Announcement of the Winning Architect for Design of New U.S. Embassy

23 February 2010

It is a pleasure to be here in London to offer my congratulations to Stephen Kieran, James Timberlake and the entire KieranTimberlake team. I also want to offer congratulations from my boss, Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy, who accepted the Jury's recommendation and selected KieranTimberlake as the winner of the design competition for the new United States Embassy in London.

The Department of State has used a juried design competition for a new Embassy building only four times: once in Beijing, once in Berlin, and now, for the second time, in London.

The challenge for the architectural firms in this competition was not an easy one. Each firm endeavored to design an Embassy that would combine necessary security with openness, functionality and sustainability.

The KieranTimberlake Team met that challenge superbly.

Starting with 37 architectural submissions, my Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations narrowed the number to a shortlist of nine firms.

A distinguished jury of American and British citizens, leaders in the fields of architecture, academia and diplomacy, refined the list to four firms for the final phase of the competition.

The four finalists worked for almost a year. They visited London to evaluate the site and, at the end of the process, came to Washington to make presentations to the Jury.

The KieranTimberlake Team's concept holds great potential to be an iconic Embassy building. Significantly, the design concept boldly incorporates sustainability features, especially important as the US Government, as other countries and businesses, seeks to go green. I am especially pleased that the Kieran Timberlake Team has conceived an Embassy with the goal of achieving BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum certifications; one that is forecast to be a net exporter of energy when it opens.

The anticipated groundbreaking for our new London Embassy is in 2013, with move-in planned for 2017. Our project will be a stimulus to the London economy, create local jobs and will further the revitalisation of Nine Elms.

Until we break ground at Nine Elms Lane, the design process will continue. During this process, we will consult with Wandsworth and the Mayor's Office, the GLA, CABE, English Heritage, and the residents in the neighborhood we plan to call home to our new Embassy. I want to thank our British partners for their past and future support of our efforts.

Ambassador, I join you in expressing my excitement for this project and, James, let me congratulate you and the KieranTimberlake Team again for a well-deserved selection.

Thank you.