KHL Group - Construction Europe

Design revealed for new US embassy in London

Written by Becca Durrant - 25 Feb 2010

Philadelphia-based architects Kieran Timberlake beat 36 companies to win the competition to build the new environmentally-conscious glass cube US Embassy, which will sit atop a colonnade.

The design for the new US embassy in London has been revealed. The building on the south bank of the River Thames in Nine Elms is expected to cost € 369 million (UK£ 324 million).

Philadelphia-based architects Kieran Timberlake beat 36 companies to win the competition to build the new environmentally-conscious glass cube structure which will sit atop a colonnade.

The 45000 m², 12 storey high-security building will be surrounded by natural defences of meadow, woodland and a pond. Its exterior is to be lined with energy absorbing material, which also shades the interior from the sun and the roof will be covered in solar panels.

The US Department of State described the building as, "A beacon that is a respectful icon representing the strength of the US-UK relationship."

It added, "Kieran Timberlake's design met the goal of creating a modern, welcoming, timeless, safe and energy-efficient embassy for the 21^st century. Their concept holds the greatest potential for developing a truly iconic embassy and is on the leading edge of sustainable design."

The project will be entirely financed from the sale of the existing US Embassy building in Grosvenor Square to Qatari Diar Real Estate Company in 2009.

Outline planning permission has been granted by Wandsworth Borough Council and it is expected that building will start in 2013 with construction being completed by 2017.