 
related IT support. The proposed 
Meeting Management System 
would meet the needs of the 
Conference Office by 
incorporating various workflows 
which currently do not exist in 
the DMS and would permit 
effective dissemination of 
information among the different 
sections. This will also allow for  48,000     48,000  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  PROJECTS  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total 
amount 
per 
project  
accurate data collection and 
analysis.  (RB)**  
Electronic Bulletin Board 
System   
2017 cost included purchase of 
hardware and so ftware and 
annual maintenance. If contract 
is renewed after the 3yr period, 
the annual cost will be CHF8,568 
which is an inclusive package of 
maintenance and support.  
(RB)**  38,350  5,256  5,256  8,568  8,568  65,998  
Webcasting and Video on 
Demand system  
The webcasting syste m was 
installed in Q1 of 2018.  (RB)**  129,000  73,478  27,320  27,320  27,320  284,438  
Physical security (video 
surveillance, electronic 
access control, intercom)  
Update of the overall physical 
security system (RB)**  805,500  632,500  66,757  68,758  82,441  1,655,956  
Fire Safety (extinguishers, 
fire engines, fire detection, 
nozzles, smoke extraction, 
fire doors) and Security and 
Safety (bollards, security 
perimeter, harrows, 
turnstiles, lifts)  
Maintenance of installations and 
new equipment (RB)**  256,000  259,000  271,000  279,000  286,000  1,351,000  
Physical Security Legal Divisions 
(RB)**  0 50,000  15,000  15,000  15,000  95,000  
Replacement of 2  X -Ray 
machines (RB)**    100,000    100,000  
Total expenditure  1,510,122  3,164,878  1,972,333  2,679,646  1,980,329  11,307,308  
Source Funding:  
(F)*  Projects financed by the FIPOI under the annual CHF 1M   3,294,300  
(RB)**  Projects financed by the Regular Budget      8,013,008  
 
