Status of SEA Regional Office building - SEA-RC68-23

Abstract

The World Health House, as the buildings housing the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia in New Delhi, India, are collectively known, is over 50 years old, necessitatinggreater investments to maintain the property fit for purpose.The results of two seismic vulnerability studies of the campus buildings in 2001and 2010 independently agreed that in their current condition, the buildings presentcertain concerns in the event of seismic activity - particularly during the monsoonseason when the groundwater table is high. The situation is exacerbated by the groundconditions of the site and the seismic vulnerability of the Delhi area in general. Thefollowing actions were recommended: Demolish and rebuild the annexes, as the cost to reinforce and/or retrofit suchbuildings is economically unviable. The long, thin, footprint of these buildings,combined with an unorthodox foundation and structural design, bring intoquestion the ultimate success of any strengthening works programme. Reinforce/retrofit the main building and conference block with pertinentmitigation measures including slab repairs and reinforcing of horizontal andvertical structural supports.The High-Level Preparatory (‎HLP)‎ Meeting for the Sixty-eighth Session of the WHORegional Committee for South-East Asia held at the WHO Regional Office in New Delhion 29 June–2 July 2015, reviewed the attached working paper and noted it.In view of the findings, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, theSecretariat has invited the Central Public Works Department (‎CPWD)‎ to perform a morecomprehensive study of the facility. With this information, a more informed decisionmay be taken as to whether it is appropriate and more financially viable to alsodemolish the main block and rebuild. A report on the condition of the campus will bepresented to Member States incorporating the findings of the CPWD assessment in due course.