U.S. Department of State - Great Seal

U.S. Department of State

Diplomacy in Action

New London Embassy

 

Date: 05/11/2009 Description: Old London Embassy State Dept Photo 
Current U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
Date: 06/12/2009 Description: Old London Embassy Image 2 © State Dept Image 
Current U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair

 

After long and careful consideration, the Department decided that the best way to create a modern, secure, and accessible new Embassy was to acquire a site and build anew. Following a detailed search of London, the Department was fortunate to find in Nine Elms a site that meets the needs of a modern Embassy.

Nine Elms has been chosen for a variety of reasons, including:
  • Its proximity to the heart of London
  • Its proximity to major transport interchanges and Vauxhall station
  • Its proximity to the river and the views both up and downstream
  • The support for the regeneration of the whole area, including Wandsworth Borough Council, the Mayor and the Greater London Authority (GLA)
  • The opportunity for the new Embassy to act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area

 

 

 

Date: 07/14/2009 Description: New London Embasst Aerial View © State Dept Image
Aerial Views ofNine Elms, Battersea with the new site highlighted in yellow 

The Design Competition

The Department is committed to creating an Embassy building which is not only iconic in appearance and a leader in sustainability, but is also welcoming to all its visitors and makes a positive contribution to the local community and the urban environment. The challenge is to design a building which fulfills all these criteria and provides enough space for all its functions to be carried out in a secure working environment.

In order to ensure that the design of the new Embassy is of the highest possible quality, the Department of State has launched a competition to find an architectural practice and lead team to design the new Embassy. This competition is being managed by a jury comprised of eight American and British leaders in the fields of architecture, diplomacy, sustainable building, urban design and regeneration.

Four architectural firms have been shortlisted for the final phase of the competition to design the new Embassy:

  • Kieran Timberlake
  • Morphosis Architects
  • PEI Cobb Freed & Partners
  • Richard Meier & Partners

 

Illustrative sketch of U.S. Embassy site from across the river.
Date: 06/12/2009 Description: New London Embassy skyline view State Dept Photo
Illustrative sketch of prposed pedestrian plaza.
Date: 06/12/2009 Description: New London Embassy pedestrian plaza State Dept Photo

The finalists will now explore the symbolism of the Embassy, its image, and position in the cityscape of London. Their goal is to create a building that represents the United States appropriately in the UK. In January 2010, the four firms will present their plans to the expert jury who will then make a final recommendation to the Department of State. The selected firm will then undertake further consultation in London and draw up detailed design proposals for consideration by Wandsworth Council.


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