4.2.  For all of the above projects, a cost -benefit analysis will be carried out during the 
procurement process  at the time of presenting the strategy to the Contracts Committee to 
ascertain the added -value of the foreseen expense.  
4.3.  In 2004, an audit of the WTO security was conducted. It highlighted the inability of the 
service at that time to respond to the Organiz ation's needs and to the new security risks. As a 
result of this finding, it was decided to undertake a comprehensive reorganization of the WTO 
security as follows:  
 Decision to outsource some operational activities.  
 Installation of appropriate technical eq uipment (security control centre, video surveillance, 
access control).  
 Installation of a security perimeter, in agreement with the host country.  
 Regular maintenance of the fire safety infrastructure and equipment to be in compliance 
with the Swiss standard s. WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  4.4.  The security perimeter of 825 linear meters, of which 653 meters comprises of steel fencing 
with an average height of 1.85m was completed in 2013.  A number of access control and safety 
equipment has been put in place in the perimeter to ensure a high l evel of physical integrity of the 
WTO site.  
4.5.  The renovation of the CWR building and the construction of the EM building has also 
generated the update of the overall fire safety system, including the installation of hydrating 
terminals, extinguishers, fire hoses, automatic fire doors, emergency exits, fire detection 
equipment, nozzles for automatic fire extinguishing systems, fire doors for technical rooms, offices 
and meeting rooms, outlets of smoke, a smoke extraction system for the atrium, consisting of 1 5 
air supply windows and 6 roof outlets, 519 linear meters of roofing lines and 13 lifts.  
4.6.  In 2008, the WTO Security purchased 2 X -Ray machines. These machines are used on a daily 
basis and will soon become obsolete as they are radioactive equipment.  
4.7.  Renov ations for the conference rooms (excluding the SWR (CR) which is owned by the 
FIPOI), were completed in 2014. The cost of the renovations was CHF10 million. There are eight 
big conference rooms with capacities ranging from 37 to 708 people. There are also eight small 
meetings rooms which are used mainly for small bila teral or multilateral meetings.  Maintaining the 
SWR is the responsibility of FIPOI except for small parts replacements such  as microphones and 
earphones. This Paper therefore only covers the co sts of maintaining the meetings rooms under 
the responsibility of the WTO.  
4.2  Conference rooms audio and visual equipment  
4.8.  A study was carried out in 2017 to determine the state of the AV facilities and IT -related 
equipment in the conference rooms. The report on the study listed equipment that was either 
obsolete or reached end of life as well as additional equipment that was required to guarantee 
maximum functionality of the rooms. Following the report, the consulting company prepared a ToR 
for a support and m aintenance contract and replacement/u pgrade of identified equipment.  To this 
effect, an RFP wi ll be sent out end April 2018. The cost in 2018 in addition to support and 
maintenance, also includes a one -off amount for replacement and/or upgrade of equipment  as 
estimated/recommen ded by the consulting company. The actual costs will be known once a 
maintenance contract is in place.  
4.9.  The exact value of all the equipment in the conference rooms will be determined after the 
first year of the maintenance and support contract where a report will be prepared by the 
contracted company with an inventory and residual value of the equipment.  The costs indicated in 
this paper for now, are estimate s and will be revised in 2019. An actual value will then be used for 
long term plans for replacement of all equipment.  
4.10.   Equipping and unifying the eight communal meeting rooms with the same IT equipment and 
software  (est. CHF20,000 per room). Room 1111 was used as a prototype for this project.  
Feedback received from users wi ll be used to decide on the equipment for the remaining seven 
rooms.    
4.11.   Implement a new platform to boo k and manage conference rooms. The current system no 
longer responds to the increased needs of the Conference Office, effective workflow systems are 
required to better disseminate information among the different sections in the Secretariat and 
provide more options for collating statistics and r eports.  Deployment is expected December 2018.  
4.12.   An Electronic Bulletin Board System is now in place with a three yea r maintenance and 
support contract.   
4.13.   A webcasting and video on demand system will be deployed end of April 2018.  The 
