New U.S. Embassy

Windhoek, Namibia

BEST PROJECT

Submitted by: BL Harbert Worldwide

Proprietor: U.S. Dept. of State | Abroad Buildings Operations

Design Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Architect of Document: Web page Southerland Web page LLP

Normal Contractor: BL Harbert Worldwide

Civil Engineer: KPFF Protecting Design

Structural Engineer: Ehlert/Bryan Inc.

MEP Engineer: Mason & Hanger

Geotechnical Engineer: Schnabel Engineering

Hearth Safety: American Hearth Safety

In her remarks on the mid-2023 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand new U.S. embassy in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield known as it “an emblem of, and testomony to, our sturdy, abiding relationship.”

On the time, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations additionally mentioned the challenge “takes U.S. engineering, environmental and development experience and blends it with Namibian architectural traditions, regionally sourced supplies, and naturally, inspiration from the pure panorama.”

Picture courtesy of NL Harbert Worldwide

The challenge group says the result’s an embassy that’s “technologically progressive and progressive whereas being respectful and delicate to the context.” Members needed to face challenges to achieve its objective, together with COVID-19. In the course of the pandemic, airways halted service to the world’s largest airport, a “notably premature” improvement the group says, as a result of it occurred throughout challenge mobilization. To keep away from what it says would have been “vital delays,” the group organized chartered flights to deliver key employees members to the location.

U.S. official mentioned challenge mixes U.S. engineering and development experience with Namibian architectural traditions and supplies.
Picture courtesy of NL Harbert Worldwide

Namibia is among the driest international locations in sub-Saharan Africa and in growing the challenge, the embassy group used energetic and passive sustainable practices, together with photovoltaic canopies that present about half of the power wanted for the chancery, the multibuilding challenge’s largest facility.

The 12.8-acre web site had a steep slope, which required planning to forestall land erosion or “structural points” throughout development, the submission says. The group additionally piloted using Pull Planning and Final Planner methods on the challenge and, it says, developed a schedule that discipline crews may use. The group additionally experiences that the challenge, with a development price of about $188.2 million, was accomplished at price range and on schedule, and had no recordable or lost-time accidents.