The beginning

The headquarters seat of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE), was established at Shanghai in 1947. However, the situation there in 1948 necessitated a temporary move of the secretariat to Bangkok, where operations resumed in January 1949. The ECAFE secretariat occupied several temporary quarters in Bangkok, but was soon accommodated at the Sala Santitham, a new building built by the Government in 1954. An agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Thailand relating to the establishment in Bangkok of the office of the ECAFE was signed on 26 May 1954. It described the provision of facilities at what was termed “the working site” of the Commission. In 1970 Bangkok was formally designated as the headquarters seat of ECAFE.

The Sala Santitham was built by the Government in 1954 at the intersection of Rajadamnern Nok Avenue and Krung Kasem Road. This building housed various government offices in addition to those of the international organizations. Conference facilities suitable for meetings of the Commission were completed in 1957. The entire facility was operated and administered by the Government. The main conference hall of the Sala Santitham was damaged by fire in 1969.

In 1967 a small four-storey building was constructed between the Assembly hall and the north wing of the Sala Santitham. It provided space for offices, printing facilities and a cafeteria. The project had been made possible when the Netherlands Government approved the allocation of approximately $60,000 from an earlier donation of $205,000 to support the secretariat of ECAFE. The Netherlands Building and the Sala Santitham were demolished to make space for the new United Nations conference facilities, recently completed.

By 1970 much larger facilities were required. The Government made available an L-shaped property behind the Sala Santitham on which the United Nations could build the necessary additional facilities. The site is bound by properties of the Wat Makutkasat School and the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. The principal frontage is on Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, a wide, attractive boulevard lined with ministerial and other major governmental installations. It is a ceremonial link between the Royal Palace on the east and the Grand Palace on the west. In front of the Sala Santitham is the Makawan bridge over the Khlong Phadung Krungkasem. Two blocks to the east of the bridge the boulevard opens onto the broad plaza in front of the former National Assembly Building. The initial term of the lease for the United Nations site was 20 years, renewable for an additional 10-year term. In 1986 the Government and the United Nations signed a long-term agreement for the lease of the 1970 parcel as well the Sala Santitham site for an indefinite period.

Constructing the current buildings

Secretariat and Service buildings. The foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new Secretariat and Service buildings was conducted by Prime Minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn on United Nations Day, 24 October 1972. The general contract for construction was signed on 20 December 1972 and on United Nations Day, 24 October 1975, the buildings were ceremonially inaugurated by His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej. They are of reinforced concrete and contain, respectively, 29,532 and 19,727 sq m (317,882 and 212,340 sq ft) of floor area. Their combined total volume is 168,255 cubic metres (220,080 cu yd).

At the time of its construction, the Secretariat building was one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok. Today Bangkok has numerous buildings that exceed 15 storeys in height. The Service building provides three parking levels and four large general purpose floors for offices, computer centre, library, training centre, cafeteria, auditorium and meeting rooms. A bridge connects the Service building and the Secretariat building at the first floor level. The project also provided for the construction of a small conference hall structure to augment the existing conference facilities in the Sala Santitham. Architectural designs for the buildings were provided by the Ministry of Works, assisted by local engineering consultants.

Conference Centre. Construction of a new conference building began in May 1989 and was completed in March 1993. The ground-breaking ceremony was performed by the Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prem Tinsulanonda, on 1 July 1988 and the Centre was opened by His Majesty the King of Thailand on 9 April 1993. The total floor area of the new building is 50,730 sq m (546,060 sq ft). The building has four storeys plus two basements. It includes a plenary hall, two large conference rooms and two small conference rooms. Dining facilities, parking, exhibition space, press and communications facilities are provided. Bridges link the building to the Service and Secretariat buildings at the first-floor level. The interior courtyard formed by the deck over the underground parking levels is landscaped with pools and gardens.