webcasting service will incorporate live -streaming and video on demand, a service which did not 
exist and the demand was increasing.   
 WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Table 3 Medium Term Projects, 6 -10 Years 2022 To 2026  
(amounts shown in CHF)  
PROJECTS  2022  2023  2024  2025  2026  Total 
amount 
per project  
CVC (HVAC -heating, 
ventilation, air 
conditioning) System 
Renovation/ Replacement  
During the renovation of the 
CWR, the heating installation 
was only partially renovated: 
we have hundreds of linear 
meters of pipes, shut -off 
valves or other parts that 
will have to be changed.  
Some heating or ventilation 
systems will have to be 
completely replaced (some 
ducts or installation s are 
currently more than 10 or 15 
years old).  This work will 
require the revision of the 
entire electrical connections, 
alarms, imagery of the 
supervision must be 
reviewed, and certain 
modifications of ducts or 
pipes and pipes will have to 
be carried out . (F)*  1,000,000  1,020,000  1,040,400  1,061,208  1,082,432  5,204,040  
Kitchen 
renovation/replacement  
There are 9 kitchenettes in 
the CWR  and 5 in the EM 
building that were installed 
between 2009 and 2012.   
These will have to be 
updated and either 
renovated or replaced as 
needed in the next 10 years.  
(BRF)** *  300,000  306,000  312,120   918,120  
The kitchen of the EM 
restaurant  was installe d in 
the EM building in 2012.  
Appliances and other 
installations (ovens, freezer 
rooms, other kitchen 
appliances/installations) will 
have to be updated and 
either renovated or replaced 
as needed in the next 10 
years  (BRF)** * 300,000  306,000  312,120  318,362  324,730  1,561,212  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  PROJECTS  2022  2023  2024  2025  2026  Total 
amount 
per project  
Restrooms/showers 
renovation or 
replacement  
There are a total of 298 
restrooms, some with 
showers, in the WTO 
buildings, with 250 located 
in the CWR building and 48 
in the EM building. These 
were renovated and/or 
installed between 2009 and 
2012. These will have to be 
updated and either 
renovated or replaced as 
needed in the next 10 years.  
(BRF)** * 335,000  341,700  348,534  355,505  362,615  1,743,354  
Furniture replacement 
both in offices and 
common areas  
New furniture was provided 
for offices and common 
areas between 2009 and 
2012.  Some of the furniture 
in the common areas is 
already showing signs of 
wearing.  By 2022 this 
furniture will be obsolete and 
value -less, and will have to 
be replaced. (BRF)** *   500,000  510,000  520,200  1,530,200  
Audio -Visual facilities and 
IT-related equipment 
maintenance  
This equipment will have to 
be replaced but the period 
when this has to be done will 
be determined in 2019 after 
a maintenance and support 
contract is in place  and a full 
report has been provided by 
the contracted company. The 
figures reflected herein are 
therefore an estimate based 
on the initial value of the 
equipment i.e. CHF5 
000,000 and maintenance 
contract amount is 
calculated at  15% of the 
value. (RB)**  750,000  765,000  780,300  795,906  811,824  3,903,030  
Electronic Bulletin Board 
(EBB)  
The entire system including 
software and hardware was 
replaced in 2017 and has a 
recommended shelf -life of 
five years.  It is therefore 
envisage that there will be a 
complete  replacement of the 
system in 2022.  (RB)**  38,350  5,256  5,256  8,568  8,568  65,998  
Webcasting and VOD  
System maintenance, 
support and licences (RB)**  70,000  27,320  27,320  27,320  27,320  179,280  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  PROJECTS  2022  2023  2024  2025  2026  Total 
amount 
per project  
Video Conference 
Software  
System support and 
licence (RB)**  62,000  63,240  64,505  65,795  67,111  322,651  
Physical security (video 
surveillance, electronic 
access control, intercom)  
Update of the overall 
physical security 
system (RB)**  1,500,000  140,000  142,800  145,656  148,569  2,077,025  
Fire Safety 
(extinguishers, fire 
engines, fire detection, 
nozzles, smoke 
extraction, fire doors)  
Maintenance of installations 
and new equipment (RB)**  350,000  357,000  364,140  371,423  378,851  1,821,414  
Security and Safety 
(bollards, security 
perimeter, harrows, 
turnstiles, lifts)  
Maintenance of installations 
and new equipment (RB)**  150,000  153,000  156,060  159,181  162,365  780,606  
Total expenditure  4,555,350  3,478,516  4,047,435  4,131,044  3,894,585  20,106,930  
Source Funding:  
(F)*  Projects financed by the FIPOI  under the annual CHF 1M   5,204,040  
(RB)**  Projects financed by the Regular Budget     9,150,004  
(BRF)***  Projects financed by the Building Renovation Fund    5,752,886  
 
