In an important symbol of our enduring friendship with the United Kingdom, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Matthew W. Barzun and Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) Lydia Muniz broke ground on the new U.S. Embassy in London today.
The new Embassy, designed by KieranTimberlake of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be situated on a 4.9-acre site in the Nine Elms Opportunity Planning Area and will include a chancery, a consular section, support spaces, a U.S. Marine residence, access pavilions, and parking.
Its design incorporates sustainable features at the leading edge of practice, including aspirations for carbon neutrality, a self-sufficient water system, as well as goals for minimum certification at Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent.
The new Embassy is expected to be completed in 2017 and will be constructed by B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama.
Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 108 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 31 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 our 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.
SOS International, Reston, Va. was awarded a $7,299,684 modification (P00009) to firm-fixed-price contract W52P1J-11-C-0058 which will execute option year two for public affairs operations in support of U.S. Forces - Afghanistan. Estimated completion date is Nov. 26, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Work location will be Afghanistan. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (52P1J-11-C-0058).
