International Centre

International Centre

Attraction Introduction

Vienna is the third "UN City" after New York and Geneva. The International Centre is located on the banks of the Danube River in the northern part of Vienna, 4 kilometres from the city centre and adjacent to the Danube Riverside Park. Construction began in 1973 and was largely completed by August 1979. It is Austria’s largest modern architectural complex. This grand and uniquely designed architectural complex, set against the blue waters of the Danube, has become one of the city’s iconic sights. Covering a total area of 190,000 square metres, the complex consists of four main buildings. At its centre stands a five-storey cylindrical International Conference Building, standing 56 metres tall. Six "Y"-shaped buildings are interconnected to form three tower-like office blocks, arranged symmetrically around the conference building in a constellation pattern.

The heights of these structures range between 45 and 120 metres, creating a dynamic and varied skyline. The Conference Building houses nine meeting halls, surrounded by various-sized lounges. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer scenic views of the surroundings. The complex includes 24,600 windows, 6,000 doors, 43 passenger elevators, and 15 freight elevators. It can accommodate 4,000 people for work and 1,600 for meetings simultaneously.

It also features simultaneous interpretation booths for nine languages (including English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic), an electronic computing centre, as well as storage rooms, archives, printing facilities, along with auxiliary amenities such as restaurants, cafés, a bank, and shops. Radial access roads connect the various buildings, and there are two three-storey parking garages that can hold up to 2,500 cars. The complex was designed by the renowned Austrian architect Johann Staber. After completion, it was leased to the United Nations by the Austrian government for a symbolic rent with a 99-year lease term.

After the new buildings were completed, previously scattered UN agencies in Vienna were all centralized here. Each year, over 20,000 foreign delegates attend various international conferences in Vienna. Their accommodation and dining alone contribute more than 10 million schillings in revenue to the city annually. Currently, Vienna has risen to fifth place among the world’s major conference cities. The International Centre is open to visitors, and touring this centre has become an important highlight for many tourists visiting Vienna.

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