5  LONG TERM  
5.1.  Since the full renovation and/or construction of the WTO buildings took place  between 2008 
and 2012, it is difficult to forecast with precision what heavy -duty works will be nece ssary beyond 
the next 10 years.  Depending on the state of the buildings, by 2027, it is realistic to envisage 
another full renovation of the CWR will be ne eded within the next 30 years though this will depend 
greatly on the level of maintenance that has been carried out over the preceding years. In 
addition, many of the technical installations, piping, power generators, etc. will have exceeded 
their life exp ectancy and may need to be replaced to ensure a functional, safe and comfortable 
workplace for all those working at the WTO. Below is a table indicating the possible works to be 
undertaken and the estimated cost. Most of the works envisaged below will be f inanced by the 
Building Renovation Fund.  
  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Table 4 Long Term Projects, 11 -30 Years 2027 To 2047  
PROJECTS  
Renovation of the CWR  
(windows, doors including handles, painting, floors, ceilings, electric cables, heating/cooling/ventilation 
machines + pipes, power generator, inverter).  
Renovation of the EM  
(doors, floors, roof, painting including parking, electric cables, heating/cool ing/ventilation machines + pipes, 
data centre, power generator, inverter, kitchen and restaurant fixed equipment)  
Construction of the EM building was completed in 20 12. Though much newer than the CWR  building, and 
barring any unforeseen events, it is realistic to envisage a full renovation of the EM building within the next 30 
years.  In addition, many of the technical installations, piping, power generators, etc. will have been present 
for 30 year an d will have to be renovated, if not replaced, in order to ensure a functional, safe and comfortable 
workplace for all those working at the WTO.  
Renovation of the Welcome Pavilion (BCI)  
(windows, doors including handles, painting, floors, ceilings, electric cables, heating/cooling/ventilation 
machines + pipes).  
Cleaning of facades  
The CWR facades were sandblasted during  the renovation works of 2008. This cleaning will have to be 
programmed once again in the next 10 -30 years to ensure that the buildi ng looks its best from the outside, 
particularly since it is looking onto a public park.  
Cleaning and inspection of the roofs (CWR and EM)  
Since the complete waterproofing of the roof will have been carried out by 2021, it will be necessary to ensure 
that there is no new leakage or other problem that needs to be addressed in the long -term.  An inspection of 
the roofs will thus be necessary.  
Replacement of furniture in the conference rooms  
Replacement of all the physical security system (including cameras, servers, electronic access control, 
intercom).  
Replacement of all the Fire Safety system and equipment (including extinguishers, fire engines, fire 
detection, nozzles, smoke extraction, fire doors).  
Replacement of all the security and safety equ ipment (including bollards, security perimeter, harrows, 
turnstiles, lifts).  
Replacement of all audio and visual equipment in all the conference rooms and small meeting 
rooms (listed in the tables above)  
Upgrade the meeting reservation system (to conform  with the newly installed AV systems)  
 
