by Brianna Crandall — November 11, 2015—The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announced several developments pertaining to the design, construction or completion of U.S. embassies overseas in recent weeks. Several are highlighted below, as are some of their sustainable features.
The new U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat will incorporate such sustainable features as energy-efficient lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and drought-tolerant plantings.
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
The new U.S. Embassy in Bishkek was dedicated October 31. The $163 million campus is situated on an 11-acre site in the Leninsky District.
Sustainable features to conserve resources and reduce operating costs include energy-efficient lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and daylight harvesting. The project is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and is projected to receive LEED Silver certification.
Karn Charuhas Chapman and Twohey of Washington, DC, is the design architect, and Sorg Architects of DC is the architect of record. ECCI Construction of Burlingame, California, constructed the complex.
Niamey, Niger
OBO also announced the design/build construction award for the new U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger, to BL Harbert International.
The multi-building campus will be situated on the existing 10-acre Embassy compound in the Yantala neighborhood. The new campus will include an office building, a Marine Security Guard Residence, community facilities, and associated support facilities.
Miller Hull Partnership of Seattle, Washington, is the design architect, and Page Southerland Page of Washington, DC, is the architect of record.
Matamoros, Mexico
In addition, OBO announced the design-build construction award for a new U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros, Mexico, to BL Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama.
The multi-building campus will be situated on a 7.7-acre site in the Jardin neighborhood. The new campus will include a new office building, a Marine Security Guard residence, and associated support facilities.
Richard+Bauer Architecture of Phoenix, Arizona, is the design architect and Page Southerland Page, Inc. of Washington, DC, is the architect of record.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Embassy and local officials also broke ground recently on the new U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The $266 million project will incorporate numerous sustainable features, including energy-efficient lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and drought-tolerant plantings.
The multi-building campus will be situated on a 17.3-acre site. The campus will include an office building, a U.S. Marine Security Guard residence, a support annex, staff housing, and facilities for the Embassy community. Completion of the project is anticipated in July 2018.
Yost Grube Hall of Portland, Oregon, is the design architect, and Integrus of Spokane, Washington, is the architect of record. Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Alabama, is the construction contractor.
OBO
Since 1999, as part of the State Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 129 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 55 projects in design or under construction.
OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support the staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution, notes OBO.
