Situated on a 9-acre site along one of Tegucigalpa’s main thoroughfares, Avenida Los Próceres, the new U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa will support the continued expansion of U.S.–Honduran diplomatic and commercial relations and strengthen U.S. ties with the people of Honduras. The new campus will underscore the Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations’ (OBO) commitment to environmental leadership and demonstrate sustainable design, construction, and operations that represent the best of U.S. architecture, engineering, and construction execution.
Design & Construction
The design of the new facility underscores the important diplomatic relationship between the United States and Honduras and provides the first impression of the United States for many Hondurans. Nestled among the Central American Cordillero in Honduras’ southern-central highland region, Tegucigalpa’s mountainous terrain is evoked in the scale of the Chancery building facing the surrounding mountains. The new Embassy’s design incorporates a woven copper metal façade and earth-toned glazed terra cotta panels, a nod to the traditional Honduran crafts of basket weaving and pottery. Earth tone themes continue throughout the interior with the use of stone and warm, rich woods. Consular visitors to the campus will pass through a dedicated access pavilion and into the consular waiting area. An American Center will be incorporated into the new Chancery, with a library, a multimedia center, and multipurpose space dedicated for press conferences, public meetings, and presentations.
SHoP Architects of New York is the design architect. The construction contract was awarded to B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama. The project will employ an estimated 750 Honduran workers at the peak of construction activities.
Resiliency & Stewardship
A range of sustainability features are integrated into the Embassy’s design including solar photovoltaic (PV) and hot-water arrays, stormwater retention and infiltration, water-efficient drip irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment and reuse mechanisms. Other sustainable features include radiant floor cooling, reduction in heat gain in the building through efficient windows and strategic shading design, an automated building controls system, and water-conserving plumbing fixtures. The site design takes advantage of native, drought-tolerant vegetation and preserves an existing local heritage Guanacaste tree located in the southeast area of the campus. The project is registered with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) – a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices – and has a goal of Silver certification.
Art
The permanent art collection, curated by OBO’s Office of Art in Embassies, will include art in a variety of media, including painting, photography, textile, and sculpture by both U.S. and Honduran artists. The collection will seek to create a dialogue of shared values between the people of the United States and Honduras. Highlights will include site-specific commissions that reflect an understanding of the diversity and richness of U.S. and Honduran cultural heritage.