PRESS RELEASE 
 
PRESS/553 
19 February 2009 
 
(09-0880) 
WTO BUILDING 
The new WTO building will be unobtrusive and respectful of the 
environment 
In collaboration with the Swiss authorities, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has just selected 
the architecture project for the extension to the Centre William Rappard (CWR), the 
WTO headquarters. 
 After considering the 115 proposals received in the course of an international competition launched 
in 2008, the jury, composed of independent architects, the Swiss authorities, including the 
City of Geneva, the WTO Secretariat and the Chairman of the WTO Budget Committee, have awarded the first prize to a German firm, Wittfoht Architekten 
(http://www.wittfoht-architekten.com). 
 The project submitted by Mr Jens Wittfoht combin es sobriety, modernity and efficiency.  It was 
selected inter alia  for its environmental features (solar panels, use of water from Lake Geneva for 
air-conditioning and heating – Genève-Lac-Nations  network).  The new building will blend in 
harmoniously with the Parc Barton landscape without marring the age-old vegetation of the park, 
which will remain open to the public. 
 The new building will be spacious enough to accommodate 300 staff members.  It will have a new 
library, which will partly be open to the pu blic, a new restaurant to seat 150 and a new 
underground car park for 200 vehicles.  
In August 2008, the WTO embarked on a project to  renovate the Centre William Rappard.  For 
years, the Organization has been short of space for its staff and the delegates who meet there daily.  Having reviewed several options, Swit zerland and the WTO reached agreement in early 
August 2008.  The most cost-efficient solution is to renovate, densify and enlarge the 
Centre William Rappard.  The overall cost will be 130 million Swiss francs (around 80 million euros), 70 million of which are a donation and 60 million a loan to the WTO from the 
Swiss Confederation.  Out of this total, 40 million  Swiss francs will go to the construction of the 
new building.  PRESS/553 
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
Some additional information 
 Renovation and extension in three phases  
 
y The single WTO site will take shape between mid-2008 and end 2012. 
y The first phase (2008 – end 2011) includes renovating the CWR (including transforming 
the General Council Room and increasing its capacity).  During this period, the 
CWR infrastructure (electricity, plumbing, heating, etc.) will be rehabilitated and 
modernized.  New meeting rooms will be created. 
y The second phase (early 2010 – end 2012) will  involve densifying and increasing the 
indoor capacity of the CWR.  During this phase, the WTO will be endowed with a new main 
lobby and more large meeting rooms. 
y The third phase (2010 – end 2012) will see the CWR extended with the construction of an 
annexe. 
 International competition  
y The competition was open to all architects in WTO member countries. 
y 115 proposals were received from 25 countries (Switzerland, Romania, Italy, Turkey, 
Chinese Taipei, United States, Mexico, Finlan d, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Germany, 
France, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Australia,  India, Singapore, Czech Republic, United 
Kingdom, Dubai, Hong Kong China, Belgium and South Africa). 
y All proposals remained anonymous. 
y Seven projects were shortlisted. 
 The WTO Secretariat – a few figures  
y Around 750 people work at the WTO Secretariat. 
y Some 800 delegates and ambassadors use the building's infrastructure (meeting rooms, 
cafeteria and restaurant, Salle des pas perdus, etc.). 
 
A few key dates in the history of the WTO and its extension  
y 1785 – Construction of the original Villa Rappard (now a school). 
y 1919 – Signing of the Treaty of Versailles an d creation of the League of Nations and 
the ILO. 
y 1923 – Swiss architect George Epitaux selected to design new headquarters for the 
International Labour Office. 
y 1926 – Inauguration of the new ILO building. 
y 1947 – Establishment of the GATT as a result of the Bretton Woods Agreements. 
y 1975 – ILO moves to new HQ in Grand-Saconnex. 
y 1977 – GATT moves to the Centre William Rappard. 
y 1995 – WTO becomes the successor to the GATT and the main occupant of the CWR. 
y 1998 – Construction of the conference centre adjacent to the CWR. 
 
END