The United States and Mauritius share a strong partnership focused on regional security, economic development, environmental conservation, and democratic governance. To support these collaborative efforts, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations is constructing a new U.S. embassy in Port Louis that will strengthen the United States’ relationship with Mauritius and the Mauritian people, serving as a platform for continued engagement in achieving shared goals.
Project Overview
Richärd Kennedy Architects
Design Architect
Page
Architect of Record
B.L. Harbert International
Design/Build Contractor
$80 million
Estimated Local Investment
Port Louis plays a central role in regional trade and diplomacy, serving as a bridge between Africa and Asia.
U.S.-Mauritius collaboration includes initiatives to promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean, support biodiversity conservation efforts, and foster sustainable economic growth through partnerships in trade and innovation. The new embassy will provide a safe, secure, functional, and resilient space to advance these shared priorities, strengthening collaboration with Mauritian government officials, civil society, and private sector leaders.
Design
The embassy design celebrates the island’s history and natural beauty by seamlessly integrating with its environment. Vibrant, terraced gardens with fountains and water features surround the buildings, with greenery spilling inside through interior planters.
The structures rise naturally from the landscape, utilizing materials inspired by the island’s volcanic geology, such as white limestone walls, slab basalt plaza pavers, and cast bronze façades.
Interior spaces emphasize connections to the outdoors with window walls, indoor courtyards, and gardens, fostering a harmonious environment for embassy staff and visitors. Additionally, the thoughtfully designed landscape restores local biodiversity by showcasing native flora, further blending the embassy’s interior with the surrounding nature.
Construction
Building diplomatic facilities impacts the communities and neighborhoods in which they are located by generating jobs, increasing local production and acquisition of goods and services, stimulating business patronage and improving adjacent infrastructure.
Building Performance
The new embassy design incorporates rigorous energy-saving and sustainability strategies to minimize environmental impact, optimize building performance, and enhance resilience. Photovoltaic arrays will harness the abundant sunlight to generate power, reducing reliance on local energy sources. To address solar heat gain and interior glare, the design features shading devices, heat-reducing glazing, and building overhangs that allow natural light to permeate while minimizing heat buildup.
The landscape design complements these efforts with plantings that provide natural shade and integrated water features that moderate stormwater impacts and create a comfortable microclimate. Registered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program, the project is on track to achieve a minimum of Silver certification, showcasing its commitment to best-in-class green building practices.
Art
The permanent art collection, curated by OBO’s Office of Art in Embassies, showcases art in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, and printing by both U.S. and Mauritian artists.
The collection seeks to create a dialogue of shared values between the people of both countries. Highlights are site-specific commissions that reflect an understanding of the diversity and richness of U.S. and Mauritian cultural heritage.
