United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Bucharest

United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Bucharest, Romania

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 22, 2012

________________________________________

Celebrating over 130 years of U.S.-Romanian diplomatic relations, U.S Ambassador to Romania, Mark H. Gitenstein dedicated the new Embassy facility in Bucharest today. Romanian Senate President Vasile Blaga, Prime Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, and Managing Director of Operations at the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) Leo Hession, participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, with Joseph R. “Beau” Biden, III, Attorney General of the State of Delaware, delivering the keynote address.

The new facility is located in the Baneasa commercial district, adjacent to the Tunari Forest, and consolidates Embassy staff to improve coordination and communication among the various embassy sections.

The Embassy’s permanent art collection curated by OBO’s Office of Art in Embassies, celebrates the exchange of artistic expression between the United States and Romania through paintings, photography, and sculpture by Romanian and American artists.

The new Embassy incorporates numerous sustainable features, most notably energy efficient building systems, high efficiency lighting, and the use of recycled and regional materials. A majority of the eleven-acre site is green space planted with drought tolerant species to reduce water consumption. The compound is registered with the Green Building Certification Institute and is entering the formal review process; it is the first LEED® registered government project in Romania.

American International Contractors (Special Projects), Inc., of Arlington, Virginia constructed the project, which was designed by Karn Charuhas Chapman & Twohey of Washington, D.C. The $153 million project generated hundreds of jobs in both the United States and Romania.

Since the 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 88 new diplomatic facilities and has moved more than 27,000 people into safe, secure, and functional facilities. OBO has an additional 41 projects in design or 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. For more information, please visit www.state.gov/obo, or contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov or (703) 875-4131.

ENDS

© Scoop Media