The relationship between Brazil and the United States dates back more than two centuries. In 1815, the United States established its first consulate in Brazil, and in 1824, it was one of the first nations to recognize Brazil’s independence from Portugal. The construction of a new U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro builds on this strong foundation and is rooted in a shared commitment to promoting diplomacy and economic prosperity.
Project Overview
Richärd Kennedy Architects
Design Architect
HGA
Associate Architect
Caddell Construction
Design/Build Contractor
$568 million
Project Budget
$188 million
Estimated Local Investment
2026
Estimated Completion
The new U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro project supports important diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Brazil.
It embodies OBO’s mission of providing the most effective facilities for U.S. diplomacy abroad ensuring the United States is safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Design & Construction
The design of the new consulate general celebrates Rio de Janeiro’s material palette and is heavily influenced by the city’s singular location in the rainforest surrounded by mountains and the ocean. Tropical gardens and formal water features form the site entrance and provide a welcoming experience for staff and visitors. Consular spaces incorporate the same palette of local materials, creating continuity across the complex.
The landscape design utilizes local plant species and draws heavily from the region’s Atlantic Forest biome. A contemporary brise-soleil overlays the building façade, minimizing heat gain and reducing glare in the workspaces and public spaces—ensuring a comfortable experience for those in the building.
Building Performance
A model of building performance optimization, the resilient design reduces risk and operating costs associated with utilities and maintenance while enhancing natural hazards adaptation. The new consulate will employ advanced energy-efficiency strategies and systems that significantly reduce energy demand, including photovoltaic canopies, passive chilled beam systems, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Perforated aluminum fins surround the façade and reduce the load on the building’s cooling systems by limiting solar heat gain. Stormwater will be captured, treated on-site, and used for landscape irrigation, water features, and cooling towers—eliminating all outdoor water demand.
Arts & Cultural Heritage
The new U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro embodies U.S. creativity and heritage through design and craftsmanship, fostering dialogue and diplomacy to strengthen relationships and advance U.S. interests.
A defining feature of the new embassy is the incorporation of U.S. and Brazilian contemporary artwork throughout the building, curated by OBO’s Office of Art in Embassies (AIE).
