State Department Empowers Leading American Firms to Strengthen Global Diplomatic Presence
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The U.S. Department of State has chosen ten top-tier architecture firms to provide design services for diplomatic facilities worldwide, ensuring American security and leadership on the global stage over the next five years.
The U.S. Department of State has proudly announced the selection of ten elite American architecture firms to provide comprehensive architectural and engineering services for diplomatic facilities around the world. This decision, following a rigorous two-stage process initiated in March 2024 with over 100 submissions, demonstrates the State Department’s unwavering commitment to American excellence and global leadership. The selected firms are:
- TenBerke
- Duvall Decker – Spacesmith (joint venture)
- Ennead Architects
- KieranTimberlake
- Krueck & Sexton Architects
- Lever Architecture
- Morphosis Architects
- REX Architecture
- Richärd Kennedy Architects
- SHoP Architects
- Thomas Phifer & Partners
- Weiss/Manfredi Architects
These distinguished firms will support the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) over the next five years in delivering secure and resilient diplomatic facilities. OBO emphasized that these regionally diverse firms will represent the United States as they deliver the next generation of diplomatic facilities, ensuring that America’s interests are protected and advanced abroad. Their work is central to OBO’s mission to provide effective facilities for U.S. diplomacy, making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous in an increasingly competitive world.
Many of the selected firms have a proven track record of success with OBO projects. Weiss/Manfredi designed the impressive new U.S. embassy in New Delhi, India, and KieranTimberlake completed the state-of-the-art U.S. embassy in London. Ennead Architects has designed embassies in Ankara, Türkiye; Nogales, Mexico; and Chiang Mai, Thailand. Morphosis Architects delivered the secure embassy compound in Beirut, Lebanon, while SHoP Architects is designing a new embassy in Milan. Richärd Kennedy Architects designed embassies in Doha, Qatar; Hermosillo, Mexico; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The OBO is currently seeking responses for design/build construction services for a new embassy compound in Tallinn, Estonia, with responses due by April 13. Mark Cavagnero Associates, a trusted American firm, serves as the Planning and Bridging Architect for this project, which is expected to be completed by 2031.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. has constructed nearly 170 new diplomatic facilities worldwide, a testament to American resolve following the 1998 embassy bombings. The OBO, established in 2001, expertly manages the planning, acquisition, design, construction, operations, maintenance, and disposal of U.S. diplomatic and consular properties overseas, reinforcing America’s position as a global leader.
