The Department of State Selects the Jury and Architectural Firms for the London New Embassy Compound Design Competition

02 January 2009

(from the U.S. Department of State)

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations today announced the jury and nine architectural firms that have been invited to participate in the second phase of the design competition for the new U.S. Embassy in London.

The jury, led by Competition Manager Donald J. Stastney and comprised of American and British leaders in the field of architecture, academics, and diplomacy, will evaluate and select the new design for the embassy. The other members of the jury include Ambassador Clyde D. Taylor, Thomas W. Hicks, Frances Halsband, Richard Rogers, Peter Rolland, Michaele Pride, Peter Palumbo, and James Carpenter.

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) received 37 submissions in the first round of the design competition. Through a rigorous evaluation process, OBO selected nine firms to provide concepts for the new London Embassy Compound in the second round. These firms are: Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects; Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects; KieranTimberlake; Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates; Richard Meier & Partners, Architects; Morphosis Architects; PEI Cobb Freed & Partners; Perkins + Will; and Skidmore Owings and Merrill.

The jury will judge the presentations made by these distinguished firms and then invite four or five of the firms to submit formal designs in the third and final phase of the design competition.

According to United States law the lead designer must be an American firm with the required security clearance. During the second phase of the design competition, the nine firms will recruit and present their complete design teams, including UK partners with local expertise and international experience.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Blyth on +1 703-875-4131 or via e-mail BlythJJ@state.gov.