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Sauerbruch Hutton and Studio Gang to Renovate German House at UN Plaza

architecture-design · 2026-08-12

An international competition has been won by Berlin's sauerbruch hutton in collaboration with Chicago's Studio Gang to revamp the German House located at 871 United Nations Plaza in New York City, which serves as the Consulate General of Germany and the Permanent Mission to the UN. This project marks the first U.S. commission for sauerbruch hutton and their initial partnership. The jury commended the design for its architectural excellence and its embodiment of German identity. The renovation will involve updating the facade and reorganizing the 23-story, 103,500-square-foot structure, originally built in 1996 by SLCE Architects, while employing adaptive reuse to minimize embodied carbon. Features will include photovoltaic panels, a box-window system, operable windows, a sky lobby with a vertical garden, and a restaurant on the upper floors. Jeanne Gang conveyed her excitement about the undertaking.

Key facts

  • sauerbruch hutton and Studio Gang won the competition to renovate German House at 871 United Nations Plaza, New York City.
  • The building hosts Germany's Consulate General and Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
  • The competition concluded this month.
  • This is sauerbruch hutton's first U.S. commission and the first collaboration between the two firms.
  • The existing 23-story, 103,500-square-foot building was completed in 1996 and designed by SLCE Architects.
  • The renovation will replace the facade and reorganize much of the interior.
  • The adaptive reuse approach reduces embodied carbon by avoiding demolition and new foundation work.
  • Plans include photovoltaic panels, a box-window system, operable windows, a sky lobby with vertical garden, and a restaurant on the 24th and 25th floors.

Entities

Artists

  • Jeanne Gang

Institutions

  • sauerbruch hutton
  • Studio Gang
  • German House
  • Consulate General of Germany
  • Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
  • SLCE Architects
  • Bundesbau Baden-Württemberg

Locations

  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • New York City
  • United States
  • United Nations Plaza

Sources