6  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIO NS 
BUILDING MAINTENANCE  
 
6.1.  Financing sources for the ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of WTO buildings and 
infrastructure costs, including existing facilities are as follows: (1) regular budget, (2) Building 
Renovation Fund, and (3) funding from the Swiss Confederation.  
Regular Budget  
 
6.2.  The annual regular maintenance of the WTO buildings and premises, including servicing of 
installations and equipment increases annually.  
6.3.  The 2018 regular b udget earmarked on Building Maintenance amounts to CHF1,433,000.  
Building Renovation Fund  
 
6.4.  The establishment  of a Building Renovation Fund3 was approved by the Committee on 
Budget, Finance, and Administration (CBFA) in 2015. This Fund is subject to governa nce 
guidelines, including coordination by the Secretariat to ensure maximum use of the funds made 
available annually by the Swiss Confederation through the "Fondation des Immeubles pour les 
                                                
3 WT/BFA/W/369/Rev.2 dated 27 October 2015 Building Reno vation Fund.  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  Organisations Internationales  (FIPOI)". The creation of a Building  Renovation Fund complies with 
the revised 2013 Infrastructure Contract4 , agreed by the WTO and the Swiss Authorities.  
6.5.  The funds shall cover the foreseeable costs of medium - and long -term building and 
infrastructure projects and are intended to finance ex traordinary maintenance, repair, 
improvement, and enhancement of the building and infrastructure, including the upgrading of 
existing facilities.   
6.6.  According to the FIPOI model applied to the calculation of necessary funds for the Building 
Renovation Fund,  the average annual allocation needed for long term renovation projects will be 
approximately CHF  2,572,000. On an annual basis, the Swiss Confederation, through FIPOI, has 
earmarked CHF1,000,000 for extraordinary mainten ance costs of the CWR building.  In addition, 
the Swiss Confederation allocates an annual amount of CHF  200,000 primarily for the security 
perimeter.  
6.7.  Assuming that the full amount available through FIPOI can effectively be utilized in each 
year, the necessary annual provision by WTO to the Building Renovation Fund would be 
CHF1,312,000. This translates into allocations by the WTO of at least CHF 13.1 million over 
10 years and of C HF 65.6 million over 50 years. However, it is to be noted that these amounts 
based on the FIPOI model are subject  to variances based on the official Swiss Consumer Price 
Index (CP I) and the "Bureau d'Estimation de Bâtiments" or "BEB" Geneva index on construction 
costs.  
6.8.  Medium and long -term building and infrastructure projects are anticipated every 10, 15, 25, 
and 50  years on the basis of the depreciation or expected duration of a building component, as 
follows:  
a. 10 years: technical installations, interior carpentry works and furnishings, operating 
equipment and furniture;  
b. 15 years: sanitary and plumbing, heating, cool ing and ventilation systems, elevators;  
c. 25 years: façade, roof, windows, electricity, exterior woodworks; and  
d. 50 years: building structure.  
Swiss Confederation   
6.9.  FIPOI provided regular building maintenance services on the  CWR building until year 2012. 
From year 2009 to year 2012, the agreed amount with the WTO was CHF555,714 on a yearly 
basis.  
6.10.   The Swiss Confederation, through FIPOI, finances CHF1,000,000 for extraordinary  
maintenance costs of the CWR building5. The amount of CHF200,000 is attributed for the  security 
perimeter. Funds that are not used during a calendar year cannot be carried forward for use in 
future years.  
6.11.   A Contract exists between the Swiss Confederation (represented by " Département fédéral 
des affaires étrangères " or "DFAE") and the FIPOI on the CHF1.2 million financing by the Swiss 
Confederation, including a stipulation that this funding be used exclusively for extraordinary 
maintenance works.  
6.12.   The financing justification specified in this above -mentioned Contract was the mention of 
the 199 5 Infrastructure Contract signed by the Swiss Confederation, the Republic and Canton of 
Geneva, the FIPOI, and the WTO, specifically, Annex 14 of the 1995 Infrastructure Contract 
indicating that extraordinary maintenance and renovation works of the CWR wil l be financed by the 
Swiss Confederation.  
                                                
4 WT/BFA/W/298/Rev.1 - Draft Amendments to the Infrastructure Contract.  
5 Annex 14 – WT/GC/2 Infrastructure Contract.  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  6.13.   In addition, the Contract between the Swiss Confederation and the FIPOI stipulates that an 
increase of the contribution or a modification of the key funding necessitates: (1) a duly motivated 
and justified request and (2) a prior written agreement by the DFAE.  
6.14.   FIPOI is owned 50 % by the Swiss Confederation. The Swiss Confederation funds will be 
managed by the FIPOI. A procedure on the maintenance works and disbursements was agreed 
between the FIPOI and the WTO.  
6.15.   The Building Maintenance Service team submits maintenance works to FIPOI for review and 
validation.  Meetings are held between the WTO and FIPOI every two months to discuss progress.  
Following FIPOI's validation of the maintenance works to be under -taken, FIP OI carry out a 
procurement process and select the companies, and the WTO technical services team oversee the 
works. FIPOI make payments directly to the selected companies for the work done.  
6.16.   Further, FIPOI have been providing WTO the financial situation an d work progress reports. 
Below is a presentation of the CWR maintenance works financed by the Swiss Confederation, 
through FIPOI, from 2013 – 2016 (4 years), totalling CHF3,622,949, of which, CHF3,333,301 was 
spent for building -related works and CHF289,648  for the security perimeter.  
FIPOI CWR MAINTENANCE WORKS  PERIOD  AMOUNT IN CHF  
Water Supply  2014-2015 48,146  
Exterior Layout  2014-2016 448,104  
Fountains  2014 80,008  
Pipelines  2016 13,986  
Heating  2013-2016 243,657  
Air Conditioning  2015 -2016 84,685  
Lighting  2014-2015 74,425  
Electricity  2013-2016 184,904  
Waterproofing  2016 44,303  
Façades  2013 203,413  
False Ceilings  2015-2016 24,546  
Painting  2014 3,307  
Cooling  2013-2016 829,065  
Renovation of Premises  2013-2016 1,050,752  
SUBTOTAL   3,333,301  
Security   2013-2016 289,648  
TOTAL    3,622,949  
 
 
  WT/BFA/W/444  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
 
 
 
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