A big, new, billion dollar U.S. embassy has been constructed in Mexico City. Here is a proposal illustration generated in the early stages of the project:
It’s the biggest U.S. embassy in the world. It has seven stories, two of which are under ground level.
Embassy construction is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). The architectural firms are Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and Davis Brody Bond Architects. Caddell Construction is the general contractor.
The embassy is located on an 8.5 acre site, formerly the site of a Colgate-Palmolive factory. A toxic cleanup had to be carried out on the site before building.
Construction began in 2018 and it cost a billion dollars to build.
According to the OBO website: “This embassy will consolidate over 530,000 square feet of diplomatic operations, bringing together over 1,400 staff previously spread across multiple sites in the city. These staff will be supported by innovative technology systems to work efficiently.”
More from the website: “To ease traffic impact, the embassy features discrete entrances for various functions…The building’s seven floors include two below-grade levels that balance its size without sacrificing usable space. These floors take advantage of sunken courtyards that provide views to nature and plentiful natural light. Designed around a large, semi-covered, open-air courtyard, the embassy’s extensive outdoor space enhances opportunities for events and collaboration.”
Regarding the construction of the embassy: “ “An estimated total work force of 2,500 U.S., Mexican and third-country nationals were engaged in the construction of the new embassy of which 1,800 will be local. Nearly 225 million USD was spent locally on materials and service related to the project’s construction.”
On December 17th, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, with his trademark cowboy hat, inaugurated the embassy. Here is a photo of Ambassador Salazar at the ceremony:
The new embassy is not yet open to the public, there is still work to be done on it.
Here is a photo of the current U.S. embassy in Mexico City:
